The Great Pinnacles of Coromandel Peninsula

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Have you ever went on a trip that was unplanned and brought you great memories? A journey that was decided a night before and had no clue of what's coming. This tramping experience will let you see the beauty of the Pinnacles of Coromandel Peninsula. The spectacular landscape of the Pinnacles bluff and gorges was formed by a complex sequence of volcanic action and erosion about a million years ago. Well, This place is a perfect definition of a beautiful disaster.

The entry point for the loop track of the Pinnacles of Coromandel starts from Kauarenga Valley Road end that has a distance of 16 kilometers and elevates at approximately 750 meters. This sensational walk will take 4-6 hours to finish depending on the pace of the trek. The Pinnacles trail is a popular walk in New Zealand that is mostly uphill and suitable for people with a moderate to high fitness level.

"Coromandel first became known for its giant kauri forests running up the peninsula. The ruination of the great kauri forests then began, and thousands of feet of timber was milled from the area." ©2020 New Zealand Tourism Guide

TRAVEL EXPERIENCE

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July 24,2020,

As I got off from work, I realize that I have a free weekend. Also, check the weather for tomorrow, and it's sunny. I tried to scroll up from hiking groups in meetup if there's any exciting walk for the weekends. Then I just remembered a friend of mine showed me an interesting trail that they went a couple of months ago. So, I decided to invite my Korean mate, whom I know is fit enough for the hike. After confirming that he'll be going, I did my research on how to get there and entry points I'm going to take via AllTrails App ( AllTrails is your guide to the outdoors! Discover the best hiking, running, and biking trails around the world. )

July 25,2020,

I woke up around 5:30 AM to prepare for this hike, packed my lunch, clothes, and anything I can use to warm myself during the walk since due to the wintertime here. We started the drive around 8:00 since it is a 2-hour drive and covers 124 kilometers from the house to Kauaerenga Valley Road End as our entry point for the hike. As we drove going to Coromandel, the scenery was sensational, and it was not hard to drive around since most of the roads are not going uphill.

We arrived at the Kauaeranga Valley Road to end around 10:30AM, parked the car, and started the trail. We began the hike after gearing up since we're not yet aware of how long the track is at our pace. Before we entered the trail, we cleaned our shoes first to prevent contamination in the reserves. This is how New Zealand preserve their parks and reserve. The first 20 mins of the walks are on flat rocky terrain, so it was not an issue until the tracks got steeper. The ground is moist, and some are muddy.

We kept going through the tracks of Kauaeranga and crossed several alluring bridges. As we cross those bridges, we could see below the creeks, river, and stream. Some of the decks are only capable of taking one person at a time, So we gently walked and took pictures as we pass by. After crossing all the bridges, we encounter a rocky trail going up to the pinnacle. We are very cautious in walking to those steep rocky trails since it is slippery. We took rest in some spots on the way and admire the scenery of the trail. It was a tiring walk, and we were both exhausted, but as Benjamin Franklin said, "Nature performs the cure, the physician takes the fee." We rested then kept going until we're almost there.

After passing the rocky trail, we entered the final phase of the hike. This trail is all going up through the stairs. So, if you hate stairs, this hike will agonize you on the way. We rested a lot during this phase, not because we were tired, but can finally see the beauty of the pinnacles. We took a lot of pictures while walking up the stairs for around 30 minutes. Upon arrival to a ladder going to the pinnacle's head, We prepared ourselves not to walk, but to climb the steepest part of the trail, I used my gloves, put on my windbreakers, and my beanie. At this trail, we became more cautious cause if we slip, we can gravely injure ourselves. We used both of our hands to climb up to these tracks for safety. This trail was provided with steel bars that were bolted on the rocks for support.

After walking and climbing for 3 hours, we finally reached the heads of the pinnacles of Coromandel. This was one of the most fulfilling hikes on the North Island, and there's a lot more to discover to say its the best. But after reaching the top, we took pictures and stayed there to admire the scenery for around half an hour. This hike is best to do during the summertime, and it's perfect to see the sunset or the sunrise. Staying on the top of the pinnacles, I may say to get your Earpods and listen to your comfy music and try to admire the beautiful scenery of Coromandel.

Overall, this trip was treasured not only by my mind but also for my soul. The trail is for free, and all you need is a good mate and a healthy body to do these hike. This is one of my recommended hikes to do if you're in New Zealand or even planning to visit.

"Adventure is out there" -Ellie Fredricksen

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