Mt Taranaki Vacation: Part I

Day 1: Drive to Kokini Cabin and hike to Dawson Falls

 We drove up to Kokini Cabin, which is in  Mt Egmont National Park.  The drive itself was beautiful as can be seen above.  The picture with the mountain is Mt Taranaki or Mt Egmont depending on who you talk to.  It is a dormant volcano and amazingly symmetrical.  This was the first view we got of it.  We stayed on the mountain itself.  

 On our drive we stopped for lunch at a working Dutch Windmill.  It was a fun little side trip to break up the drive.

Dawson Falls

 When we arrived at the cabin, we settled in and then went on our first hike.  We went to Dawson Falls.  It was a beautiful hike through what is called goblin forest.  The falls itself was beautiful and fun to climb on all the rocks that surrounded it and continued downstream.  It was a good beginning to our vacation.

Day 2: Hike to Wilkies Pools and afternoon at Kaupokonui Beach

The view of Mt Taranaki peak, from the Visitor Center which was just up the hill from our cabin.

Wilkies Pools 

 Here we are at Wilkies Pools.  They are pools carved out of the lava rock and a great place to climb.  Hyrum also decided to go for a little swim and had to air dry is clothing for a bit.  What fun!


Kaupokonui Beach 

 Good luck pronouncing the name of this beach.  Many of the Maori words we have not idea how to say and even when we hear them, we still have not idea.  However, even if we cannot pronounce where we are at we can have fun there.  It was a bit chilly out of the water, but in was quite nice.  It was a beach where a river meets the ocean, so the river has a nice soft silty bottom and a slight current.  Hyrum and Sabrina tried for a little while but then decided to play in the sand instead.  The other kids played in the water with Kyle for a long while.

 Hyrum wrapped up and warm,         My Footprints in the sand,           Wendy posing for the camera

Sabrina had a great time in the warm black sand.