SPOT CHECK - THE PINNACLES WALK
It was a spontaneous trip, and once again, the Pinnacles day adventure was a great idea as it proved to be the best trip ever.
Location : Coromandel Forest Park
Travel time : 6 hours round trip
Travel time from Auckland : 2 hours drive
What to bring : Good shoes, water, snacks, camera, head torch, and a sleeping bag if you're staying in the summit hut.
Leaving Auckland in the morning, Scotty, Chris, and I arrived after lunch. Armed with new boots, a bag full of essentials, and head torches, we began what would become a climb that would last into the night. Scotty had done this walk twice before (once barefoot), and his idea of reaching the summit in time for sunset was undoubtedly a brilliant one.
We all had different brands of head torches, but Scotty's shone the farthest and put him at the front of the pack, Chris's was the brightest and lit the way for all of us at the back, and mine was useless, wedged in the middle and stayed in the safe zone.
If you haven't done this hike yet, I encourage you to do what we did. The hike itself is amazing. The path is well maintained and there's so much to see that sore legs are barely noticeable. There are plenty of drinking water and old suspension bridges to play on. Just 10 minutes later, you'll be greeted by a spectacular bridge. The forest is dense, filled with many native New Zealand plants and giant kauri trees. The views are stunning, the mountains are high, and the cliffs are steep. This hike won't disappoint anyone looking for a challenge or to feel some muscle soreness.
After a few breaks and adventures off the track, we were making good progress. As we gained altitude, the sun got lower and lower, and by the time we reached the final section, the sun was starting to turn golden yellow.
The final section was the steepest and required intense concentration, although Scotty and Chris seemed oblivious to the chains, the narrow, slippery path, and the vertical climb. We left the truck and climbed a steep peak, while I decided to sit on a safe, flat rock and enjoy the view.
We reached the top and enjoyed the beauty of golden hour, with 360-degree views of the Coromandel, and on a clear day we could see all the way from Auckland to Hamilton in the south and the coastal towns of Tairua and Poanui in the east.
Once again, Scotty and Chris, fuelled by adrenaline, climbed over the fence and through the bush to find an even more daring peak. Confident that they had made it up the steepest section and summit, I followed and joined in the team hug.
We sat down among the trees and rocks, fired up the gas stove, and took turns warming our fingers while we made tacos. As the night wore on, we ate tacos, sipped red wine, and relaxed, gazing at the countless stars.
With our stomachs full and the three-hour descent ahead of us, we sat between Scotty and Chris, discussing the pros and cons of each other's headlamps as we made our way down the mountain.
Climbing the Pinnacles by day and enjoying the beautiful views, then descending in the dark at night using only headlamps and moonlight, is an incredible adventure that you should try for yourself.