Pinnacles Peak, Coromandel Peninsula

So we thought we would give backpacking a try.  However, in New Zealand they don't ask you to carry your tent with you which is brilliant.  Instead they provide you with a hut at your summit so all you need to bring is your sleeping bag, cooking utensils and food.

We drove 1.5 hours to the town of Thames at the entrance to the Coromandel Peninsula.

Then we set off on foot and walked 7 km and gained 700 meters in elevation to reach the Pinnacles hut.  The kids did very well with frequent candy stops along the way.  Yes...we do bribe our children.

The Pinnacles hut can accommodate 80 people in two bunk rooms and has a communal kitchen and eating area with gas stoves and sinks.  

The hut is seen below beautifully nestled in an extinct volcano crater.

The next morning we set out to the summit on Pinnacles Peak before heading back to the car.  We were rewarded with amazing views.

You can appreciate the South Pacific ocean off in the distance.

They climbed their way to the farthest edge to get this shot.

 Will you look at that....I was on the trip!

Fantastic first backpacking adventure!  The kids weren't thrilled to hear that our next one in February is 3 times as difficult and 3 days long.