Yesterday was the first official day of summer in New Zealand – what better way to celebrate than at the 2011 Pohutukawa Festival in The Coromandel. This weekend is the last chance to catch the annual festivities, which celebrate the blooming of the Pohutukawa trees along the coastline in this delightful region.
On Saturday (3 December), catch Music at the Point, a relaxing family-friendly afternoon of music beside the water at Pauanui Beach. The event starts at 3pm and it’s free to attend.
Then on Sunday (4 December), enjoy a lazy Sunday afternoon featuring live music by Soul Sax Plus at the Tairua Landing. The playlist includes popular jazz standards, Latin, blues, soul, reggae and original music and the event runs from 12 noon till 2pm.
To really get into the spirit of the occasion, you can also take a Crimson Cruise with Whitianga Glass Bottom Boat to see the blooming Pohutukawa trees from an offshore perspective. Cruises depart daily at 10:30am and 1:30pm and cost $90 per adult and $50 per child (two-hour duration). Visit www.glassbottomboatwhitianga.co.nz to book.
The Pohutukawa blooms with red flowers every summer along the coast in northern parts of New Zealand. It’s a much-loved native that is popularly known as the New Zealand Christmas Tree due to the timing – and colour – of its flowers.
