http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel-Peninsula/Pauanui/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Oceania , New Zealand , North Island , Coromandel Peninsula , Pauanui en-us Sun, 19 May 2013 22:10:30 +0000 Sun, 19 May 2013 22:10:30 +0000 Pauanui isn39t far from Tairua by boat but we decided to take the long way round by car. We checked out the massive baches ie holiday houses on the waterways did some shopping and grabbed lunch before heading back to Tairua. With the tide coming in it was the perfect time to do some kayaking before having another chilled out evening at our backpacker39s including dinner in the treehou http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel-Peninsula/Pauanui/blog-680425.html Saturday morning brought with it blue skies and bright winter sunshine. The weather couldn't have been more different from the yesterday nor more welcome.We started our day with bike ride through Pauanui town and across to an area of canallike waterways that looked interesting on the map. We came to a stop at a wooden octagonal showroom which had a sign offering free views across the canals. A http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel-Peninsula/Pauanui/blog-500383.html One of the most popular destinations for Aucklanders going on holiday is the Coromandel Peninsular a large jut of moutainous land sticking up to the east of the Auckland region. Despite the fact that it's so close to Auckland Glynn and I have never made it over that way mainly because it is always so popular and we tend to shy away from crowded holiday destinations. With winter fast approachin http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel-Peninsula/Pauanui/blog-500087.html My luggage finally was delivered and I had my true test driving on the left hand side of the road with our drive to Pauanui on the Coromandel Peninsula. At about half way point the road took us into the mountains narrow very windy up and down with many turns and no shoulders plus a steady stream of traffic coming the other way. We are staying at the Grand Mecure Puka Park resort in a chalet wi http://www.travelblog.org/Oceania/New-Zealand/North-Island/Coromandel-Peninsula/Pauanui/blog-481892.html