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Published: December 9th 2008
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Day 157: Wednesday 3rd December - The Coromandel Peninsula
Today marks the start of my trip through the north and south islands with Kiwi Experience, a hop-on hop-off tour bus. This is the first time I have veered from travelling independently and I'm not sure after 5 months of doing it my way I will enjoy it but I'll just have to wait and see. One thing is for sure I'm glad not to be going back to Base Auckland, a hostel that resembles a meat market! I almost miss the bus pick up by standing in the wrong place to be picked up. Just in time I realise the error of my ways and board the bus. After a few other pick ups around Auckland and a stop off at the office we get on our way. Our first stop is Mount Eden, one of Auckland's 50 or so volcanoes. This is a deja-vu for me having come up here 3 weeks ago. Not to worry its just a short stop of 10 minutes or so, and on a clear day the view across Auckland is well worth seeing for a second time. Its mid-morning by the time the
bus leaves Auckland, and today we're driving towards the Coromandel peninsula, which lies to the east of Auckland. We stop at Thames for lunch before making our way over the native forest of the Kopu Ranges. Its a beautiful sunny day and already I love the Coromandel region. The best is yet to come however when we stop off at Cathedral Cove in the mid-afternoon. After a spectacular 20 minute coastal walk you arrive at Cathedral Cove beach, surrounded by white sand, crystal clear water, rock columns in the sea and the archway which the beach is named after, Cathedral cove. I expect beautiful beaches in the Pacific islands and Australia but not New Zealand, and this is the second stunning beach location I've been to in this country after Pakiri beach. We have almost an hour on the beach before its time to move on. Its a bit of a shame we can't spend longer on the beach as its still red hot even in the late afternoon, but thats the nature of the Kiwi Experience - you must adhere to meeting times. More of a disappointment is the fact we can't go to Hot water beach just a
few miles up the coast. Hot Water beach is a spot where you can dig your own personal hot pool due to the hot water that resides just beneath the surface. However, Our driver Dallas tells us today due to the tides it isn't going to be possible to visit Hot Water beach....shame.
After leaving Cathedral Cove we drive a short while to Whitianga (pronounced Fit-e-unga). Whitianga is the peninsula's main town. That's not to say is is of any great size, after all we are in New Zealand. Rather it is a pleasant town of about 5000 people and is situated on the east coast of the peninsula. The whole bus is staying in the same hostel, and most people decide to have the communal meal as well. This is a good opportunity to meet people over a few beers relaxing in the back garden in the evening sun. Later on most people walk the few blocks into the centre of town to a pub where friendships are formed over more drinks until the early hours. I meet loads of people in the first day but the main ones worth mentioning are the Manchester boys and Lee and
Denise - a couple from Wales.
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