Coromandel Peninsula

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Day 2 - a mostly-overcast and often rainy day. We started out in Auckland in the morning, where we managed to set out at 8:30am to find a bite to eat and to stop by the AA Centre to get reciprocal membership using our U.S. AAA cards. Then it was back to the car and the Southern Motorway for a day on the Coromandel Peninsula.

One of Ben's first observations on this, our first true "roadtrip day" was that the blue "services" signs along the road used an image of a carrot and apple as their shorthand for "food available here", while in the U.S. the equivalent symbol is a burger. A telling (and humorous) difference!

By the time we got to the town of Thames at the foot of the peninsula, the rain was pouring down. But just ten minutes up the coast it stopped again - a pattern that would repeat all day. At one point the road turned into the hills and climbed high above the coast for a spectacular view of the Hauraki Gulf.

Just shy of Coromandel Town, we detoured on the 309 Road for a few km to visit Waiau Falls. A very short path downhill led us to the falls, a very beautiful and serene place. The forest around us was filled with tall tree ferns. Back in Coromandel Town, we grabbed a quick and delicious lunch at The Pepper Tree; my seafood bisque with prawns was yummy, as was Ben's pasta with chicken and chorizo.

Then it was on to our 1:45 appointment at Driving Creek Railway. This was a fun narrow-gauge railway that ascends from the valley up a series of switchbacks, tunnels and spirals to near the top of the hills and a superb view of the Hauraki Gulf. It gave us a chance to see all of the plant life up close as well as enjoy the views and the open air.

From there, it was on to the Pacific coast and the beaches at Hahei and Cathedral Cove. Although the weather was mostly overcast when we arrived, we got to see some spectacular rainbows and even under overcast skies the beaches were beautiful. We walked partway down the clifftop trail between Hahei Beach and nearby Gemstone Bay. Few other people were on the track and all that we did meet were nice and friendly. We saw all sorts of beautiful flowers and birds along the way, and were treated to the unique sights and sounds of the Tui - New Zealand's national bird - as we descended to Gemstone Bay. What a memorable afternoon.

From there, we drove on south to our destination for the night: Whangamata. At our hotel we were met by the lovely proprietor who showed us our rooms, advised us regarding dinner options and did everything she could to make us comfortable. Then it was off to Nero's Cafe for a delightful dinner; I enjoyed the Thai curry Coromandel mussels very much, and the brie-and-mango pizza that Rich and I shared was out of this world.

Finally, off to bed - an early start would be needed for our helicopter flight the next day!

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Photos

Mike on Driving Creek Railway
Getting ready to begin our ascent!

View from the "Eyefull Tower"
At the summit where the Driving Creek Railway delivered us, we had spectacular views of the Hauraki Gulf and islands.

Ben and Gary at Hahei Beach
And this was just an overcast day!

On the clifftop
View from the cliff-top trail linking Hahei Beach and Cathedral Cove

A Tui says hello
This Tui sat high in a tree above us and sang as we explored Gemstone Bay.

Comments

[Brian]

Seen any hobbits yet? ;-) Looks gorgeous.

[Barbara]

Wow!
Thank you! It is great to follow this journey with you!

[jennifer]

wow!
this is great-I love journeying with you guys-you should write a travel brochure for them!!!