Coromandel Peninsula

After just a couple of days "rest" in Auckland (including a boat tour of the remarkable harbour), we decided to have a last excursion into the Northland. We drove about an hour to Leigh and spent two days (including New Zealand's national Waitangi Day) discovering the wild and gigantic Pakiri Beach and the marine reserve at Goat Island. This was like swimming in an aquarium despite rather large waves. In fact, the weather had become quite grey and blustery. We later found out that further north (where we had just spent a glorious week) there was heavy storms and flooding.
The grey windy tail of this storm followed us for a couple of days round to the Coromandel Peninsula. A beautiful coastal drive surrounded by Pohutakawas took us up the western coast to the charming little town of Coromandel itself. We checked into a campsite on the beach and noticed immediately a lack of young Kiwi families (the new school year had just started). Never mind - this gave Mattéo and Juliette the chance to refresh their German with some visiting Bavarian youngsters. While both Mattéo and Juliette have made fantastic progress in English, it was reassuring to hear them jabber away 'auf Deutsch'! We fished off the beach and finally broke with tradition and caught a little fish!! In the area we took a journey on a miniature train (the Driving Creek Railway) up through kauri tree plantations for a lovely view of the area and we also visited a water world park, full of fun games with water and interesting rides such as flying foxes and flying bicycles.

We drove across to the eastern seaboard to a breathtaking bay called Opito Bay where we spent 2 very fun days on the beach and almost non stop body boarding for all the family in the warm sea (25 dec C).

Then we travelled down to Whitianga for a pleasant evening meal in the "Fireplace" and Delphine, Mattéo and Juliette took the 1 minute passenger ferry to join Alister who had taken the camper on a 45 minute trip around the bay to get to the other side. We visited the splendid Cathedral Cove which is one of the loveliest in the North Island - we were lucky because in a few days the area will be closed for filming of one of the forthcoming Narnia films (Prince Caspian).

Down the coast to more fantastic surf beaches and the unique "hot sands beach" where, at low tide, you can dig a hole in the sand and stand or sit in piping hot water (around 65 deg C). We found a great spot in Tauria and had another lazy day of fishing. This time we started feeling like real fishermen since we caught masses of small fish for bait (using a secial bait catcher offered by the Stevens family) and several largish Tarhiki (not sure of spelling) fish on our rod and line - enough at least for lunch and dinner!!

Now we have left the Coromandel Peninsula and arrived in Tauranga. Whilst we were looking for an internet cafe - we bumped into Wayne and Mary Dorn (our hosts on the farm a few weeks ago) who are on hooliday here. Wayne Matteo and I will soon go fishing again.

Next stop Rotorua and then the East Cape.