13th Day: 18.03.2016
I woke up around 07:30 and packed all my
stuff and took the luggage and show uo at the reception which is on the same
floor as my room. I had got the room 107 which is just the corner room looking
to the junction of the Hobson Street and Wellesley Street. On the adjacent
corner there is the church. This junction is very busy even during the night.
I left the key to the lady at the reception
and claimed that I could not sleep well and the conditions and the furniture
incl. curtains were not in proper condition at all. I also mentioned that I am
going to stay here as soon as I complete my tour and come back after a couple
of days. She promised me that she will try to do her best.
I went down and with my roller bag and my
daily back bag I walked down the Wellesley and then Nelson Street. After 6-7
minutes a came to the corner where I sat for breakfast.
Toasted ham+cheese+tomato sandwich and a
cappuccino increased my energy level.
Just next building to the café is the AVIS
Car Hire. I went there and took my car as booked one month ago on the internet.
I also requested a GPS extra for which I paid daily
10.-NZD.
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| Map of my route from Auckland to Coromandel : 1.Day off the trip |
I drove off the city as per the dictations
of the GPS. I took the highway 1 which goes in south direction. After Manukau and Pukekohe I stoped in a rest location where I drank a coffee and
energized myself. A took the exit at Pokeno
and took the direction to Miranda.
There are thousands of acres of meadows
where there are a lot of cattle and sheep.
The landscape is consisting of green
meadows and natural forest spread on easy hills and valleys.
The town names are mostly based on the
language of the Maori people. In my opinion, it is very smart because the
European settlement starting with the 19th century didn’t ruined the
culture and created a respectful life together with the native people.
After a while I came to the town Mangatangi. There I saw a route which
goes to the left
to direction Kaiaua (this road is not shown on my map). I took this direction
and have got nice view. Suddenly I took also an unpaved road on the left to the
inside of Hunua Ranges National Park. The unpaved road was the so-called
“Workman Track”. After 4-5 kms I turned back to the main road again.
As I reached to the T-junction of Kaiaua I
turned right in the south direction. I stooped there on the left at the sea
side of “Firth of Thames”. Due to the tide the water was far away from the
coast. I took some pictures and enjoyed the tranquil coastal view.
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| At the coast at Kaiaua |
Then I drove further in the south direction
all along the coast. After Waitakaruru
and Kopu I came to a bigger town
named Thames. Before entering the
town I stopped on the left at the sea side where there is a small fish chips
restaurant the signs of which were very attractive and it was the right time
for a lunch break.
There is a big shop on one end and someone
places the order there. Fresh fishes are also sold here. You can choose
whichever you like. The price differs depending on the fish.
They fried my fish and along with chips
they served it wrapped in a paper. I bought also a nice cold beer and enjoyed
my lunch at the wooden table looking to the gulls and bushes at the coast.
The town Thames is one of the eldest gold
mining areas in the North Island of NZ. The people had rushed for gold and the
town had become famous in the late of 19th century till nineteen
sixties. While driving out from the town, I saw an old gold mine on the right
hand side of the main road. I haven‘t been ever in a gold mine and I stopped
there to visit it. There is no production anymore and the method is obsolete
and hard for today. Paying 10.-NZD someone can obtain the chance to learn about
the gold mining and to get through a few hundred meters of gallery under the
earth. There is also a story about the mine which was started first by three
friends in the late eighteen hundreds and then after digging several hundred
meters under the ground they could not find any gold and they lost their hope
and money. They had sold it for a few hundred Shillings to a company in Thames.
Fortunately for the company but unfortunately for the three colleagues the
people had found gold after three weeks. The volunteered group of people are
trying to hold the mine in good condition and they are guiding the visitors.
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| Old Gold Mine at Thames:- I am looking like the partner :) |
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| Inside the gold mine |
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| Searching for some gold |
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| At the entrance of the gallery |
The road number 25 on the Coromandel
Peninsula leads me to Coromandel. The road is all along the coast has a very
nice view. There is the sea on the left hand side whereas there is the forest
of Coromandel on the right hand side. The curved road is getting sometimes
narrower and risky for big vehicles. Luckily I drove when there was no traffic
at all. Just a few kms after Te Kauma, the
road is passing over the hills and there is a lookout where someone can watch
and enjoy panorama on both sides.
I drove down the road and after 4 kms I was
at the sea level again. I saw a restaurant on the right which was specialized
on mussels’ courses. Some people were having nice dishes but I was sad and
therefore I had to by-pass this step. The Coromandel Penisula is in general
popular with sea food.
After 10 minutes I arrived at Coromandel
town and found the Harbour View Hotel 1 km after the town. The Hotel has a view
over the sea and is only 10-15 meters above the sea level. Side by side
constructed rooms were within the green walking route as well.
After I put my stuff in my room I drove to
the small wharf where there were a few fishing boats. Someone may drive with
car to the far end –approx 150 meters- of the wharf.
This road is available most probably for
the logistics purpose.
Then I drove to the town and stopped when I
saw the entrance of a walking track. This one is going in from the Wharf Str,
just at the adjacent side of the Commercial Wharf. It was around 16:00 o’clock
when I decided to make the trekking. Firstly, I took the Kaori block walk to
the Pa Lookout Site and then I took the direction to the top of the Harbour
View Road and then continued on the Harray Track in the forest. Kaori Trees are one of important facts
of this fauna and New Zealand. It is really long distance from one end to the
other.
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| Harbour View, Coromandel |
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| Coromandel Town from top |
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| While trekking to the Lookout Site, Coromandel |
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| Wharf from top, Coromandel |
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| On the Harray Track, Coromandel |
I spent almost 2 ½ hours on trekking and
close to the end I have been faced also by a moderate rain. Being a
well-equipped trekker I had my raincoat with me. Just before reaching the paved
road I had to cross also a didge barefoot. Suddenly the sun helped me to get
dried and walking down along the street I saw houses on both sides of the street.
The view was nice and tranquil after the rain.
I came to the town and sat there at the
café-restaurant called Umu. I
enjoyed there my Campari and soda very much. I took my car and then drove to
the hotel. I took shower and then I was out for dinner. The guy at the
reception has suggested the Paper Tree Restaurant just at the side of the Umu.
I went there. It is a big restaurant and looking friendly and joyful inside. I
sat and ordered 6 pcs of fresh oysters on rock and a fished called Habuka.
Habuka is a big, deep sea fish and people need some effort to take it out on
the boat. The oysters were wonderful as well as the grilled fish. I had also a
white wine from the Marlborough region of NZ.
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| Wonderful oysters from Coromandel, Paper Tree Restaurant |
I went back to the hotel to sleep. It was a
long day of driving approx. 250 kms from Auckland to Coromandel and a long
trekking (partly in the rain).
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