19 March 2016:- NEW ZEALAND :- Coromandel >> Rotorua

NEW ZEALAND :- Coromandel >> Rotorua

14th Day: 19.03.2016 

It was around 08:00 o’clock when I woke up in the Harbor View Hotel. I collected my stuff (shoes, socks) from the balcony of the room where I had put them for getting dried. My shoes and socks were now in a better condition. Anyway I have spare items, too. No worry about it.

At the check-out I asked the guy at the reception (most probably he is the owner of the facility) which road to Rotorua would be his suggestion. He advised me to use the route which I was on yesterday. It is the coastal road #25 which takes to Thames. I asked him about the shorter route which goes to the east to the ocean. He mentioned that it is a dirty road and there might be some pit holes as well. This second alternative was sounding good to me.

Then I drove to the town and sat at the café just beside the Restaurant Umu. I ordered a toast made of grain bread with cheese and tomato. I drank my cappuccino and then I drove in the direction of Rotorua. 

Map showing my route from Coromandel to Rotorua:- 2nd day if the tour

Just a few hundred meters from Coromandel there is the start of this road marked on map with “yellow”. I took this way and I start to drive in south-east direction. The road conditions is perfect; nicely paved road and goes in a fantastic nature. I have to say that this road would be my favorite if I would have my motorcycle with me. Fluent curves, perfectly asphalt paved road.

After 2 hours, around 11:00 o ‘clock I made a stop in Tairua. This is a small town at the sea side. The people are visiting this town mostly for its beaches. I bought some postcards and sent them to some of my friend. This is second "nostalgic postcard attempt" after Fremantle. I had also sent postcards from there. 

There is a cone shaped hill at the sea in Tairua. It is very close to the town. I made some pictures of it. 

Cone shaped hill behind me, Tairua

Tide in te Pasific Ocean, Tairua

Tide in the sea.

After the coffee stop at Tairua, I drove further south to Whangamata, Whiritoa, Waihi and Katikati. I stopped in Katikati for a lunch break at the restaurant where I ate a “lamb salad”. Lamb is very tasty in NZ and I liked the 6 slices of lamb medallions very much. 

After the lunch I followed the High Way #2 to Tauranga. This HW is called “Pasific Highway”. By passing Tauranga I took the route to Rotorua. This is the city where I am going to stay overnight. Approaching Rotorua my GPS said that I need to take the Thermal Explorer HW which is #5 HW. There was also some rain between Tauranga and Rotarua. Anyway, I arrived at my Hotel “The Bakyard Inn” which is located on the Tarewa Road. It was around 15:30 when I reached to the hotel.

I moved to my room 21 in a bungalow complex with 4 private entrances. The room was on the 1^st floor and was big but not well prepared. Towels were missing and I informed the lady in the reception. As soon as I arrange my luggage and my daily bag I went to the reception and we booked the authentic (=artificial) traditional Maori evening and we fixed to go to the Mitai Maori Village at 18:00.  I paid 85.-NZD. Unfortunately this is a kind of a show organized professionally by the –civilized- Maori tribe at their former village. They are no more living in the village and they only play in the show.

After booking the show and dinner, I drove with my rental car to the downtown of Rotorua.

I got out at the Rotorua Museum which was in the past a Bath house. The bath house building with its romantic past opened in 1908 and was designed along the lines of European spas at that time. Rotorua is being characterized with the natural thermal waters and mud. The building is set in the Government Gardens created in the 1890s.

Formerly Bath House; now Rotorua Museum

There are thermal water/steam exhousting from the earth, Rotorua.

Hot mud in the park area.

The museum closes daily at 18:00 o’clock and it was approx. 17:45 when I took the car and drove to the Mitai Village at the Fairy Springs Road for the show & dinner. There is a big parking lot at the village. Some people dressed in Maori type of clothing are welcoming people and checking the names on their list. There are three big tents arranged for dinner.

The wooden sculpture at the entrance of the Mitai Maori village.

A Maori guy came and introduced the village and informed about the itinerary of the evening. The audience/visitors were mostly tourists from 20 different countries.

Then we have been taken to the side banks of an artificially created didge and a Maori waka –wooden boat with paddles- comes from one end and passes among the visitors.

After this show with waka these Maori men came up to the scene in the show tent. They make a cultural performance and after the show they serve the Maori food “hangi”.

In the natural bush settings, the performance takes the people back in time when the ancient Maori customs and traditions were part of their everyday life. They sing and dance and tell some tales and legends.

After the show we have been taken to the dining area. They served the traditional food “hangi”. Hangi is a steam cooked meat, chicken and potatoes. As a side dish they also gave salads, and some other stuff.

Steam oven. Under the cover chicken, meat and potatoes is cooked.

 The program was scheduled to end up at 21:00 o ‘clock but I left around 20:30 and drove to the down town. I walked in the city and then drove to the Hotel.

I started to sleep. Good night from Rotorua. 

18 March 2016:- NEW ZEALAND :- Auckland >>Coromandel

NEW ZEALAND :- Auckland>>Coromandel

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. 

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 19^th 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.

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 19^th 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.

Old Gold Mine at Thames:- I am looking like the partner :)

Inside the gold mine

Searching for some gold 

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. 

Harbour View, Coromandel

Coromandel Town from top

While trekking to the Lookout Site, Coromandel

Wharf from top, Coromandel

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.

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).