2021 - Coromandel Peninsula (Part 1 - Whitianga)

Tuesday 28 December

A pleasant enough drive from Whangarei to Auckland and then to Whitianga. The only dramas were a diversion across the Hauraki Plains due to an accident and then very slowly through the town of Tairua due to its two one lane bridges, one at each end of town. These bridges have been slowing down traffic for decades now but nothing ever seems to get done to improve the situation. They are not long bridges, in fact the one at the southern end of town is probably less than 50 metres long.

After a short stop at the supermarket to get breakfast supplies, we checked into our hotel which is right on the waterfront and has a great view of the beach. To our surprise, we knew the owner and his wife. They also own the bar we frequent in Auckland city.

Hung and our hotel in Whitianga.

The waterfront at Whitianga.

The Whitianga waterfront.

Dinner was next door at Stokes and was very good.

Wednesday 29 December

Once we sorted out the electrics in the unit (it is a very old building, having been built by the owner's grandfather just after WW2), breakfast was served on the terrace.

We crossed over the harbour on the ferry and walked the 3 km to Cook's Beach. This was a pleasant walk there and back with a couple of drinks stops on the way.

The crossing over Whitianga Harbour.

The wharf at Whitianga.

Cook's Beach

Cook's Beach.

Cook's Beach.

Cook's Beach.

Towards Cook's Beach.

Towards Cook's Beach.

Whitianga Harbour.

Whitianga Harbour

Dinner was a restaurant called "The Curry Place". It offered both Indian and Thai food and was very good.

A tasty beverage at The Curry Place.

Thursday 30 December

A morning drive north along the coast until we got to Kaoutuna Beach. Stopped for an ice cream.

Simpson Beach.

Simpson Beach.

Back into Whitianga for a boat cruise along the coast towards Cathedral Cove and Hahei. We stopped several times to view the scenery, go swimming (not us, too cold) and entering a sizeable sea cave.

Pulling away from Whitianga.

Coastal scenery that is supposed to look like a sleeping dragon.

Coastal scenery.

Coastal scenery.

Coastal scenery.

Jumping off the rocks.

Jumping off the rocks.

More jumping off the rocks.

Cathedral Cove.

Cathedral Cove.

Coastal scenery.

Coastal scenery.

Coastal scenery.

Coastal scenery.

Coastal scenery.

The cave entrance.

The cave.

Inside the cave.

Leaving the cave in a hurry.

Sunset over Whitianga.

A fisherman at Whitianga.

Dinner was at a place whose name I cannot remember. It was okay with the rendang being very spicy.

Friday 31 December

A day in Coromandel town. See separate page.

Saturday 01 January

A drive around the coast to Hahei Beach. This is a built up area with some very nice and thus very expensive holiday homes, a nice beach and access to Cathedral Cove.

Hahei Beach.

Hahei Beach.

We drove back via the notorious 309 Road. This was so named, according to the hotel owner, as that was the time of day when the local post man used to start his delivery run. Other theories are available.

It is a winding, gravel goat track, 22 km long and has its very own Wikipedia page. However it is reasonably scenic and has just after its mid point a magnificent stand of kauri trees that somehow survived the extensive logging in the late 1800s and early 1900s. They are about 600 - 800 years old and there is well formed 5 minute long pathway to them.

At the Waiau Kauri Grove.

The trees at the Waiau Kauri Grove.

Dinner was at the pub around the corner.

Whitianga is a very popular town in the summer. I had not been there since we were kids travelling with our parents.