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22nd February 2010
- A long drive from New Plymouth to Whitianga on
the Coromandel Peninsula |
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We left New Plymouth soon after breakfast and drove along
State Highway 3.
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After about an hour, we
made our first stop at a beautiful spot overlooking the
mouth of the Mokau River. |
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Around lunchtime, we arrived
at Otorohanga, where we spent an entertaining hour visiting
the Kiwi
House, with its collection of native birds and reptiles.
The kiwis are housed in a dark enclosure with very limited
lighting, but we were still able to get a good look at them.
We really enjoyed it when one of the staff decided to wake
up the birds so that we could get a better look and was
then pecked and chased around the enclosure by one of the
bad-tempured creatures, who was not amused at being disturbed! |
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By early afternoon, we
were seeing the first road signs to the Coromandel Peninsula
and were starting to hope that we getting there at last.
Little did we know that we still had about three hours to
go along some very twisty roads. Distances on a New Zealand
road map can be very deceptive (as we had conveniently forgotten
from our previous trip to the country!) |
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After a short break at Tairua, we drove
north again and turned right at Whenuakite, on the last
leg of the journey to Ferry Landing. It was fortunate that
we got good directions in advance, because a lot of people
take State Highway 25 all the way to Whitianga, only to
find that although they can see Ferry Landing a short distance
away over the water, there is only a passenger ferry to
get there! |
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It was late afternoon by the time
we arrived at our destination, Ferry Landing. We were
given a warm welcome at Ferry
Landing Lodge by the owners, Pam and Rob. They
gave us a briefing about the local area together with
information sheets and maps to help us get about over
the next few days. |
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The regular ferry service across to
Whitianga |
Ferry Landing Lodge, as seen from the
ferry; our room at the top |
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On our first evening, we
had a pleasant meal at the "Squids" restaurant
in Whitianga. |
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23rd February 2010
After breakfast the next morning we set off on foot to
explore the local area
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Taking the ferry across
to Whitianga again. We did that a few times! |
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The "Crisp" cafe in downtown
Whitianga |
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The view from our room
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Dinner (and dessert!) at the Eggsentric cafe |
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24th February 2010 |
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We started the day with
a short drive to a cliff-top car park, from where we planned
to visit Cathedral Cove |
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We did the 45 minute walk... |
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...which was well worth
every step! |
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Cathedral Cove |
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The forty five minute walk
back uphill from the cove to the car park in the heat of
the day provided some much needed exercise... |
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...and afforded more beautiful
views. |
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In the afternoon, we ambled around Whitianga and had
an excellent meal at the Salt Restaurant in the Whitianga
Hotel
25th February 2010
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We timed our visit to Hot
Water Beach for the morning, to coincide with low tide,
which is when the hot springs were accessible |
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It felt quite strange to
feel the (very) hot water underfoot. Geoff was so busy enjoying
it that he didn't see a wave coming! |
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Coffee (1 x long black & 1 x flat white)
plus 1 x carrot cake (large slice for Bruce ...again!)
at the Eggsentric Cafe
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Our last evening on the peninsula
and it was back to our favourite restaurant...
...yes, you've guessed it, the Eggsentric
Cafe!
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...and just look at Bruce's dessert,
after that huge carrot cake earlier!
More about the diet later...
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After breakfast the next
morning, we bade farewell to our hosts at
Ferry Landing Lodge and set off on the long drive to Northland |
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