Waihi Beach Top 10 Holiday Park

In Waihi angekommen fuhren wir zur Martha Mine - Neuseelands groesste Gold- und Silbermine, welche die Stadt vor 50-100 Jahren boomen liess, dann geschlossen wurde und seit den 80ern wieder benutzt wird. Heute arbeitet man hier aber nicht mehr in Tunneln, sondern im Tagebau. Die halbe Stadt ist ein Riesenloch, welches spaeter mal ein See werden soll.
Im VisitorCentre war ein Museum ueber die Goldmine integriert. Dort ...

Ok, back on to highway 25 and we hit Waihi! 
Driving though to find a car parking space, this little town feels like being in a wild wild west movie from america! Quirky and small, this town use to be a major gold mining town and all around the main shopping road there are status of people of how they lived many years ago! - ie, children playing on ...

... out of the room and sitting having a tea, the fax came through with overnight stop in Thames due to timetable change. What the !#$@$%. Yesterday had been told changes weren't occurring just yet and now they were! Called head office again and yes we are now on the new timetable so was I now on to plan C or go back to A. Decided on A. Had already paid for another nights accommodation here and the bus was still actually organised for tomorrow (since I ...

... vegetable garden and citrus trees galore, so we have enjoyed some delicious organic meals. It's a real treat just to step out side the back door and pick fresh fruit and veg straight from the ground and trees. Oh I mustn't forget the awesome strawberries too! We have enjoyed delights such as fresh lemon meringue pie, strawberry gateau and lemon cake, so as you can see no room for dieting on this trip! Our main task has been to weed the tiered gardens, cut and lay ...

... woods and forested hillsides and small bays and coves. A good friend had recommended that we should see the Coromandel and it was a very pretty scenic area - thanks Neil. Coming down the east coast of the peninsula, on the shore of the wide 'Firth of Thames', we saw great flocks of sea and shore birds. We finally stopped at 'Thames' for the night, again just as it was starting to rain. Distance driven 145 Km 90 miles

From Rotorua I hitchhike to Thames. On the way I passed through Matamata the town of Hobbiton and took some picture that show that I've been there. I know that I probably said that a hundred time so far, but I'm still amazed from the people that stop for me on the way. My they no only happiness in their life. P.s I walked 6 KM to town with all my backpack. It took me lass then one hour, God bless army training(Not really).

... symbol on it - a fern-like spiral which is in the Maori flag (also its very pretty!) We then went along the windy roads up the coast just a few kms to cathedral cove. We took a 40 min walk to a beautiful beach where a natural arc-like cave through the rock forms the cathedral. I couldn't resist and took a dip in the aqua-blue waters. Our stop for the evening took us up the coast again to ...