Eastside of Coromandel

Trip Start Jan 19, 2006
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Trip End Jan 19, 2007


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Thursday, June 1, 2006

Glorious day again and drove a bit south to the Driving Creek railway which Jane recommended to us. This place was set up as a pottery and they built a railway to get the clay from up in the hill and then opened the railway to tourists. It is a zig zag railway up the hills and has lots of trees planted including kauris as you go. At the top is the Eyefull tower (ha ha!) with a great view of the forests and bays. The tower can be hired out for barbies or wedding which was be a fab place to have a get together - if the weather was ok I spose!

Back down we watched the glass blower at work for a bit which was interesting before driving south and then across the peninsula. On the way stopped to do a walk to see the biggest Kauri trees on the peninsula which are huge and merge together as they get bigger and another to see a waterfall. Road was a bit dodgy - unsealed but got over the other side in one piece 1-Scenic Railway
1-Scenic Railway
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Started to drive south down the east side of the peninsula with more lovely beaches - is more built up this side though. Had lunch overlooking some more bays (are getting used to all this scenery now!) and then drove down to Hot Water beach. Thought the tide was due in earlier than it actually was as you can sit in your own pool of hot water one hour either side of low tide at the moment. Decide to wimp out of doing this too but went for a paddle and found the site of the hot water - steam coming out of the sand and occasional gurgle of boiling sand and water. Created our own small pool for our feet and the water was absolutely boiling (funnily enough) thought we had burnt our feet! Reckon it would be quite dangerous to try and get the temperature right for your whole body! Was really cool though and glad we did it.

Then headed further south down the peninsula for more lovely views before we decided to head further north towards Auckland. This was mainly to get into Auckland tomorrow as our ipod was being sent there as it was being serviced after it packed in on us (thus halting our Spanish lessons). Drove around a while south of Auckland to find a camping spot. Eventually settled on a very quiet road with greenery everywhere and a few houses. A bit later a car drove up right behind the van and stopped and then went slowly passed us before turning round and going back to its home. Were a bit scared and had visions of police or an altercation happening but were left alone but left sharpish next morning!
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