COROMANDEL PENINSULA

COROMANDEL TOWN

We ventured up the west coast of the peninsula, north of Te Puru, to the small town of Coromandel: our first independent foray in the Truck. The town is named after the 1820 visit of the British Admiralty supply ship Coromandel which called into the harbour to obtain kauri spars and masts.

Nic and Lin had recommended we try the green-lipped mussels, so we headed for the Mussel Kitchen, an out-of-town eatery set in nice gardens. Have to say we were not too keen on the mussels as they are huge (see pictures) and a bit chewy around the edge. But in the name of research........

Not much left for me!!

 Views from the restaurant table

Garden

An old barge used to bring supplies to the restaurant

 

View from the car park

To the west of town we found Long Bay:

Steve went charging ahead........not seeing the notice
 
 

 Ah letting me catch up
The views were stunning....

We were headed for the track leading to an ancient kauri tree and a small grove of smaller ones. It didn't help that we weren't too sure exactly what a kauri tree looks like......

We found some lovely trees but none of them were the kauri!

The track took us to Tucks Bay.



Campers stocking up for the night's meal.



 How much further did you say!!!

More later.....

We didn't make it yet to the Driving Creek Railway and Potteries, but watch this space..

WHANGAMATA

A day on the east coast of the peninsula. Surfing territory.



Several kilometres of beach to myself. The gap in the ozone layer over New Zealand means it's essential to use sun block all the time. Sue has even bought a hat!



 Another Cowboy town like Thames...We sampled the ice cream here for the first time: awesome flavours, including Hoky-Poky (vanilla with honeycomb...yum!)