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T&KonTour
Sunday 3 April, Coromandel Peninsula Exploration
Colin and Tony grab a cab for a short drive on deserted roads to the city Thrifty office at 8.15am. We pick up the same model of car, a Toyota Previa which is good because we now know where everything is, and we can get all the luggage in the back. Today's first stop is Paeroa which is 1 1/2 hours drive to the southeast. By the time we have had a coffee, most of the antique shops are open, and now you know why we stopped here in "The Antiques Capital of New Zealand."
Kathy is determined to find an antique, perhaps something silver. After several shops she settles on a toast rack, silver plate, from the end of the 19th century, and linked to the gold mining days here in the Coromandel. Job done, we can tick that item off.
Whilst we were driving down, and now in town also, we see lots of classic cars. Left-hand drive American monsters, and what Colin terms "muscle cars" are much in evidence. Perhaps they are having a rally?
We drive north now, to the little town of Coromandel. The road follows the coast of the Firth of Thames for most of the way. A particularly twisty little road, narrow in places, with large trucks as well! Thankfully there is not a big drop if we go off the road.
We stop for lunch at the Waiomu Beach café with its brightly painted exterior. Good food, but it comes with sand flies, who were not welcome. We arrive in Coromandel and drive a few kilometres outside to the Driving Creek Railway and Pottery. The originator and inspiration has unfortunately recently died but his legacy is now managed by a trust. A potter by trade, he wanted to use the local clays in this heavily wooded hilly area. How to get the clay back to the pottery? Simple, just build your own railway!
We decide against waiting for a scheduled departure and instead head off towards our motel, 45 minutes drive away in Whitianga. Gromit, our trusty GPS takes us by the most direct route, which happens to be one of New Zealand's most scenic drives, crossing from the west to east coast. The 309 road, it turns out, is also gravel and really windy. The most direct route yes, but not so comfortable after a day of traveling. Despite this we do stop to take photos of the Waiau Falls.
Our accommodation tonight is at Albert Number 6 motel which is centrally located. Unfortunately, Tony, our travel agent responsible for booking rooms has not kept up to his usual high standard. We are in a "Studio" with a minuscule bedroom and another bed in a room with small kitchen and dining table. After being used to something better the other travelers were disappointed shall we say. We put up with it anyway and walk around town to see what is available for dinner on Sunday night. Although it is too early to eat we stop for a drink at a hotel & restaurant overlooking the river and marina. We find an Irish pub along the street and all opt for the Irish Stew. Unfortunately by the time the chefs get to our order, there is non left. OK, we'll have the special, Chicken Parmy. Sorry, that's off too. Fed up, we get our money back and go next door where, amongst other fare, they specialise in stone-cooked meats. Tony enjoys a sirloin cooked on a 400° stone in front of him on the table i.e. DIY BBQ. Very nice it was too.
Colin and Tony grab a cab for a short drive on deserted roads to the city Thrifty office at 8.15am. We pick up the same model of car, a Toyota Previa which is good because we now know where everything is, and we can get all the luggage in the back. Today's first stop is Paeroa which is 1 1/2 hours drive to the southeast. By the time we have had a coffee, most of the antique shops are open, and now you know why we stopped here in "The Antiques Capital of New Zealand."
Kathy is determined to find an antique, perhaps something silver. After several shops she settles on a toast rack, silver plate, from the end of the 19th century, and linked to the gold mining days here in the Coromandel. Job done, we can tick that item off.
Whilst we were driving down, and now in town also, we see lots of classic cars. Left-hand drive American monsters, and what Colin terms "muscle cars" are much in evidence. Perhaps they are having a rally?
We drive north now, to the little town of Coromandel. The road follows the coast of the Firth of Thames for most of the way. A particularly twisty little road, narrow in places, with large trucks as well! Thankfully there is not a big drop if we go off the road.
We stop for lunch at the Waiomu Beach café with its brightly painted exterior. Good food, but it comes with sand flies, who were not welcome. We arrive in Coromandel and drive a few kilometres outside to the Driving Creek Railway and Pottery. The originator and inspiration has unfortunately recently died but his legacy is now managed by a trust. A potter by trade, he wanted to use the local clays in this heavily wooded hilly area. How to get the clay back to the pottery? Simple, just build your own railway!
We decide against waiting for a scheduled departure and instead head off towards our motel, 45 minutes drive away in Whitianga. Gromit, our trusty GPS takes us by the most direct route, which happens to be one of New Zealand's most scenic drives, crossing from the west to east coast. The 309 road, it turns out, is also gravel and really windy. The most direct route yes, but not so comfortable after a day of traveling. Despite this we do stop to take photos of the Waiau Falls.
Our accommodation tonight is at Albert Number 6 motel which is centrally located. Unfortunately, Tony, our travel agent responsible for booking rooms has not kept up to his usual high standard. We are in a "Studio" with a minuscule bedroom and another bed in a room with small kitchen and dining table. After being used to something better the other travelers were disappointed shall we say. We put up with it anyway and walk around town to see what is available for dinner on Sunday night. Although it is too early to eat we stop for a drink at a hotel & restaurant overlooking the river and marina. We find an Irish pub along the street and all opt for the Irish Stew. Unfortunately by the time the chefs get to our order, there is non left. OK, we'll have the special, Chicken Parmy. Sorry, that's off too. Fed up, we get our money back and go next door where, amongst other fare, they specialise in stone-cooked meats. Tony enjoys a sirloin cooked on a 400° stone in front of him on the table i.e. DIY BBQ. Very nice it was too.
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