auckland to whakatane and the bay of plenty
The Coromandel Peninsula is one of NZ’s most-loved holiday destinations. Its spectacular
coastline provides a mix of sandy bays and rocky coves, while the rugged, volcanic
backbone is cloaked in a dense robe of native forest and boasts some of NZ’s best
hiking. From the old gold mining town of Coromandel, with its laid-back artisan
community, across to Mercury Bay’s magnificent Cathedral Cove on the east coast
and south to Whakatane and the Bay of Plenty, visitors will find a region with a
rich gold mining history and a wide range of activities to enjoy. We take a three-day
drive and visit a migratory bird sanctuary, discover old gold mines and stamper
batteries, hunt for flounder, call in to visit local potters and artisans at their
home studios and take a life-changing trip to the live marine volcano of White Island
off the coast of Whakatane.
day two: coromandel town to whangamata
Key
- Destinations
- Apex Locations
A tree outside the cottage provides a lemon in the morning. After a sumptuous feed
we decide to skip SH25 in favour of the 309 Road and the Waiau Waterworks. We depart,
but first call into the Coromandel Smoking Company where we pick up hot smoked trevally
for our picnic basket.
At the Waiau Waterworks we find creative feats of engineering and large sculptures
sprawling over the Ogilvie’s four-and-a-half acres.
“I’ve always wanted to do silly things with water,” says Chris Ogilvie when we arrive.
We walk through its gardens beside the Waiau River and there are several fun rides,
all of which are powered by water, plus a variety of water-powered clocks, butter
churns, waterwheels and intriguing pedal-powered pumps. Feeling energetic Bob takes
a ride on the Flying Fox, which like many of the Waterworks creations, is made from
recycled materials– it even includes brake calipers from an old car...
To read the full story
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Auckland to Whakatane scenic drive, courtesy of apex car rentals new
zealand... the kiwi way
to read more extracts from our driving holiday's guidebook please click on any of
the following links:
north island scenic drives
south island scenic drives
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