January 22-23 - drive from Bay of Islands to Coromandel Peninsula

Friday 22 January

Today was a driving day. We headed south once again to the Coromandel. We knew it would be a long journey, but we were surprised how quickly we had passed through Auckland. So we decided we had time to take a longer route and follow the Pacific Coastal Route from where it starts at Whitford. 

This proved to be a great choice. It was a lovely drive and we had plenty of time to make stops as well as call in to the Miranda Shorebird Centre which we passed. We were happy to get some information about when was the best time to visit.

Saturday 23 January

Having been made very welcome by our hosts yesterday afternoon, we headed up for breakfast promptly with a full day exploring ahead. The weather was lovely. We had a gorgeous view out over the surf beach – accessible by a long drive around to the opposite peninsula – and decided to eat outside.

We headed out for the day with many plans. Being a Saturday and still school holidays, we actually only popped in to many of the well known places on this peninsula – Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove among them – too busy for us. Note to self – come back mid-week out of school holidays!

It was, however, lovely to simply pop in to these places to see the beautiful beaches. Bay of Islands may have a big name for its water sports and the town of Russell, but the Coromandel is equally as beautiful. 

We had booked to travel on the Driving Creek Railway and made it in ample time. However it was just as well we booked as when we arrived the 'full' sign was posted over our time slot. 

This railway was built by one man who travelled to the area in the 1970s to become a potter when he realised teaching science was not for him. He came up with the idea to build a railway up the hill to help with gathering the clay required for his pottery. This task expanded to become the tourist attraction it is today.

A very informative and humorous narration by the driver on the way up and down left us in awe at the vision and achievement of this man. Sadly, we learned later of his death (he was in his 80s) today.

After the railway, we stopped for a short look around the historic town of Coromandel. Then we followed the road down he other side of the peninsula following he Firth of Thames. We stopped in the town of Thames for an early dinner so as to time our visit to the site of the migrating birds on the dunes an hour before high tide. We understand now why we had been encouraged to reconsider our thought to stay in Thames. What a peculiar, dead town in such a tourist area.

 

We arrived at one of the hides to view the birds and already there were great flocks feeding on the incoming tide. What a sight! We stayed for almost 2 hours watching the birds move with the tide. It was fascinating to see the tide gradually trickle closer and closer to where we were watching and with it the birds came closer and closer.

We arrived back at our accommodation by 9pm having a sense of accomplishment that we had achieved so much in the one day.

Lovely surf beaches

Beautiful coves - Cathedral Cove

Charming free camp sites

Boat moving New Zealand style - the tractor takes the boats directly on to the beach - no ramps!

View looking down on the town of Coromandel. Across the water in the distance are the islands off Auckland

The Driving Creek Railway

Still much of the original pottery established by Barry Brickell

Two trains run up at the same time. The track is uniquely designed so they have clever passing spots where the track has to wind its way up the hill

A clever engineering feat - a double deck bridge, but only one train on the bridge at any one time

A very unusual material used for this retaining wall!

A number of tunnels have been excavated

View from the Eyefull Tower

The Eyefull Tower which was based on the design of the lighthouse in Auckland Harbour

Many, many kauri trees have been planted and exotic species poisoned to try to return the natural order of things

Watching the arrival of the migratory birds at Miranda Shorebird Centre

Hundreds of bar-tailed Godwits in the foreground and the Pied Oystercatcher on the shell spit

A group of Oystercatchers were have a great time playing just in front of us in the hide

And the tide creeps in. Spoonbills are also migratory visitors

Such a diverse collection

White-faced Heron

Carefully stalking then catching creatures under the water