Friday, 11/25/2016: Coromandel - Tauranga

We leave Whitianga and take the 22 km long 309 Road to Coromandel City. There is much to see on this partially unpaved road:

After 6.5 km, we take a short break next to the Mahakirau River.

At km 14 (10 min walk), there is a Kauri Grove (small forest). Kauris are the largest trees in New Zealand. They are really huge when you stand directly in front of them.

One kilometer further, we visit the small Waiau waterfall.

The road ends in Coromandel City, a small town in the style of an old Western town. There, we park our car and go on a short 45-minute mountain hike. At the summit, we meet a couple from the Netherlands, whom we free from the madness of taking selfies.

A 2.5-hour drive takes us, in continuous rain, to Tauranga, our next accommodation, the Harbinger House, which is a private house run by a very nice Australian-Asian woman. Spoiler alert: It is as cozy as home, with fluffy beds, a garden view from the window, and breakfast with homemade bread and jam, among other things.

In the evening, we drive to the beautiful city of Tauranga, which has many bars and restaurants. There is even more going on here than in the big city of Auckland. We enjoy a delicious pizza at the crowded 'The Phoenix'.

Ciao 11/26/16