Do you think you can handle the Coromandel

18th - 20th November 2016

Early in the morning we set off to the airport to pick up the Hippicamper. After that, we drove to the Coromandel Peninsula. In Waiomo, we stopped for the first time to take a 2-hour track in a forest that ended with a Kauri tree. The path was flooded twice by a river, so we had to take off our shoes and socks to avoid walking the whole way with wet footwear. We followed the river up and crossed it several times using bridges.

Back at the car, we cooked our dinner, drank a few glasses of wine, and went to sleep.

The next day, we wanted to go to the top of the peninsula, but Dibbi couldn't start her van. After unsuccessful help from two nice Belgians, who we would encounter several times on Coromandel, we asked a Kiwi who was mowing his lawn if he could give us a jump start. Luckily, the man used to be a mechanic and had a spare battery with jumper cables in the garage. He gave us both and some brief instructions, and we were able to start the van. While I was about to return the battery and exchange a few words with the nice man, Dibbi and Claudi called me visibly excited. From the beach, we could see Orca whales swimming close to the bay, apparently to feed. After a while, they swam back out to the open sea and we continued our journey.

After a short stay in Coromandel Town, we spontaneously met up with Denis, Luisa, Jessi, and Andre, who were also traveling the peninsula and were at the New Chums Beach. The 7 of us spent a few hours at the beach, which we heard was one of the 10 most beautiful in the world. After that, we checked into a campground and spent the evening together.

Cathedral Cove

The next day, with beautiful weather, we went together to Cathedal Cove and relaxed on the beach. Later in the afternoon, we separated again and the three of us went to the Hot Water Beach. At low tide, access to a hot spring is revealed there. You just have to dig a hole in the sand and then you can relax in the hot water.