Photo opportunities throughout the entire seven hour journey (inc: stops) were nobbled by a distinct lack of places to pull off the highway for a quick snap. Our journey south took us back along Highway 1 and our first stop off was at Waipu Cove further down the beach from Ruakaka at Bream Bay. With only a light breeze we were able to enjoy the view across the Pacific and further on our drive the road wound high over Pukekaroro and we had our final photo opportunity looking back over the Brynderwyn Hills and Bream Head, then to the far north.
And onwards, South, we headed, leaving the oft Vietnamese / Columbian forestscape - I thought - of the Northland, through Auckland and out amongst the arid regions of Franklin and then East across Waikato where townships turned to farmland and homesteads and lush greens turned to tired browns and faded straw. Even as we reached the Firth of Thames, the sparse populations of bungalows and acre after acre of harvested arable land refused to alter. We imagined ourselves in mid-West America.
The Coromandel Range was on our horizon rising high above us and our drive took us through the foothils of Mt Rowe, heading upwards and through the Coromandel Forest Park where the land became verdantly green once more.
Finally we reached the Peninsula's Eastern tip and Pauanui, our new home for two nights. Driving through the town before our hotel was surreal since the whole place has a new-town feel to it. A holiday village, with inlets from the sea reaching in amongst the holiday bungalows from the harbour.
Paunanui, it seems, should be top of the list of places to stay. Having arrived at the Puka Park, we were booked in and couriered to our chalet, nestled on the hillside amongst the native bush. Nothing but trees to see and birds to listen to.
Gorgeous!
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