Next to Last Stop: The Coromandel

by Bruce

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Our 86 Mitusibishi van was burning oil and it was in bad need of a refill.  I was  reminded of this every we time we rounded a hard corner the little red light would flicker. We snaked our way up through the steep and winding roads to the peninsula’s eastern side.  If there was anywhere Bertie couldn’t fail us, it was there on that drive.  From Rotorua to Coromandel, we calculated 3 hours of steady driving, but being crammed in the van was making me ill, so we drove a bit slower. We were destined for Whangapoua on the eastern peninsula. Google maps showed it as only being 18 km or 16 minutes away from Coromandel town but in actuality it was another 35 minutes.  Its another steep windy traverse up a bitch of a hill.  For those planning a visit to the Coromandel, take the eastern freeway.  The views are better, the road’s less monotonous, plus there are more places to stop along the way, including Hot water beach.

HWB – Hot Water Beach side note: The water is hot! Access depends on the tide level.  Here’s a great site with a tide chart and more info about the underground reservoirs of superheated water.

http://www.mercurybay.co.nz/activities/hotwaterbeach.php

I recommend parking at the southern parking lot if you’d like the more direct approach.  There are shovel/spade rentals next to the main parking lot, but if the weather’s nice you can bet there will be other people there in which case just borrow one.  The day we arrived it was rather windy but the hot pool made it well worthwhile with at least a half dozen people gathered in a freshly dug pool.

The Coromandel was a nice getaway, a chance for the three of us to dig our toes in the sand and unwind.  I needed my alone time and Harry and Papa Yuan got a chance to hang out, take a hike together, and just get some quality father&son time.  It was simply a great way to conclude our tour of NZ and the person we have to thank most for that sweet hookup is our dear friend, Lara B in Auckland.

Thanks chica, for all your help and guidance!