A day in Coramandel town, scenery and beach!

Blue skies and threat of 28C so drove over the mountains to Coramandel town, with hills and bush views, beaches and distant view to Auckland.
Strolled the colonial buildings in town, coffee, bought a small boogie board for Lesley to improve her wave hopping skills. Drove up the peninsula and stopped for packed lunch by the beach at Amodel Bay.
Back to Whitianga but rock pool searching on the way at Kuaòtunu beach, one of the perfect sandy bays in this region . Tried out the board on the town beach but wave's weren't big enough but knackered us anyway! Back to batch for possibly  dinner in the garden tonight

Mt Maunganui climb, swim and move on to Whitianga

Before the sun got too hot, us and every other fit guys walked the steep track up to the lookout. Stunning 360 views over the whole of Mt and it's city neighbours Taraunga. I took my sticks as I had a slight knee issue, thinking a lot would do the same! Wrong, even little wrinkly peeps marched up and down unaided.  Running seemed to be almost the norm. Kids seemed to be encouraged without too man moans or bribes of icecreams at the bottom.
Swim after to cool off, the surf competition was in full swing again but we were still none the wiser what they were all doing. Drove the 3 hours through the east side of the corramandel up to Whitianga,  our home for the next 3 weeks. Brian and Mary had just arrived so all worked out well! It's a great looking Bach by the side of the estuary and a short way into town and beach. We are going to enjoy it here , unpacking and not living out of suitcases and a host of plastic bags full of stuff we haven't worn yet plus some we have worn too much!

In our Bach Whitianga

Day 2 and pub last night for the 10$ special curry night with Brian and Mary.
They have just left for the 3 hour drive back to Auckland so on our own!
Bikes in garage, tried them out and they are really nice. Kyak too so may give it a go in the estuary. Hetti has had a good rest.

Taupo to Mt Maunganui via Rotorua.......briefly!

Walked round the Craters of the Moon thermal park before leaving. Really enjoyed the area. Stopped at the recommended mud pool just off the highway and into the city of Rotorua. The weather was nice but not our cup of tea, just a sprawling mess of shops and eateries. It's obviously grown to cope with it being possibly close to the number 1 destination.
Swiftly moved on and after an hour entered our next night in Mt Maunganui via the coast road. Properties looked expensive all along the beach that had white sand and nice surf. Our motel is in a small Spanish style complex right next to the beach, the harbour and Mt Maunganui itself. Quickly changing and out in the surf till we were knackered! There was a major life saving event on so people every where, but great atmosphere on the beach and in the village tonight. It's grockley but in a nice way!

Taupau, full on day of shine, swimming, boat, swimming and pub......hopefully!

Drove round the bays and ended in Kinloch for coffee. Two swimmers and nice changing rooms on the harbour beach tempted us into the lake. Clear and not cold, played on the swimming pontoon and got dressed. Nice place this, scores high on our dream location.  Up to the Aratiatia

                                 Yes it's Lesley swimming and no lifeguard standing by,

 dam for more torents of water when the gates lift followed but boat cruise to Huka Falls.....nice.
Back to the river where a hot stream joins and in with the bodies for another swim in the hot and cool water.....weird feeling!
Dress again like everyone else, in the grass and bushes and finally  back to Phoenix for our last evening. Planning to walk along the lake to join the ironman competitors that have turned out in force for the main event Saturday.  May even join in......but I'm a bit weak on swimming,  cycling and I can't run!

Coffee with friends, Huka Falls and a 'gentle' afternoon sail on Tapau courtesy skipper Dave and his boat, Fearless

We met Barbara and husband Dave for coffee and cake. Barbara worked with Lesley and they are on their big tour in a camper van.  Our schedules meant we could meet up.

Drove up, after lunch at the Phoenix, to the famous Huka Falls. They were great, such power in the narrow chanel the river flows through. I read on line there was a great elevated view, so walked 10 minutes to a great location where we were on our own!

Saying that, the crowds have subsided at the popular spots and accommodation is showing vacancies now.

We booked, after comparing boats, which one we were going to do the late afternoon lake tour with. The safe looking fake steamer, the large fast cat that takes a hundred people....... or about 10 of us with Dave the skipper, his  German girl crew that had just started, on a fully rigged sailng boat?

The weather was perfect as we sailed , sitting on bean bags and admiring the sails, listening to the water lapping the sides. Around the point and into lake proper (it's huge) . We went into a bay to check out the rock carvings and then evening wind picked up and he promised an exciting and wet hour and a half back to Tapau.

It was great fun, he managed to keep us fairly dry with full sails up until the wind strengthened and we made for the other side of the lake for a long beat home. Lesley loved most of it, even the water coming up over the side......great trip!

Fearless after our trip

New Plymouth to Lake Taupo via the Forgotten Highway 43

Early morning walk along the lovely waterfront path that runs for 10kms round the coast. We did about an hour and stopped for coffee in one of the popular pop up cafes made simply from an old shipping container. We sat on bean bags and watched the surf and a couple of pretty good borders!
On our way and taking the road to Stratford and then the amazing Highway 43. It's a scene from a movie with miles and miles of green hump hillocks, views across valleys, a great pub and bush drive through a gorge where they 'forgot 'to surface the road for 10kms! Hetti was shaking and rattling especially when a double trailer logging truck came right up our backsides. We let it pass with dust filling the gorge from its tyres. Coming out of the bush and back on tarmac we had to pass a procession of about 20 old tractors on their way to some event. Stopped at  a lookout just before Taupo to see wide views across towards Tongario. Arrived at 5.30 and checked into the Phoenix motel for 3 nights. It's quite large with everything we need including thermal heated water with a pungentish aroma and a large spa tub again filled with their own steaming hot water......should be good!
We also have an obscure view of the lake through our pretty rose garden chilling area