| New Zealand’s
Coromandel |
| Note From
Travels In New Zealand |
| Written And Photographed
by David Lavoie |
| June 2005
The Coromandel
is New Zealand’s playground. A region of rugged forests, dramatic scenery
and beautiful beaches, it is home to a myriad of activities for both New
Zealanders and visitors alike, especially those who enjoy being physically
active. Consider this; within a relatively small area you can go swimming,
surfing, fishing, yachting, boating, kayaking and water-skiing, scuba-diving
and snorkeling, mountain hiking and biking, cycling, quad-biking, and horse
trekking. When that’s done, you can relax in a cozy restaurant enjoying
delicious sea food and excellent local white wine, or visit one of the
many craft outlets usually in the home of the artist/craftsperson. |
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| The Coromandel
Peninsula, which is situated on the upper of the two large islands which
constitute New Zealand, extends about 85 kilometres north from the western
end of the Bay of Plenty. The peninsula is mountainous, and its slopes
are extensively covered with subtropical rainforest. Its backbone,
the Coromandel Range rises to 900 metres at spots and is high enough to
influence local weather patterns. Clouds attempting to pass over the mountains
frequently drop their rain in the hills, leaving the east coast predominantly
drier and sunnier than the west. The same jagged mountains make the Coromandel
a hiker’s paradise of dramatic vistas leading down to picturesque coves
with golden and white beaches. Part of the appeal is New Zealand rich
bird life. After all, New Zealand’s national symbol is a bird, the Kiwi,
and no walk can fail to be associated with the lovely, haunting call of
the Bell bird.
The Peninsula
has only five towns with a population of over 1000 people. Like many
places in New Zealand three of these towns have exotic Mauri names; Whitianga,
Tairua and Whangamata. The other two are Thames and Coromandel itself,
the latter named after the British Navy ship “H.M. S. Coromandel”
which anchored in McGregor Bay in 1820 to renew its spars with local kauri
wood and to take on a load of this sought-after timber. |
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| In fact
kauri was responsible for the early European development of the Coromandel
followed in the 1850’s by the discovery of gold.
But all
this is far from the Coromandel’s present nature. Today it is a recreational
paradise with some of New Zealand’s finest beaches and holiday resorts.
Happily the
Coromandel is also more than ready to accommodate those on all sorts of
budgets. As well as a few luxury resorts, there are also facilities for
back-packers, campgrounds and guesthouses.
Its five
towns welcome visitors to streets lined with old wooden houses resplendent
with fret work and characteristic pubs where you will be greeted with cheerful
Kiwi (New Zealander) enthusiasm. |
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Offshore
Resources Gallery
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| This was
our experience on a recent visit to relatives, Karen and Michael Leyden
of Devonport who picked us up at the airport after an eleven hour flight
from Kuala Lumpur and whisked us off immediately to the rustic charms of
the Coromandel, about a three and a half hour drive from Aukland. On
the way Mike decided that we should “stop for a pint” at a roadside pub
and our first sight on entering the tavern was a large and cheerful young
man wearing nothing but boots, diapers and a baby’s bonnet. It appeared
that the pub was hosting the young man’s pre-wedding stag party and his
startling attire was part of the fun! He seemed quite happy to have us
join in .
We spent
most of our time in the Coromandel at a seaside house called by New Zealanders
a “bach”. These tend to be comfortable, but largely no-frills holiday homes
although some of them become quite splendid indeed over the years. Our
days were filled with long walks in the hills and along the sea coast searching
for secluded coves which might afford some interesting snorkeling. We visited
Cathedral Cove and ate a wonderful meal at a renovated church which is
now an excellent restaurant called appropriately “The Church Restaurant.”
Roli and Tina, the owner-chefs, specialize in fresh scallops and other
sea food and delicious baked fish dishes. |
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| This place
is not to be missed if you are near Whitianga. In fact Whitianga is a popular
destination for locals and tourists alike. The area affords easy access
to secluded spots and surf beaches as well as many possibilities for serious
game fishing and diving. Not to be missed is the afore-mentioned Cathedral
Cove, an impressive rock arch on a beautiful beach of white sand. In
the evening, make a visit to nearby Hot Water Beach, renowned for the hot
springs bubbling up from beneath the sand. But be careful to dig you own
pit to sit in; it’s bad form to steal someone else’s! The spring water
is hot enough that you will have to mix in some sea water before enjoying
your natural thermal bath.
New Zealand
has so much to offer as a travel destination. Its people are friendly,
helpful and courteous to visitors from away. Facilities are excellent
and suited to travelers on sorts of budgets. |
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Offshore
Resources Gallery
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| The opportunities
for either a physically active, or a more relaxed holiday are numerous.
Should
you be considering a visit, be sure to include the Coromandel; you will
not soon forget the wild beauty of its forests, its sweeping beaches and
secluded coves, craggy mountains and thunderous surfs.
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