Cycling in Coromandel: Day 9, 7th January: Coromandel - Whangapoua

An early start was planned and achieved so there would not be too much traffic on the road as we were heading over route 25, the main road.  Even more likely to be busy, as the storm had caused numerous slips between Coromandel and Thames so a lot of the traffic to Thames was going the long way around via Whitianga (i.e. our route).

We had spent several days looking at the steep hills behind Coromandel Town.  Still, it came as a surprise to us, just how steep and long the hill was out of Coromandel Town.  Of course, it afforded marvellous views both to the east and west coasts of the Coromandel Peninsula once we made it to the top.  Lots of walking for Moira, while Ross managed to cycle to the top on his e-bike, albeit with plenty of rest stops in the occasional shady spot.

A swift descent down the other side into Te Rerenga, which has the most colourful school I’ve ever seen and not much else.  The Whangapoua Holiday Park is right on the junction with SH 25, some 7 km from Whangapoua village.  It’s a pleasant green campsite, utilising former Forestry Service cabins as it is sited right next door to the Forestry Service.  After we set up our camp and ate a huge green salad for lunch (we’d been missing fresh veggies up in northern Coromandel), we spent the afternoon catching up on blog postings.  

In the late afternoon we headed off to Whangapoua village across the causeway which used to be a railway line for moving kauri trees.  Our destination was Wainuiototo Beach (New Chums Beach) which is reached, rather romantically, by a river crossing and a 30 minute walk which includes a stretch picking your way amongst the rocks, then through a delightful piece of bush across the headland. 

It was absolutely worth the walk and what a beautiful time of night to visit.  The surf was almost perfect so we enjoyed a great frolic and then a stroll along the beach to the far end, observing dotterels and oystercatchers as we went.

Reversing our journey back to Whangapoua Holiday Park, we found the camp kitchen was a social place as we talked to a number of European family groups about their experiences in NZ.