The Coromandel Peninsula….

The Coromandel Peninsula extends 85 kilometres north from the western end of the Bay of Plenty forming a natural barrier to protect the Hauraki Gulf and the Firth of Thames from the Pacific Ocean to the east. It is 40 kilometres wide at its broadest point. The Coromandel Mountain Range is like a spine running down the centre of the peninsula and is mainly forest.

Our route took us up the east coast and back down the west!

The peninsula had it all, narrow winding mountain passes, open farmland and beautiful beaches.

Our first stop over was at Hahei. Here we were able to have a campsite with a view of the sea and walk out to Cathedral Cove.

Cathedral Cove is one of those “must see” places on the North Island. It is only accessible on foot, or by boat, being about 2km from Hahei. The walk itself is spectacular but not one you do in high heels, though some tried! It is as popular as our Murder Hole beach in Donegal but a lot harder to access!

Once you get off the beach the path is well defined – not sure this actually shows how steep it was!

And it looks like I forgot to take a picture of the staircase down to it!

A lovely tribute to WW1 – planting trees in memory of the sacrifices made.

But you do have to take your moment to get a picture with no one in it!

Still prefer the Murder Hole!

Our next stop over was in Coromandel town, via Cook Beach, Ferry Landing and Whitiango!

Cook Beach – On 4th November 1769, HM Bark Endeavour, commanded by Lieutenant James Cook anchored off what is now known as Cook Beach. They loaded freshwater and firewood and traded with local people. Cook
raised the Union Jack and claimed the area to the Crown

Ferry Landing – like it says!! Short ferry ride will take foot passengers across to Whitiango.

The discovery of gold in 1852 brought a boom to Coromandel and the town has retained the feel of a gold mining town – or what I imagine a gold mining town would be like from the many westerns I was brought up watching!

The road works weren’t too bad on a Sunday evening – different story negotiating them on Monday! The town is getting fibre broadband (a bit like VG in our absence!)

We can highly recommend the Star and Garter hotel – they do fantastic pizzas on a Sunday evening for only $10nzd! That’s a fiver in our money!

The Coromandel Service Centre was built in 1873 and originally housed the district’s government offices, courthouse, post office and telegraph office.

How cute is this police station – might bring me out of retirement!!!

Another must see on the peninsula is the Driving Creek Railway. Even if you don’t have an interest in railways the journey is worth it and the story amazing.

The Driving Creek Railway climbs 2.7km from the Base Station at 55 metres above sea level to EyeFull Tower at 167 metres above sea level, a total climb of 115 metres. With an average gradient of 1-in-24.1 (1 vertical metre for every 24.1 metre of length) the Driving Creek Railway is New Zealand’s steepest railway.
Unlike most other tourist railways, this railway is newly built rather than being an old line that has been restored. It is New Zealand’s only narrow-gauge mountain railway.

https://dcrail.nz/

The railway was the passion and brainchild of Barry Brickell. As well as railways and locomotives Barry had an interest in pottery. He studied physics and chemistry graduating with a Science Degree. He moved to Coromandel in 1961 to take up a teaching post but he hated it and resigned after a few months to become a full time potter. He bought the land the railway and pottery are on in 1973 and started the railway in 1985, initially to bring clay to the pottery.

The end of the line – The 2.7km railway from Base Station to EyeFull Tower took 32 years to build. Most of the surveying and work was carried out by hand.

Barry Brickell died on 23rd January 2016 at Driving Creek aged 80 years. He is buried overlooking his native trees and railway.

All along the route there are numerous sculptures

And decorations on the walls and bridges

There are several walls like this – lined with wine bottles, all drunk by Barry!

Reversing point to carry on up/down the gradient

Double decker viaduct! There are two horseshoe-like spirals on the route, five viaducts, five bridges, three tunnels and five reversing points!

This tunnel has been decorated by American potters.

I’m grateful to the website for helping me remember some of the detail and would encourage you to read this story if you are interested. Beautiful place among the trees.

On Remembrance Day we stopped in Thames and observed the ceremony in the town. Having visited the New Zealand memorials in France last year it was poignant to have an understanding how far these young men travelled, only to die fighting a war that really wasn’t theirs.