28/05/08: 95km, climb 1103m, Tauranga - Whangamata DOC
29/05/08: 69km, climb 786m, Whangamata - Hot Water Beach
30/05/08: 30km, Hot Water Beach - Whitianga
31/05/08: 44km, climb 823m, Whitianga - Coromandel
The ride from Rotorua to Tauranga was nice as it was sunny, mainly downhill and there was not much traffic. We camped in the garden of a friendly hostel in Tauranga and got sucked into TV for the night.
The road from Tauranga to Waihi the next day was terrible, or the combination of traffic and narrow road were. At least it was still sunny. In Waihi we left the road to Auckland behind and all the traffic which was a relief, but we ended up cycling into the dark trying to get to a DOC campsite marked ambiguously on our map. We did try and pay for the campsite for once, but were only greeted by a friendly dog who would not accept our money. During the night a possum kept trying to get into our tent, pressing its furry bottom to the tentwalls, but we did not let it in and wished we took the dog along as guard.
We continued on to Hot Water Beach the next day, which has a hot spring under the sand accessible at low tide. Then you can dig a hole and have a nice hot bath. On advice of a local we disobeyed the 'No Camping' signs. He also lent us a spade. Low tide was after dark so we decided to just dig our hole at the break of dawn, when the next low tide was. We were the first people on the beach, hitting it even before the sun. We found the hot patches and dug ourselves a hole, and a lovely warm bath. Unfortunately a wave came over our defense wall and cooled it down a bit, but it was still worth it. Tepid Water Beach.
Later that morning we set off and passed a few other stunning beaches, mostly lined with flash holiday homes. We went for a walk down to Cathedral Cove (a beautiful bay) and then passed by the Purangi Winery where we were plied with lots of tasty wine and fruit liquor samples. Our super fit cyclist constitution falls to pieces as soon as alcohol is involved, so we did not make it further than Whitianga that afternoon. I think we may have even stood on the oldest stone wharf in the country. In fact it may have been the oldest stone wharf in Australasia. If only we were sober enough to appreciate it.
The next day was short but pretty hilly and very pretty. In Coromandel town we checked into a lovely comfy hostel with fairlylights and a fireplace and dined on the local speciality of smoked seafood and another dose of TV.
Hot Water Beach
Cathedral Cove
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