Rainy, Fun Days in Coromandel

 After spending the night in Auckland, we got a relatively early start to the Coromandel Peninsula. It was about a 2 hour drive to the base of the peninsula, where we refueled and then set off up the coast. Driving here is an interesting experience; driving can change from fun to terrifying in a matter of moments, yet it is almost always incredibly beautiful. Driving up the coast to Coromandel Town was stunning, and we even had some sunlight for a short period of the drive! Coromandel Town is a small, quaint little town with a few shops and restaurants, but not much else. We stopped at a little cafe that Lonely Planet recommended because it had gluten free options. The food was good, although the people seemed a bit pretentious. After lunch, we continued down the road toward our hostel, Black-Jack Lodge. The road here stops following the coastline and instead winds its way through the mountains before reemerging on the coast on the opposite side of the peninsula.

 We arrived at the hostel, which has turned out to be a great little place to stay. Everything is very clean and nice, and the hosts are very helpful. We decided to go for a walk on the beach when the rain temporarily stopped, and we got to the end of the beach before it picked back up. When we made it back to the lodge we were thoroughly soaked.

We cooked dinner and then spent the rest of the night talking with an older British couple that was staying in the lodge with us (it's their fifth time to New Zealand). This morning, we awoke to more rain, so we decided to make it an easy morning that involved reading, checking email, and making brunch. Carl, the owner, has a small flock of chickens that produce the fresh eggs he shares with the lodgers.

Despite the rain, we decided to try and see a famously beautiful beach nearby: New Chums Beach. Alas, we arrived there at high tide and we weren't able to swim across a small but deep stream to reach the walkway to the beach. Instead, we watched the surfers take on the amazing waves. We also saw some funny looking birds and, of course, more beautiful scenery.




After our failed attempt to see New Chums Beach, we drove up more windy roads to the closest town: Whitianga. There, we found a grocery store to replenish our food stock. Tonight we're going to cook up some famously good New Zealand lamb chops in the lodge's beautifully kept kitchen.