27th January 2019 - to Whitianga

We said goodbye to Auckland this morning and following an argument with the satnav - she took us on a circuitous route that I thought totally unnecessary to get us out of the city!!! - we finally headed south on highway 1. We left this eventually, turning left onto highway 2 and then 25, before going back north up the western side of the Coromandel peninsula. This put the satnav into a flat spin again, but she soon realised who was boss and agreed with us and rerouted herself!!

This coastal route really was coastal. Nothing between the edge of the road and the sea, combined with the twists and turns and narrow parts made for an interesting journey. Why is it that when you get to a narrow stretch you meet a 4 wheel towing a boat 🙄

As is becoming the routine, we stopped for a late coffee at a roadside cafe, where we had yet another lovely coffee. As we motored north a viewpoint was signed so we stopped and weren’t disappointed!

It was Coromandel for lunch and then the last of the journey to Whitianga, having turned eastwards and then south. The blue sea and white sands looked wonderful as we reached the shoreline again.

Throughout our travelling so far the land use has been predominantly cattle and pasture. There have been a few sheep, but it’s mainly cattle. The pasture is either for grazing or for hay/silage. We have seen no arable land whatsoever, unless you count the maize which we assume is for cattle fodder. There have been vegetables and some orchards, a few vineyards, but that is it. We wonder if wheat and barley are grown here? On the tv they are advertising a type of grass for farmers called ‘Excess’. Do you know anything about it Helen?!!

We are back in an apartment here in Whitianga. Just have to cross the road to the sea so Geoff is happy! Sadly though we do not have the wonderful sea view that we had in the bay of islands! Think we were spoilt there! The apartment is spacious and comfortable but looks over the car park!!! Never mind, we won’t spend long sitting in, unless the weather changes which it is not forecast to do.