Day 16 & 17 Mon 11-Tue 12 Nov 2024

Time to leave the big city and head for the country. Our car this time was a little bit more environmentally friendly. It was also brand new. The Land Cruiser we had in W.A. had been to the moon and back.

We were off to a place called Hahei on the Pacific coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. Google gave us a choice of two routes, straight down the Southern Motorway, or a windy route that followed the coast. We choose the latter. It took us via Kawakawa Bay and Ōrere Point to the Stray Dog Cafe for lunch. Along the way we met some Dotterels which are very cute shore birds.

We arrived at Hahei Bed and Breakfast, our digs for the next two nights, about four in the afternoon. It is run by a lovely couple, who cook a very good breakfast, and I would recommend the place fully.

They don’t do evening meals, but there are a few options close by. The Church Bistro is said to be very good, but unfortunately was closed on both days we were there. When the tourist season gets fully underway, it opens seven days a week. We chose The Pour House, yet another antipodean craft brewery, but a rather good one. They also do good food. So good, that we ate there both nights.

The main highlight of our time in Hahei was our trip with Kiwi Dundee. I decided to make a separate post about it as there was a bit too much to include in this one.