We left the Hot Water Beach Park a little reluctantly this morning and decided to traverse the Coromandel Via a gravel highway for some 22 kilometres only saw about three other cars just as well, as narrow ,hilly and generally tricky, but it was soon over and we stopped for coffee ( and pancakes) at Coromandel town. Quaint and a mecca for fishermen and all things to do with mussels and smoking. You catch it they smoke it for you. We also came across our first “pigs in the road “ sign and guess what ?....lots of pigs in the road, cute little ones both black and some spotted, it was their back yard after all.
Finally on the west side of the Coromandel we went south via lots of road repairs,along a road that followed the coast to a town called Thames, nothing of note but we enjoyed a wander, feeling we were getting back into town life. Lots of charity and pound type shops, bit like Carmarthen. Good book shops however, Andrew would have had his hair cut but barbers in Thames close for lunch and Andrew couldn’t be bothered to hang about.
So finally we are in our last campsite of the trip, about an hour and a half to the airport where we have to give the Van back tomorrow.
We have extricated our bags from the storage vault underneath our bed where we put them nearly three weeks ago, and done most of the packing . The camp site has a spring fed hot pool and loads of children’s facilities so a fair number about. It is a good campsite, good showers , kitchen facilities and common room but they have let themselves down badly by packing in the campervans in too tightly when there is plenty of space around the site. I shall feel better by leaving the appropriate comments on the app that has so cleverly taken us around the whole of nz camping opportunities.
Meanwhile we will be having a random meal tonight finishing off our food stocks ( eggs, cheese and pasta will feature, chocolate biscuits nearly polished off and a couple of kiwi fruit, apple and banana to go with the yogurt tomorrow. Posh meal in Auckland to look forward to tomorrow night.
I make no comment re hot pools and the “hole digger” ...he offered! But, sore throat and a tickly cough started last night, so I guess it could be said that sitting in hot water on a beach doesn’t have the same therapeutic benefits of the hot springs we have sampled elsewhere!