Carl & Marie sent us on our way with a great fried breakfast at about 11.00ish and we made our way to the Coromandel area. The route around the Coromandel was unerringly picturesque but that had become the norm for NZ - The highlights were Cathedral cove about 26km away from our hostel and then a 45 minute walk to the beach. Very lovely beach, big waves and great structures so you could walk through the "cathedral" as the tide was going out. Spent a couple of hours there and then drove to Hot Pools beach to dig us a spa although we were a little late and the beach was already full of people in their personal spa baths.

Auckland was our last stop where we checked out the city including the sky tower, the museum and the botanical gardens. We also took the ferry to Devenport and guess what, another mini mountain overlooking the bay and Auckland - Heather and her camera inevitably needed to make the climb and Dan provided escort. A bit of internet preparation for South America, two bottles of Villa Maria and the New Zealand leg of our expedition was over …. Next stop Tahiti.