An early start to get packed and taxi picked us up at 09.15 to take us to collect the motor home that will be our home for the next 3 weeks! After the usual paperwork but surprisingly nothing more to pay, we were let loose with a brand new Kea four berth motor home with delivery mileage only. All the equipment, appliances, bedding etc had not been previously used. After a quick demonstation we were on the road and first port of call was to a local supermarket to stock up on provisions. The roads out of Auckland were generally dual carriageway so quickly ( but not too quickly as we have been warned the police are strict on speed limits) got out into the country and green rolling hills. Amazed to see so many cattle in large herds but in relatively small fields. We were heading to the Coramundel Peninsula for our first night. We changed drivers at halfway and Sue negotiated the crossing of the mountains via numerous hairpin bends.

Scenery was very dramatic going through mountain forests with enormous tree ferns. Our first stop once we were at the end of the peninsula was a lovely walk along Hahei beach then we moved on to Cathedral Cove after a 45 minute walk through open land with more beautiful flowers and forests that had been very recently felled we descended some steps onto a beautiful beach with large boulders and a huge archway that was cut through the rock, quite dramatic.

We then parked up for the night at Hot water Beach, where we were encouraged to rent a shovel and head to the Hot Water Beach and dig us a hole and get in it!!!! The only problem was that we were running out of day light and the tide was fast coming in but we gave it a go, we pinched someone else's hole, did a very small amount of shovelling and got the warm water and in some places very hot water up to our ankles!!!! There were lots of young people lay in the water with a beer, an amazing site to see. It was then back to the motor home to cook spaghetti bolognaise for our supper.
Distance travelled - 180km