Tairua

Drive to Tairua

Our first "proper" holiday day after the exhausting flights!


I was very keen to leave Aukland, and after taking the obligitory snaps of the Skyline tower and watching a couple of kids get thrown a couple of hundred feet into the air by large elastic bands, we hit the road.


The first drive was on the M25! As I mentioned the motorways are a lot less populated than back in the UK, but they are very well maintained. Our first drive was for a couple of hours across to the Coromandel peninsula and over to the east coast. We drove through arable farmland, and I was being my usual, "look at that bird!", "look at that squashed possum". Minah birds are pretty common. They are brown and black but with yellow spectacles.


As we approached the town of Tairua we could see the sea. I would have to look at the map to explain the topology, but it was the first taste of the landscape shaped by volcanic activity. Tairua itself is a beautiful coastal town with natural bays full of wading birds.

We stayed at the Pacific Harbour Lodge which is an array of small bungalows situated next to the esturary and to the other side there are views of an extinct volcano. The driveways are paved with crushed pink and white scallop shells and gives a great atmosphere. The whole town is relaxed at this time of year, although I suspect that it's a favourite holiday spot for the Christmas period.

In hot-water at the hot water beach!
One of the attractions in the area is the "hot water" beach. It's a 20 minute drive over the hills to the beach from Tairua and worth going to see for the beautiful vistas alone. However, the attraction itself is on the beach where volcanic springs seep heated water into the sea. When the tide is low you can walk to where the springs are and dig in the sand to feel the hot water on your feet. We were told that low tide was between 3 and 4pm, which was just the right time for us to go there.

As you all know, I am pretty clumsy and common sense doesn't apply to me. I can't help it! There we were, walking to the springs not really looking at the waves. Every so often large waves were crashing against the rocks. Louisa and I rushed around the rocks quite quickly, but I remember Louisa, wide-eyed, looking out at the oncoming wave which I had my back to. "It's all right" I said as the wave crashed around me and my waterproof camera bag. Suffice to say, that water wasn't hot and I was soaked above my knees!

I did manage to feel hot water rushing through my toes on the way round the yellowed sulphurous rocks. It's the first time I have been that close to volcanic activity, and as we travel down through the North Island, definitely not the last!

Extinct volcanos, tame tui and curious quails

--- More to do in here ---

The Cyprus Tree
At the base of the volcano there's a lovely restaurant called the Cyprus Tree. I thoroughly enjoyed this modern New Zealand dinner (an Italian twist), and my first taste of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand was every bit what I had hoped. I thoroughly recommend the Saint Clair 2007 Sauvignon Blanc if you can get it. Louisa was surprised at how fruity it smelt. "It smells like Um Bongo" she said, which is totally true because you are hit with a wonderful perfume of passion fruit just as it says on the label!

---more to come----