After getting our bags at the airport we contacted Holiday Auto Rental who picked us up at the airport and drove us to their office. There we picked up our older model car rental - kind of a junker making a few noises but seemed to drive okay. We then headed south from the Auckland Airport in the rain for the Coromandel Peninsula. We made some stops for coffee on our drive since we had flown overnight. We had departed Maui at 6:15 pm on 1 November for Honolulu and then flew out of Honolulu at 11:30 pm for Auckland, arriving at 6:45 am on 3 November. We will get that day back on 24 November when we fly to the Cook Islands. We also stopped in Thames at a grocery store to pick up some snacks and then proceeded up the Thames Coast Road along the west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. There were beautiful views of the coast as we drove north and the rain stopped. Before we reached Coromandel Town we stopped at the Coromandel Oyster Company. Bill had a fantastic fish and chips - the fried snapper was probably the best I have had and only for about $6 NZ. The Coromandel Oyster Company farmed oysters and mussels along the coast. Our first day drive continued to Coromandel Town for a stop and then on to Kaeppeli's Bed and Breakfast in Kuaotuna.
Next stop was Coromandel Town, an old gold mining town on the Coromandel Peninsula. Karen is outside the Star and Garter Hotel which dates back to the late 1800's.
The Star and Garter had my favorite New Zealand beer on tap, Montieth's Black. I discovered this beer in 2007 at Tongariro National Park. Old picture of Coromandel Town and the Star and Garter is also shown.
View of the islands off the coast as we drove north along the Coromandel Peninsula.
Karen and Bill along the Coromandel Coast Road to the north of the peninsula.
View of Whanganui Island from the Thames Coast Road.
Coromandel Oyster Company menu board.
Bill eating his Fish and Chips (Snapper) at the Coromandel Oyster Company.
Food Shack at the Coromandel Oyster Company.
Flower at the Coromandel Oyster Company.
Next stop was Coromandel Town, an old gold mining town on the Coromandel Peninsula. Karen is outside the Star and Garter Hotel which dates back to the late 1800's.
The Star and Garter had my favorite New Zealand beer on tap, Montieth's Black. I discovered this beer in 2007 at Tongariro National Park. Old picture of Coromandel Town and the Star and Garter is also shown.
View of the islands off the coast as we drove north along the Coromandel Peninsula.
Tree Fern with Coromandel islands off the coast in the distance.
Tree Fern frond.
Karen and Bill along the Coromandel Coast Road to the north of the peninsula.
Tui bird on a flower outside our room at the Kaeppeli's Bed and Breakfast in Kuaotuna.
View of Kuaotuna Beach from Kaeppeli's Bed and Breakfast.
Flower on grounds of Kaeppeli's Bed and Breakfast.