We got up and after breakfast we had a chat to J, K and J and watched while they opened the present we had sent to them for Easter which went down a storm.
After packing up and securing the house it was time to take Tot to kennels. I hate leaving her as she always looks so sad and won't walk and the kennel maid has to pick her up and carry her.
We set off and our first stop was Whangamata (fangamatar) for coffee. They hold a big 50s theme festival with music and dance and it sounds a lot of fun and we might head up there next March and see how it is. We then went to play mini golf and we had a short shower of rain but it was good fun and I don't think the golf lessons have helped Jon and I as Heather won! We went to the bakery and bough lunch and went to sit down near beach to eat it which was very pleasant.
We then set off on the very windy drive to Tairua where we had a motel booked. It was probably just as well we didn't bring Kirsty and James up here as I think the drive would have been very uncomfortable with three in the back of the car and I think Kirsty might have felt a bit poorly!!
We checked in to our motel and were pleasantly surprised as it was very nice and well equipped and in a nice location. We drove to Puku Hill and then took a walk up to the top and had some lovely views in all directions. Such a pretty part of the coast.
We got back to the motel and had a cuppa and I had a little sleep and then it was time for dinner so Jon went out and bought fish and chips and a pumpkin and spinach pattie and a corn fritter and it was all very nice and relaxed.
Saturday
After a good sleep and we didn't wake up through the night which is a bonus when sleeping in hotels, we went across the road and had a really good breakfast. I had fruit an muesli and Jon and Heather had cooked breakfast which was all fresh and cooked well.
We set off on to the next leg of our journey and went to see Cooks beach which was pretty and then on to Ferry Landings. Jon and I walked up to the top of another hill and it was so pretty and it would have been nice to have a picnic lunch up there. Heather waited at the bottom!!!
We then drove to Cathedral Cove but the car park was full and we would have had a long walk up to the top so we decided to leave it.
We then drove to Haehi and had a look at the beach and then carried on to Hotwater beach and had lunch at a lovely spot and played with some beautiful Jack Russel puppies that one of the 'regulars' was selling.
We then went down to the beach and after hiring a spade dug a hole with the other many people down there until we got some hot water and it was REALLY hot. Amazing to think you can get such hot water from under the sand.
After cleaning our feet we then went on to Whitinga for our next stop. We arrived when it was just getting dark but we found ourselves staying in a lovely house, very modern and well equipped so we decided to buy some food and cook it and stay in for the night as we were so tired.
We went into the town and found a Newworld supermarket and bought some steak for dinner and salad and pizza for Heather. It was not very successful as the steak was not very good (Jon cooked it not me) and Heather did not like her pizza. The wine was good though!
Sunday
After breakfast we checked out and went to the Lost Spring for a swim. Jon had a coffee in the bar there and Heather and I enjoyed going round the various pools, some of which were very hot and some were made to look like caves with glow worms all very nice and I could have spent the day there and enjoyed more of the facilities - massage, beauty treatments, lunch wine and so much more.
We then set off to Coromandel Town and our next stop. On the way we stopped for lunch at Kutunu where we had stopped two years ago at a 'hippy' caravan and had a lovely lunch. The road is very bendy and the drive took a long time but was very pretty.
We arrived at the motel and checked in earlier than we had thought and so tried to get on the Driving Creek Railway but it was all full so we will have to go on tomorrow as booked.
The forecast was not looking good for the next day but we couldn't do much about it so set off on the Road 309 and went to the Waterworks which is a NZ theme park!!!! Not up to UK standards but we had a really good time trying out the various water puzzles and games. They have a mouse wheel there and we all tried it and laughed so much I cried not to mention fell over. I now have the greatest admiration for hamsters - how do they go round so fast on those wheels????
After the park we continued on the road to the waterfalls which were very pretty and then on to the Kauri track only to find that it was closed due to a slip so Heather still hasn't seen a Kauri tree!!!
We then went back to the motel for a cuppa and hot cross bun and managed to hook up to the Internet at last!
We went out for dinner into the town and found a really nice place and had a lovely meal.
We were more than ready for bed by the time we got back to the motel and hopefully a good night's sleep.
WEATHER
Friday a few showers 19 degrees
Saturday warm and sunny 21 degrees
Sunday warm and sunny but cloudy later with a few showers 20 degrees
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