RobClubley

I do a little writing for a car enthusiast website and forum that a friend has set up, based in Wellington.
The owner got a press pass for the Leadfoot Festival that's near Hahei 6th to 8th of Feb. He can't make it so I'm going instead!

Leadfoot Ranch

This event is on my car event bucket list so I'm rather excited to be going.

He has also arranged me a shiny new car to pick up in Auckland for a road test review.

So I'll be driving from Auckland to Thames, up around the Coromandel Peninsula and camping about 10km out of Hahei (tight budget for the trip!).

Does anyone have any suggestions of places I should stop along the way, interesting things to see? Most of the weekend will be spent at the festival looking and listening to race cars but I can't resist some sight-seeing too!

Parnell

Slightly longer drive following state highway 2 through Paeroa and stop at the K Gorge.

When going through Waihi turn left at the central roundabout and view the open cut mine

Then follow state highway 25 north through Whangamata (surf town, with a nice vibe)

Pauanui Used to fly in central airfield parking your plane at rear of house, with front of house facing the sea. Canal estate now built I understand.

RobClubley

Added to itinerary, thanks!

A Rush And A Push

Just got back from the Coromandel

Have you been there before? Hahei is a beautiful beach, calm water, good for swimming and snorkelling. You go also go kayaking from there.

Cathedral Cove is close by and beautiful (about a 30 min walk from car park).

Hot Water Beach where you can dig your own natural hot water spa on the beach (only for an hour or so either side of low tide. Can get busy).

If you drive up a hill in Tairua called Paku there is a short walk (10 mins?) to the top of the hill with stunning views of the coastline and Coromandel.

We had such a great holiday there we have booked to go back in a couple of months. Has some stunning areas.

RobClubley

Haven't been up there since driving from Auckland to Coromandel town then to Rotovegas in 2002.

We went up the West coast and back the same way, I think it was partly gravel road past Coromandel then and we didn't want to risk it in the campervan

A Rush And A Push

West coast Coromandel has some nice bits but east coast has some stunning beaches - white sand and clear blue water. Look at Google images for Hahei and Cathedral Cove. Gorgeous.

Bo-Jangles

You might not have too much time to 'dilly dally' - allow plenty of time for traffic, depending what time and where you're picking the car up - the Friday is Waitangi Day so all roads out of Auckland will be chocka and coming back into Auckland is likely to be a car park on the Sunday .

RobClubley

I'll be driving out of Auckland on Thursday and back Monday so I'm hoping to miss the worst of the traffic.

bearskin

Are you staying at the campsite with the Craft Brewery attached? If not, the brewery is worth a look - I think it is near the main turn off towards Hahei and Hot Water Beach. Also down that area is a fabulous bohemian winery that does wood fired oven pizzas - name starts with P (not the big fancy one a couple of kms further down the road to Cooks Beach).

MOSO

We were also up there last week. The only place I've ever seen a park and ride bus system in NZ for getting to the start of the walk to Cathedral Cove We tried the water taxi from Hahei instead where we could park easily, but resisted the $90 for 4 of us....

Beautiful, but busy by NZ standards with slow winding roads.

A Rush And A Push

Purangi winery?

Hazelnut

We did a drive and stopped at various beaches and viewing points that made us go, "wow"! If you like silly stuff we had a brilliant couple of hours at The Waterworks laughing ourselves daft and admiring the ingenuity and humour. We also loved the Driving Creek Railway, lots of oohing and aaahing at the track infrastructure and engineering on the train's bogies.

bearskin

That's the one. It was a highlight of our recent Coromandel visit. I also enjoyed revisiting Hahei - it was one of our first beach holidays when we moved here 10+ years ago. An awesome beach.

RobClubley

Oh man what a weekend! Great drives, great car (Mini!), awesome car event, beautiful scenery. Happy to be back with the family.

1250 photos to sort out













Talk about fresh herbs on your pizza!!

RobClubley

Hahei Beach


Hot Water Beach






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