Day 10: Taurua - Coromandel

Once more I had the luxury of my own room last night at the Pinnacles backpackers in Taurua. Retraced my route from yesterday afternoon by first heading up to Hot Water Beach, where it was just before low tide and the crowds were gathering.

If you dig down about 30 cms then you can release the subterranean stores of piping hot water and get a nice hot bath. After that I enjoyed a stroll along the beach before heading on to the next stop for the day.

At Cathedral Cove, you walk about 30 minutes down through coastal groves to finally reach a beautiful beach with eroded caves, stacks and arches.

A fantastic spot to just relax and soak up the sun for a while to the sound of the lapping pacific waves.

I could confirm after the walk back up to the car park that I'm a cyclist and not a walker! Time for lunch.

Then the 70 kms drive around the coast and then across the mountain ridge that runs up the peninsula, ending at today's destination - Coromandel.

This feels very much like the laid back bohemian part of New Zealand. Lots of therapies and "alternative" types of business around. The backpackers fits in well here - a really cool chilled out little place with nice people.

Took a short ride with the bike along the coast - though what that means around here is an average gradient of about 10%! And constant wind!

After dinner at the backpackers Lola from Granada said she was going for a walk and asked if I wanted to join her. A nice walk after sunset, a stop off at the pub on the way home and an hour or so sitting listening to a fellow resident strumming away on his guitar. A perfect end to another great day.

But wait - 2 things to take care of before going to bed.

The "panorama of the day" was ...

and the sheep thing is over with! Two days in a row in New Zealand and not a single bloody sheep! I give up.