Route 309

We got up early, it was hard not to-the jet lagged people went to bed a 7PM last night! After a leisurely breakie at a fabulous cafe, where Aunt Natalie couldn't believe that you could order a latte in a bowl, we took off for Whitianga. Instead of going up and over the Coromandel Peninsula, we drove across it on route 309. This is really not a shortcut as the road in unsealed (not paved) and there is much sightseeing to do along the way. The two main attractions where Waiau Falls and the Kauri Grove, featuring 13 massive Kauri trees.

We made it to Whitianga and our place of accommodation, a backpacker called The Cat's Pajamas, and then set out for Hot Water Beach with our shovels and jandals. We didn't get to dig our own hot tub this time. Our timing was just a little off and the tide was coming in too far, but we could definitely feel the hot water just beneath the sand. It's a weird feeling standing in near-boiling water at the same time a freezing wave washes up!