When I said I was planning a visit to New Zealand’s North Island, everyone told me I should visit the Coromandel Peninsula. After today’s scenic coastal drive from Thames to Coromandel Town, I totally get why that was the popular recommendation.
Thames Public Art Trust Sculpture Trail
After learning about the Thames Public Art Trust Sculpture Trail, we couldn’t leave town without photographing a few pieces of public sculpture (and some cows) which are dotted around town and along the rail trail bike route.
The Firth of Thames
Driving north from Thames we hugged the coast on narrow winding roads. The driving was a little nerve-wracking, but the scenery was just stunning. The Firth of Thames is the bay between the Coromandel Peninsula and Hunua Ranges, and the calm water, many shorebirds and sandy beaches we passed made for a delightful journey. We took a few photos, but it was rare to find a spot to safely pull over to snap some shots. Of course we spotted some random art along the way as well.
Rapaura Water Gardens
If we thought the drive along the coast was challenging, the drive inland to the Rapaura Water Gardens was doubly so – more winding and narrower, so much so that many sections were single lane, with give way signs at either end. It was made even more challenging because we had to do the drive twice, when we realised we had left our passports in the bedside drawer in Thames and had to go back to retrieve them! Oops! Rookie error!!
However it was well worth it! The gardens were lovely, and we enjoyed a wander through garden beds and meandering paths, around ponds and water features, up to cascading waterfalls and past sculptures and ducks. Lots of ducks. The gardens were founded in the 1960s when Fritz and Josephine Loennig purchased 64 acres of regenerating bush and grazing land. Over the years since then the area has grown into a “Garden of Significance” according to the New Zealand Garden Trust.
Coromandel
We arrived in Coromandel town in the late afternoon, and had time for a stroll down the main street, checking out the street art, naturally, and enjoyed a delicious dinner at Pepper Tree Restaurant, where I had to try the famous New Zealand green-lipped mussels (and they were).
Thanks for reading! Probably way too many photos but sorry, not sorry!
To see the rest of the New Zealand trip (a work in progress at this stage) click HERE. If you are really keen click the subscribe link below and you will get an email notification every time there’s a new post.
