So my ferry crossing is booked for Saturday, March 1 -- which means I have 3 days left on the North Island. Mary & Wendy told me that I must go to the Coromandel Peninsula -- even if I had to skip everything else -- so decided to follow their recommendation. But -- in Hamilton, I was only 1 hour away from the Waitomo Glow Worm Caves (albeit 1 hour in the wrong direction) --- so got up early and drove over to the caves. Very cool place -- although the tour was a bit hokey. The bugs are in larvae stage when we see them glowing (it's a bit on their tails that glow) --- when they turn into adult bugs (something like a mosquito), they strangely have no mouths -- so they starve to death and die within a couple of days -- rather weird! We weren't allowed to take any photos --- they want to keep things as dark as possible during the tour so that our night vision is developed when we hit the glow worm caves --- and any flash would throw that all off. This link has some great pics:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/21/glow-worm-cave_n_4617320.html
Next up --- back-tracking -- and some serious driving through the middle of the island to get up to the Coromandel Peninsula. I drove up the western side of the peninsula -- I'll drive back down the eastern side tomorrow -- and visit the big sights (Cathedral Cove, Cook's Cove, etc.). I stopped in Coromandel for a late lunch --- mussel chowder & a salad -- delicious! (I'll post a pic tomorrow). Then drove to the motel -- checked in -- went for a short walk along the harbor -- and then spent the rest of the day on the deck reading -- just what I needed.
I have 2 days to make it down to Wellington -- it's about 650km -- so doable -- but going to have to cut some things off the itinerary!
Motel: Harbour View Motel, Coromandel (cute room, gorgeous view)
Weather: mostly sunny, 70 - 75F
Miles Walked:
km Driven: 297.3
Book/s Read: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. Overall a very good read -- although a bit too long in some sections.
(sorry -- no pictures --- hopefully tomorrow night I'll be somewhere that allows me to upload pics!)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/01/21/glow-worm-cave_n_4617320.html
Next up --- back-tracking -- and some serious driving through the middle of the island to get up to the Coromandel Peninsula. I drove up the western side of the peninsula -- I'll drive back down the eastern side tomorrow -- and visit the big sights (Cathedral Cove, Cook's Cove, etc.). I stopped in Coromandel for a late lunch --- mussel chowder & a salad -- delicious! (I'll post a pic tomorrow). Then drove to the motel -- checked in -- went for a short walk along the harbor -- and then spent the rest of the day on the deck reading -- just what I needed.
I have 2 days to make it down to Wellington -- it's about 650km -- so doable -- but going to have to cut some things off the itinerary!
Motel: Harbour View Motel, Coromandel (cute room, gorgeous view)
Weather: mostly sunny, 70 - 75F
Miles Walked:
km Driven: 297.3
Book/s Read: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight. Overall a very good read -- although a bit too long in some sections.
(sorry -- no pictures --- hopefully tomorrow night I'll be somewhere that allows me to upload pics!)
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