DISCOVER NZ

COROMANDEL Friday 19 - Saturday 27 February 2021 8 nights

TOUR OVERVIEW On this leisurely exploration of the , immerse yourself in an area that is renowned for coastal towns and beach baches, but has so much more to offer. Weave up and down the coast enjoying breath-taking coastal vistas around every turn while visiting quirky and interesting small towns. Marvel at the juxtaposition of sub-tropical native rain forest, farmland and golden sand beaches. We will be in no rush so we can take our time to explore the nooks and crannies of this laid-back part of . For those who want, there are a number of easy walks each with special character: native bush and birds, spectacular coastal views, pioneering and gold mining history.

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit the iconic Driving Creek Railway and Pottery Centre created by the late Barry Brickell

• Take a magical walk on the Coromandel Coastal Walk between Stony and Fletcher bays, one of the finest half day walks in New Zealand

• See the iconic rock arch of Cathedral Cove, a favourite of Hollywood films and the beach that launched a million postcards

• Visit the magnificent Valley – home of mighty Kauri, giant of the forest

• Enjoy walks on peaceful nature’s trails with abundant native bush and bird life

• Spend some free time at the most beautiful golden beaches in the country

• Explore the gold mining history of the picturesque and explore the Windows Walk. TOUR INCLUSIONS TOUR EXCLUSIONS • The services of an experienced Calder & Lawson • Domestic travel to Hamilton (flights can be Tours tour manager booked for you at an additional cost)

• 8 nights accommodation • Travel insurance • Meals not specified in the itinerary • Meals as specified in the itinerary • Beverages during included meals, unless • Local guides specified • All group transfers • Personal expenses • Admissions as detailed in the itinerary • If you wish to pay by credit card, a surcharge of 2.5% will be charged • Activities and sightseeing tours with local guides as detailed in the itinerary IS THIS TOUR FOR ME? This is a comprehensive tour of the Coromandel Peninsula, • Pre-tour material perfect for those who have never had the chance to visit, but equally appealing if you have visited the beach towns of the East coast of the Peninsula but not explored further. To make the most of the tour, the ability to walk for up to 2 hours is recommended. There will be an optional longer walk from Stony Bay to Fletcher Bay which is an easy 3-4 hour walk.

TOUR PRICE

Share twin or double occupancy NZD$3,390 Single Supplement NZD$ 990

Please contact Calder & Lawson Tours if you are interested in a single occupancy place, as they are limited.

GROUP SIZE Minimum 10, maximum 18

VARIATIONS IN TRAVEL We can make arrangements for any travel you would like to do before or after this tour. Please contact us to discuss your requirements. DAILY ITINERARY

Friday 19 February 2021 Leaving Hamilton in the afternoon, you will travel across the Hauraki Plains to Hamilton - Thames Thames. When you arrive in Thames, you will visit the Thames Goldmine Meals: D Experience, going through an operational 19th century stamper battery and Coach: 1 hours 30 minutes into one of the richest goldmines of the time. You will be staying two nights in Overnight: Thames Thames.

Saturday 20 February Thames comes alive on Market Day! Lining up and down both sides of the Thames main street, this lively market has a large number of stalls with an eclectic Meals: B/D range of goods, from old books to home made food and fresh produce. Overnight: Thames Later spend time at the Visitors Centre which is staffed by DoC Rangers and learn about the history of kauri logging and Maori occupation in the area.

Sunday 21 February You’ll leave Thames early, and after a short drive along the Thames Coast, Thames - Coromandel stop for breakfast at the Waiomu Beach Café. Then take an optional 5km Meals: B/D round trip walk to the Waiomu Kauri Grove. This is along an old pack saddle Coach: 1 hour route used by miners over 100 years ago and leads to one of the finest Overnight: Coromandel remaining kauri stands. It’s an easy grade walk except at the end where it gets a bit steeper to the kauri grove.

Further up the coastal road, stop at the Rapaura Water Gardens on the Tapu- Rd. Abundant native bush and ferns, birds (tui, fantail, silver eyes and wood pigeon), meandering walks over bridges and streams and a bush walk to a cascading waterfall await you here. There are seasonal displays of native and exotic flowers. Orchids, begonias, hydrangeas and water lilies are in flower from November to April. Carry on to Coromandel township and Driving Creek Railway and Potteries. This is the labour of love of the late Barry Brickell who built New Zealand’s steepest narrow gauge railway and pottery studio in the hills of the Coromandel. Climb through regenerating native forest where unique pottery sculptures and murals line the track and enjoy the spectacular views over the .

Monday 22 February This morning you’ll head further north on the Peninsula, to Colville Valley and Coromandel - Tangiaro the Mahamudra Centre for Universal Unity. We will be their guests for a stroll Meals: B/L/D in their gardens and take a tour of their centre. Lunch will be at the Colville Overnight: Tangiaro Café before heading to the Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat nestled beneath Moehau Mountain near Sandy Bay. Birdsong and a meandering stream are the only sounds to be heard. Visit the gorgeous nearby beaches - Little Bay, Waikawau and Sandy Bay.

Tuesday 23 February Today, you will be right at the top of the east coast of the Peninsula where Tangiaro - Coromandel you start the Coromandel Coastal Walk over to Fletcher Bay on the Meals: B/L/D west coast. This is an old bridle path formed by early pioneers. Taking the Walk: 10kms, 3-4 hours, easy track from Stony Bay heading towards Fletcher Bay, crossing farmland and grade - optional heading through coastal forest, there are spectacular views of the Coach: 2 hours 30 minutes Pinnacles, Great Barrier Island (Aotea Island) to the north and Cuvier Island Overnight: Coromandel (Repanga Island) in the east. The track follows an easy gradient with a short steep section in to and out of Poley Bay. A sign posted lookout about an hour along the track makes a shorter walking option, and gives outstanding views along the coast north to Sugar Loaf and the Pinnacles and south towards Port Charles.

An option for people who don’t want to walk will be a visit to The Waterworks, a unique set of water powered inventions and quirky contraptions followed by lunch and free time in Coromandel township.

Wednesday 24 February After breakfast, you’ll travel over the Coromandel Ranges past Coromandel - and the alluring Harbour. Enjoy a coffee at the iconic Meals: B/D Kuaotunu Luke’s Café, then on to Whitianga and a free afternoon. Coach: 2 hours Overnight: Whitianga

Thursday 25 February This morning, board Ocean 2, an ex-coastguard vessel for a coves, cliffs and Whitianga coastline boat trip to Cathedral Cove. Sail with a local and learn about the Meals: B/D local history and geology and look out for birds, fish and sea mammals. Later Overnight: Whitianga in the day you will have some free time and may choose to visit the Lost Spring Spa, perhaps enjoying a cocktail in the thermal pool.

Friday 26 February Today travel south via , popular for a patch of thermal Whitianga - Whangamata water bubbling just beneath the surface of the sand at low tide. Hopefully Meals: B/D the tide will be right for a paddle. Continue on past Sailors Grave and Coach: 1 hour 30 minutes through to Whangamata. You’ll have some time in the afternoon for a Overnight: Whangamata walk on the beach, check out the main street shops or head to the wharf to watch the boats come in. Our farewell dinner this evening will be at a local restaurant.

Saturday 27 February Travel south to Waihi then head west through the Karangahake Gorge to Whangamata - Hamilton . A nationally significant gold heritage site, Karangahake Gorge was Meals: B once a maze of bridges, trams and water races. The regenerating native Coach: 1 hour 30 minutes bush and crystalline currents of the Waitawheta River makes for a beautiful nature spot.

The Windows Walk is one of the most interesting in the area because of the mining remnants with windows blasted through the sides of gold mining tunnels providing stunning views down into the Waitewheta River.

A late afternoon journey back to Hamilton with a stop for fish & chips (own expense) at the now famous Golden Kiwi Takeaways in Morrinsville (thanks to their former employee, New Zealand’s Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern) where they serve the freshest fish in the .

Photo credits: Destination Coromandel

HOW TO SECURE YOUR PLACE ON THIS TOUR A deposit of $500 is required to secure your place on the tour. When minimum numbers are reached, the tour will become a ‘confirmed departure’ and your deposit will be non-refundable. At that point we will advise when the tour payment will be due. If the tour is unable to operate as a result of government travel restrictions due to Covid-19, you will have the choice of transferring your deposit to another tour or receive a full refund.

• Click here to complete the online registration form, pay the $500 per person deposit and your place in this tour is secured.

• Or you can complete a paper registration form. You can down load one from the website www.calderandlawsontours.co.nz, or give us a call and we will email or post one to you.

• TERMS & CONDITIONS Can be found on the website www.calderandlawsontours.co.nz, on the back of the paper registration form or on the summary page when you complete an online registration. If you wish to pay by credit card, a surcharge of 2.5% will be charged. VARIATIONS This itinerary is Version 2 dated 22/06/2020 and is subject to change.