Whangapoura Coromandel Kuaotunu Town

Mercury Bay Te Kouma The Waterworks Castle Rock Waiau Falls Kauri Grove

The 309 Rd

Coroglen

The Rapaura Watergardens Firth Square Kauri Tapu Tapu- Rd To Thames

THE PENINSULA’S WEST COAST Oyster harvesting at Te Kouma Bay – photo by Ian Patrick Coromandel, New Zealand” (Fletcher is at the very north tip of the Driving at water level on SH25, heading south to peninsula), and one of our side trips “Rainforest Experience, The 309 Thames at Tapu. This stretch of Maka Beach still Road, Coromandel NZ, 10 Apr 2010.” offers an unobstructed water view. There are a number of small residential communities along this coastal drive, and almost every one sports a spacious rest area or reserve, with either a concrete or beach boat ramp. The town of Tapu has a hotel with restaurant and bar, and a store with petrol pumps. Of course, Tapu is where the Tapu-Coroglen Road intersects with SH25 (see following pages for side trips). Waiomu offers the Waiomu Beach Cafe right across from its beach reserve area and public toilets.

The Mussel Kitchen has its own mussel boat whose yard arms are hauling in ropes of mussels suspended on black buoys. The underwater strings attract many sea creatures, and these snorkellers are enjoying the sight. COROMANDEL OYSTER COMPANY

fter discovering many spectacular places to visit in and around ACoromandel Town – as well as to the far ‘wild’ north of the peninsula Freshly harvested – we now head south along the coast to historic Thames with side trips from our farms OYSTERS across two traversing roads – The 309 Road and Tapu-Coroglen Road. also MUSSELS Driving south you will soon encounter mussel and oyster country! Literally from ‘sea to plate’ and you won’t find them any fresher. We Scallops & Flounder recommend stopping at the Coromandel Mussel Kitchen (shown when in season DINE right) at the junction of The 309 Road. They even have their own boat DINE IN OR TAKEAWAY over the to haul in those delicious green-lipped mussels, ensuring the freshest We courier anywhere in NZ OYSTER quality for their customers. (For more on The 309, see next page.) BEDS A few km down the road at Te Kouma Bay (photo above right) is the 1611 SH25 • COROMANDEL OPEN DAILY 8:30am-6:30pm Coromandel Oyster Company ­– they harvest right from their own TheJust Mussel South Kitchenof the 309 at Road 07-866 8028 farms located in the harbour just below their restaurant. Watch them The 309 Road and SH25 while you enjoy not only their farm-fresh oysters, but a selection of other local seafood as well. Continue on SH25 about 20km till you reach the west coastline road at Wilson Bay. This 27 km stretch of road leading to Thames edges the COROMANDEL OYSTER COMPANY sheltered and delivers a peaceful respite – the glow of gentle tones at sunrise, or the drama of an unobstructed sunset. In contrast to the white/pink pristine beaches of the east coast, you’ll Freshly harvested OYSTERS find a more rugged, rocky coastline with scattered pohutukawa and the from our farms occasional black sand (from the iron content) and pebble beaches, with also MUSSELS little sign of development. Closer to Thames you’ll find some muddy flat areas, favoured by shore birds and wildlife. Scallops & Flounder This portion of SH25 is one of the only roads on the Coromandel to when in season DINE offer such a long stretch of shoreline driving that makes you wish for a DINE IN OR TAKEAWAY over the convertible and long windblown hair. Or how about a Harley? We courier anywhere in NZ OYSTER BEDS As more folks use their spiffy new GoPro cameras, they are posting dashboard driving vids (on YouTube. Here are titles of a few we enjoyed: 1611 SH25 • COROMANDEL OPEN DAILY 8:30am-6:30pm “ Great NZ Drives”, “Drive to Fletcher Bay, Just South of the 309 Road 07-866 8028

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