After spending a sleepless
- wet - cold - windy and miserable night in a leaking van, in a north western suburb of Auckland. We woke to find the sun shining, we packed our things and took a quick trip to Devonport. Devonport is a quant little 19th Century township located directly across the Harbour from Auckland city centre. After checking the sites we left Devonport, crossing over Auckland Harbour Bridge amidst peak hour traffic. Somehow the Navigator steered us into downtown Auckland via the Viaduct and onto Tamaki Drive. Although the Navigator had some serious issues with the lack of signposting which caused us some scenic detours, she was not lost, just confused. We followed the signs to Whiteford and Clevedon, through some scenic countryside on our way to Coromandel Peninsula. Road stops through this area consisted of Sarah's mandatory fruit barn, and Mic's libido booster at Coromandel Oysters. After driving up the west coast of the Peninsula to Coromandel town, we then drove through the ranges, to the east coast. It was here that we visited Cooks Beach where Captain Cook landed, and onto Cathedral Cove. This hidden beach was so stunning and definitely worth the 2 hour trek it took to reach the beach to view the impressive gigantic limestone arch, caves and islands. As the sun started to set we pushed forth into the evening driving again in the rain until we ended the day at Tauranga.