Detailed travel arrangements really don't make interesting reading so we'll skip over the details of our 20,000km journey and just make a couple of acknowledgements. Firstly, thanks to young Paul for taking a day off work to kindly drive us safely to London Heathrow. And secondly, thanks to Air New Zealand for a safe and comfortable flight via Los Angeles. Their wonderful Spaceseats, food and New Zealand wines all help to make the flight less of an endurance event and more a part of the holiday.
Air New Zealand's Boeing 777 Spaceseats
There is much discussion as to whether flying East via Asia or West via North America is best for least jet lag; having tried both, we seem to find 'west is best'. Perhaps it is because, as the at-seat flight tracker shows, we are constantly chasing the sun on its 24 hour journey around the globe and our 26 hour flight is in perpetual darkness; it is only as we approach Auckland that the daylight comes back and morning finally arrives. And what a morning, with blue skies and an early morning temperature of 17 degrees C with a maximum of 27deg C later in the day.
On arrival we picked up a hire car for our 2 hour drive to Coromandel Town on the Coromandel peninsula. In much need of refreshments, we remembered that we would be passing the amusing Bugger Cafe on State Highway 25. After a quick stop we were soon on the peninsular's magnificent coast route through Thames and up to Coromandel Town. Some travel guides argue that this road is the most scenic drive in all of New Zealand; it is certainly stunning and has to be in anyone's top 10 but we'll reserve judgement for now as to our own favourite.
Bugger Cafe
Our base for the first couple of days is an excellent motel, The Anchor Lodge Motel in Coromandel Town overlooking the bay.
Anchor Lodge Motel, Coromandel
The kiwis certainly know how to do motels; it is superbly appointed. And we had booked a room with a view and have not been disappointed.
View from our room
1 comment:
Lovely motel, great staff, so close to the beach. Enjoy your trip around the peninsula. Make sure you go to the beach where you dig a hole in the sand and its warm , awesome.
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