Waterworks, waterfalls and winding track roads

Monday 9th. 21.30 NZ time

It's been a good day. Lots to do on the way to Coromandel. On our list....Drive the coast road,  take the 309 gravel road, go see what the Waterwork was all about,  see the waterfall and finally take the train up the side of the mountain to a lookout point.

But first, we needed gas. No not petrol but LPG. Only just finished boiling the eggs for breakfast when out it went!. So talking to the site owner, he suggested a place called Nova at Kopa, 5km back down highway 25. Didn't take long and the 3.9k bottle was filled for $13.

Off to Coromandel another 60km further north. That drive along the coast was something else! Roads were narrow in places and sheer drops as the tarmac suddenly disappeared leaving one wondering if the van would stay on the road and not disappear onto the beach below. So much fun, though, along the windy road, with the S bends and wondering what we would meet on the way.

Coast road to Coromandel

 We came across the 309.  This is a gravel road which goes from the West coast to the East cutting off the top section to Cape Colville. We only needed to do about 7km to the waterfall but before we reached that we came across these.

Then having spent several minutes stroking the piglets we set off once again and almost around the next bend we came across the Waterworks. Now, this is not what one expects. I had visions of water slides, swimming pools and paddling pools with a couple of ponds or lakes thrown in for good measure.  Or maybe it was a water treatment plant..... but anyway, no this was an adults playground! Oh okay, the kids could play too but I can honestly say we enjoyed ourselves immensely. A very unique experience and hats off to those that had the forethought in making this brilliant attraction.

And this is what happens if you drop your phone down the loo!

Spending longer than we anticipated it was well after 1 pm when we set off for the Waiau Waterfall. Thankfully it was only a short walk down to it and within 30 minutes we were on the way back along the 309 towards Coromandel.

It was here we had arranged to take the Driving Creek mountain railway. A narrow gauge with the train taking roughly an hour to return, through a recently planted Kauri forest with pottery along the route, along 2 spirals, 3 short tunnels and 5 reversing points to the scenic viewing platform called.....wait for it.....Eyefull Tower! The views from the platform look over to the Hauraki Gulf. One man built this railway, Barry Brickell all by himself and an amazing feat it was too. Only using a contractor for digging some very deep cuttings.

By now time was getting on and we still hadn't organised a campervan site. We came across one in Coromandel. All alone and no other vans turning up, at £25 per night for a powered site it was a bargain.

And the wildlife,