Announcements

**saralou** · #1 13 Mar 2018

We want to get out onto the Coromandel Peninsula and are hoping for clear skies to get some Milky Way shots, but it is pretty cloudy today.

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.34.34 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1427 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

Leaving Mangawhai heads we gassed up with 91 and then we took the back roads, but had to get on the Highway 1 after 30 km just before Wellsford.

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.35.03 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

There was heavy stop and go traffic here and Dan’s 800 would not stay running. We pulled into a small park and set up the 911, which said there were no fault codes. The fuel pump and the injectors were are functioning correctly. This has happened a few times in the past as well. Is it bad gas or did he flood the bike at Te Paki!? We limped 600 m to the BP and purchased some octane booster and so far so good.

From here and thru Auckland and will stay on the motorway until we exit to get to Clevedon on the small roads. There is a really good pub here called the Corner!

FILE1435 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #2 14 Mar 2018

Again we had a late start and the delay with the bike and by the time we made it to the base of the peninsula at Thames it was after 5. We got some groceries and then headed 20 km to Tapu to camp on the beach. The road north here has just opened after the damage done by the storm last week and the King tide.

FILE1499 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1510 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

The camp spot is a huge grass field right on the water. We set the alarm for midnight, but it was totally cloudy and not good for star shots.

North Island NZ 1-61 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #3 14 Mar 2018

Today we want to explore the Coromandel Peninsula and ultimately make it to stay in Papamoa.

Screen Shot 2018-02-20 at 15.22.45 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

First we set off on the Tapu-Coroglen cross road. The first 5 km is paved and then the rest of the 22 km is gravel (except the last 2 km which had just been grated and the watered and was now packed mud). We only met 2 vehicles.

FILE1536 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1542 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1625 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1640 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #4 14 Mar 2018

We then headed up the 25 to Kaimaramara and then after 10 km you are on the gravel again for 25 km to Coromandel City. There is a bit more traffic on this road, but it is not too dusty.

FILE1659 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1672 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1707 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1717 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #5 14 Mar 2018

It is 26 km from Coromandel to Colville on the pavement and then 35 km on the gravel to the end of the road at Fletcher Bay.

Screen Shot 2018-02-20 at 15.25.00 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1727 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1750 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1751 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #6 14 Mar 2018

The road is pretty curvy and you can get some speed with the good surface, but it was slow going at times as you had to be careful of the tight corners to make sure a local driving at speed was not coming the other way. The road hangs on the beach at times and then passes thru a few small settlements before rising up on the cliffs above the bay. We got caught behind a few cars and it was VERY dusty before they finally let us pass!

Screen Shot 2018-01-14 at 20.43.03 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1771 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1775 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1810 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1812 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1818 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1821 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1828 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1838 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

**saralou** · #7 14 Mar 2018

Actually our map GPS said the road continued thru, but they lied as beyond Fletcher Bay it is a walking path only. We had our picnic and then blasted back out to the paved road and to Coromandel.

FILE1852 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

FILE1898 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr

North Island NZ 1-64 by Sara & Daniel Pedersen, on Flickr