Driving Route : Queenstown - Wellington - Auckland

Day 11 : Coromandel to Auckland

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Route Summary

Travel time is approximate only, based on an average driving speed under normal road conditions.

	Travel time	Km	(Miles)
Coromandel - Thames	0.5 hr	60	38
Thames - Auckland	1.5 hrs	106	66
Totals for Day	2 hrs	166	104

Coromandel - Thames

60 km (38 miles)
Approximately 0.5 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway

Formerly a gold-mining and timber town, Coromandel is now a haven for artists, craftspeople and conservationists. It has many well-preserved Victorian buildings and an interesting museum. There are several good walks in the area and a railway enthusiast has created an hour-long train trip at Driving Creek.

The road to Thames clings to the edge of the coast. You'll enjoy amazing views and a constant procession of beautiful beaches fringed with Pohutukawa trees.

In Thames you can learn about New Zealand's gold mining past. The mining museum has a fascinating mineralogical collection and there are gold mining relics to discover on many of the bush walks. You can also take the boardwalk through the mangroves to watch seabirds in the Thames Firth.

Thames - Auckland

106 km (66 miles)
Approximately 1.5 hours
Road Conditions: Motorway/State Highway

The historic township of Thames was founded during the Coromandel gold rush. It's a great place for walks—around the town, through the bush and on the mangrove board walk. Visit the museum and discover an interesting range of shops.

Near the beginning of your journey north you'll drive over the famous Kopu Bridge, which was built in 1928 and has a Historic Places Trust listing.

At Waitakaruru you have a decision to make. Either take the scenic route to Auckland, past Miranda's hot springs, up the edge of the Firth of Thames and then through the rural village of Clevedon. Or take the quicker route over the Hauraki Plains to join the motorway at the foot of the Bombay Hills.

As you approach Auckland, you can't miss the extinct volcanic cones that dot the landscape—there are 48 in all. The city also has two huge harbours, so it's an ideal base for marine adventures. Other attractions include wine trails, forest walks and the culinary temptations of the city's restaurant zones.