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Day 12 : Whitianga to Auckland

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

	Travel time	Km	(Miles)
Whitianga - Coromandel	0.5 hr /	46	29
Coromandel - Auckland	2 hrs	166	104
Totals for Day	2.5 hrs	212	133

Whitianga - Coromandel

46 km (29 miles)
Approximately 0.5 hour
Road Conditions: State Highway

The beach town of Whitianga is home to a fishing fleet—expect to eat some excellent seafood while you're here. Best things to do include surfing, surf casting and beach walks. Catch the ferry to the south side of the harbour—a short taxi ride will take you to Cooks Beach.

The road to Coromandel takes you past Kuaotunu, an area of pretty beaches. Then you can call into Matarangi, a recently developed beach settlement. Beautiful Whangapoua Beach is another possible detour.

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.

From Coromandel you can explore the tip of the peninsula—the roads aren't highly developed, so expect slow going. Colville, Port Jackson, Port Charles and Kennedy Bay are known for their untouched beauty.

Coromandel - Auckland

166 km (104 miles)
Approximately 2 hours
Road Conditions: Motorway/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.

Your journey to Auckland leads you along the edge of the coast. The views are amazing and there's a constant procession of beautiful beaches. After the gold rush township of Thames, you'll encounter the memorable one lane Kopu Bridge, which has a Historic Places Trust listing.

Look for interesting seabirds as you travel along the edge of the Firth of Thames. Miranda's hot springs and bird sanctuary make an excellent side tour. You'll enjoy pastoral scenery all the way to the Bombay Hills, where you'll join the motorway to Auckland.

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.