Driving Creek Railway and Potteries

Right at the top of our “must see” list during our short stay in Coromandel was a visit to Driving Creek Railway.  Two reasons for this – one was to catch up with our friend Frederick who is now working there, and secondly, to have another ride on the famous little train.  Last time we were here, about 25 years ago we reckon, the train tracks only went part way up the hill, and now go to the top.  It was great to meet up again with Frederick, after all, it’s been quite some time, and catch up with his news.  He is a potter himself, and gave us a quick guided tour of the pottery and kilns. 

Frederick at DCR

If we had stopped to think what the name “Driving Creek” actually meant, I’m sure we wouldn’t have worked it out.  It refers to the early days of kauri logging, much prized by the British Navy as masts and spars.  The loggers built dams across the creeks which slowly filled up, and the felled logs were placed in the dams or in the dry creek bed below.  When the dam was full, a rope was pulled, releasing a large wooden gate, and the water drove the logs down to the harbour.  So ingenious, but this practice also carried much silt and debris down too, causing them to start to silt up.

Potter Barry Brickell purchased 24 hectares of hilly scrub covered land in the 1970s, which just happened to have plenty of clay needed for his pottery.  The idea of the railway came about to transport the clay down the hill, plus pine to fuel the kilns, but has come into it’s own as a tourist attraction.  The narrow gauge railway winds up through the hills, with steep grades, curves, tunnels and viaducts.  As New Zealand’s only narrow gauge railway the track also has zig-zag sections for gaining altitude within a limited space.  All the trains have been purpose built in the workshop to Barry’s designs.

The following morning it was “all aboard” and off we went on our adventure.  The scrub covered hills have been replanted over the years with native trees, tree ferns, kauri, totara and rimu much in evidence.  The story goes that Barry swapped large quantities of  his famous home brew for thousands of young trees, with are thriving on the hills.

All aboard

The famous “bottle banks” made from wine and beer bottles held up the dirt walls, but were so hard to get a good photo as we chugged past.  But take our word for it, there were thousands and thousands of empty bottles used in this project.  Quirky pieces of pottery were placed beside the track, some small, and some quite large.

We chugged over the viaducts, through several tunnels, reversed into the switchbacks, stopped while the driver jumped down to change the points, and climbed ever higher.  One last tunnel, and what a beauty it was.

The final tunnel

Our destination, Eyeful Tower perched on top of the hill.

The view from the top was amazing.  The bush clad hills were covered in flowering manuka, ferns and native trees, hard to imagine this was once scrubby farmland, with the coastline in the distance..

 

View from the top

This wonderful area is protected in perpetuity by a QE11 Trust Covenant.  Barry Brickell died in 2016 at age 80, and is buried on his property.  He truly was a man of vision, combining his love of art, conservation and engineering.

Coromandel Town

Although the distance from Pauanui to Coromandel was a mere 109km, the narrow, windy road traveling up and down hill after hill took us about 2.5 hours. We were entertained with many of the classic cars from the Beach Hop traveling towards us, one after the other.  Eventually we arrived at the Coromandel NZMCA Park, a huge graveled area with just a handful of vans in residence.  And what did we find, but yet another dog running loose.  There is no excuse and the owner was reminded of the rules.

NZMCA Park

The town was named after HMS Coromandel, which arrived to pick up a load of kauri timber, just the thing for ships masts.  Down by the waterside is “Ship in a Bottle”  by Rebekah Pearson to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the anchoring of British Naval Ship HMS Coromandel off Colville in June 1820.

HMS Coromandel, Ship in a Bottle

Down by the wharf

Gold fever struck, and the town boomed when a large strike was made on Tokatea Hill.  Assay House must have been busy weighing all the gold strikes back in the day, but now deals in fishing gear.

Assay House

Another interesting building in town was the Admiral Arms Hotel, built in the 1870s.  No doubt plenty of stories were told here across the bar by the visiting sailors.

The Admiral Arms Hotel

These days Coromandel is a tranquil little town, generally blessed with a great climate, a busy little main street with a good selection of cafes for those who want to do lunch, and plenty of things to see and do.  Including the attraction of Driving Creek Railway just up the road – can hardly wait, that’s on the “to do” list while we are here.

ICA Christmas Rally at Pauanui

After arriving a couple of days early with Bill and Val, and enjoying the lovely weather, on Monday the rest of the ICA members rolled in.  Alan and Roger had the parking well organised, directing the motor homes into spaces, with the overflow parked up on the adjacent car park.  So the numbers went from our two vans to a full complement of 27 vans in no time at all.

It’s serious work being the parking monitors

Pauanui  Sports and Recreation Club

Those staying in the car park decided to park right up to the fence next to the airstrip so they had a good view of any arrivals and takeoffs.

Parked by the air strip

Several groups got together to organise teams for the Mini Putt, although these ladies did tell me they weren't too sure what they were doing.  All good fun though.

Concentrating on their golf swings

The adjacent Menz Shed was open, so Robin popped his head in to say hello – one Menz Shedder to another.  They all seemed very busy working away on their projects.

Menz Shedders at work

And just what was happening here?  This very interested group were checking out the configuration of our gas cylinders, it seems.  Not that I would know, I was inside the van keeping well out of the way.

Mmm, what’s all this about?

The expected rain arrived on Tuesday so that put paid to any more Mini Putt.  In fact, it rained and rained so much there was a severe weather warning for the Coromandel area.  Luckily we took advantage of the club bar for Happy Hour, rain or no rain.  The highlight of the rally was our Christmas Dinner, catered at the club.  Our evening started off with a Sing-Along, with Bob and Stan providing the music, the song books and leading the singing.  It was amazing just how many of those songs we knew, tucked away in the recesses of our minds, as they were.

Making beautiful music together

As we entered the dining room we were handed a glass of bubbly, such a lovely gesture, sat down at one of the beautifully decorated tables (thanks Dell, the tables  all looked delightful) and enjoyed a lovely roast meal together.  Then it was time for our celebration meal, and what a feast it was.  Roast beef, gorgeous ham on the bone, and a great selection of vegetables.  The dessert was delivered to the tables on a platter, mini pavs, Christmas Pudding and ice-cream.  We certainly didn't go hungry.

Robin, Jenny, Bev, Bill, Scotty and Val

After the meal Santa and the Christmas Elf came calling, bringing bags of gifts with them.  Wonder if we had been naughty or nice?

Christmas Elf (Alan) and Santa (Doug)

Guess the pair of us had been very well behaved this year as our names were called up to go and sit on Santa’s knee.  Poor Santa, we didn’t really want to cause him an injury, so just gave him a cuddle instead.

Thank you Santa

Everyone was called up to get a gift, so we all must have been very well behaved this year.  Then the Christmas Cake was cut and handed around.  It was so delicious, thanks to Janice who baked and decorated the cake.

Our beautiful Christmas Cake

The rally concluded on Thursday morning, with some getting on their way extra early, while the remainder of us enjoyed morning tea out in the hot sunshine.  Looks like the rain has finally left us.   Some then moved on, we were heading north, and a few other vans decided to stay an extra night.  It was a great ICA Rally, so nice to catch up with everyone again, and many thanks to Roger and Janice, Dell and Alan for organising this event for the club.

I had a mishap in the caravan when we first arrived, tripping and falling and giving my jaw a great whack.  So spent the rally sporting  a large bruise, which seemed to get darker each day.   I’m sure the club members were looking at the pair of us sideways, wondering what on earth had happened, but rest assured, Robin was completely innocent, I managed to do it to myself.  Not a pretty sight at all, but luckily nothing was broken.

Off to the Beach Hop

Heads certainly turned at the ICA Rally when our friends Owen and Helen arrived in their shiny black car.  Although Pauanui was a little off the beaten track on their way to Whangamata, they decided to call in for a visit.

The pair are justifiably proud of their Ford Zephyr Zodiac Mark 111, and knowing Owen, he keeps it in tip top condition. 

Being very thoughtful guests, they had packed a lunch to bring with them.  So together with Bill and Val, we had a picnic lunch inside our van, chatting around the table and putting the world to rights, as we do - there always seems to be a lit to talk about.

Helen and Owen are taking part in the Repco Beach Hop, based in the Coromandel beach resort town of Whangamata, which once a year comes to life to the sound of Rock and Roll music and V8 Engines! According to the advertising, Repco Beach Hop is New Zealand’s number 1 Nostalgia Festival that celebrates the best of the 50’s & 60’s - Rock and Roll, Hot Rods, Classic Cars and Motorbikes, and this year the festival is celebrating it's 20th anniversary.  They are sure to have a great time!

Pauanui is rather Posh

The trip from Waihi Beach to Pauanui is only 80km, but seemed to take us forever.  The narrow winding road took us  up and down hills, around lots of corners, keeping our speed low.  We were off to Pauanui to join the other ICA members for the Christmas Rally.  Both Bill and Vaal and ourselves arrived two nights early and got ourselves settled on site.  We enjoyed a Happy Hour together in the club bar.

Early birds at Pauanui Club

I had never been to Pauanui before and Robin’s last trip was many years ago in another life, so we took ourselves sightseeing.  The holiday paradise of Pauanui is a resort town designed and built with relaxation in mind. Lying on a narrow strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and a shallow tranquil harbour, it is across the water from neighbouring Tairua, although it's 30km by road. Red coloured roads welcome visitors into this town, which was built for the wealthy and well heeled.  Just how many places have an airstrip for those private planes, with hangers built into the homes?  Certainly not something we see in our hometown.

Private plane on the private airstrip

It’s not just airplanes which are catered for in Pauanui.    There is an area of exclusive real estate built around a series of canals, with private moorings for each home owner. It’s certainly rather posh here in Pauanui.

Pauanui canals

As the washing machine at the camp was out of action, we drove to the next town of Tairua with our laundry bag.  Not at all successful as it turned out.  As we put our gold coins in the slot one by one, the amount still showing was not reducing – what to do except keep adding more cash.  We went to the café next door to while away the time with a cup of coffee, then put the washed laundry into the large dryer.  Despite two cycles it came out warm but still wet, so needed hanging out in the sunshine on our return to camp.  I was not at all happy with my laundry experience at all, certainly would not recommend this facility.

Tairua laundry

There was a bright spark found on our trip to Tairua, we followed the sign to the ferry.  The Tairua to Pauanui ferry was not operating at the moment, but it certainly looks like it would be a nice little trip.

Tairua to Pauanui Ferry

Back at camp later in the day we had quite a fright,  we were sitting outside enjoying the sunshine and Gemma was with us, sniffing around the grass and trees while safely on her harness and lead.  Another camper’s dog, running loose, came barking and running over to Gemma, baled her up against the fence  and goodness knows what would happened if we had not been outside too.  Luckily Robin intervened, shouted out to the owner, managed to pick the dog up by his harness, and gave the owner a piece of his mind, as I did too.   It was all rather upsetting.   All campers should be aware of the rules which clearly state all dogs should be kept on a lead, as we do with our cat too, no excuses. 

Paeroa and Waihi Beach

It was a reasonably day’s travel when we departed Taupo to our next destination at Paero – 185km.  The CAP (charges apply parking) was at the edge of town  with a lovely rural outlook.  Our hosts made us very welcome, hooked us up to power for the night, and informed us that all fees collected get donated to their church. 

Sunset in Paero

The following morning we played “tree detectives” – you may remember that we had discovered that the young Lone Pine planted behind the  National Army Museum had originated from seeds collected in 2012 from the Turkish red pine growing at Paeroa Golf Course.  We were so close – of course we wanted to see this famous tree.   So we drove off to see if the staff at the golf club could help us in our quest.  They were so helpful and we were kindly escorted over the greens to see the tree. 

Anzac Pine at Paeroa Golf Course

“There’s some more info upstairs in the club room” we were told, so we trudged up the stairs to see a framed newspaper article about the famous tree.  How kind of the manager to go to all this trouble for us, we think he was pleased that the “famous in Paeroa tree” was getting the attention it deserves.

There was one more photo to take while we were in Paeroa, one of the famous “big bottle”.  Lemon and Paeroa drink is a New Zealand favourite, also known as L&P, is a sweet soft drink manufactured in New Zealand. Created in 1907, it was traditionally made by combining lemon juice with carbonated mineral water from the town of Paeroa, but is now owned and manufactured by multi-national Coca-Cola.  These days that the bottle is now located in the Ohinemuri Reserve to enable photographers to get their “snaps” without dodging traffic in the middle of the very busy State Highway 2.

L&P, world famous in New Zealand

Mission accomplished, we went back to hook up the van and get on the way to our next destination to Waihi Beach.  A much shorter trip, only a mere 37km and we arrived at the Waihi Beach NZMCA Park, where we were meeting up with Bill and Val for the upcoming ICA Rally.  Even though we arrived relatively early before lunch, the place was jam packed with vans and campers – luckily we managed to find a site each.  This park can cater for 60 vans we read, but that must be a real squeeze.  Once all the marked sites around the perimeter are taken, late comers then park up in the middle of the area.

Staying at Waihi Beach

It was such a lovely afternoon that we drove down to check out the beach.  People were in the water, sunbathing, and generally having fun in the sun.  The sky was a beautiful shade of blue, and the beach looked so inviting.

Waihi Beach

Fellow ICA members Pamela and David had arrived in camp, and the six of us enjoyed a meal out at the Gunners View Restaurant at the local RSA.  Using the courtesy van made it an easy night out with no one having to be the designated driver.  We all chose the roast beef and lamb with all the trimmings, such a lovely meal and very reasonably priced.  It was a great  finish to our overnight stay at Waihi Beach.