It was now time to start making our way to the last part of our trip. The Coromandel Peninsula is known for its golden sand beaches and rugged coastline. This is a stunning but windy and hilly drive.
Whitianga
We stopped in Whitianga, a beach town located on Mercury Bay, on the northeastern coast of the peninsula. The area was named by James Cook to mark the place where his expedition observed the transit of the planet Mercury in 1769. This allowed him to establish the exact position of New Zealand on the world map !
Cathedral Cove (Te Whanganui-A-Hei) is a natural archway overlooking a secluded beach with clear blue waters. It is accessible only on foot or by boat.
Auckland
Our final stop was Auckland, the biggest city in New Zealand. From the hipster Ponsonby to the buzzing Viaduct Harbour, we loved exploring this amazing city. This marked the end of our journey to the antipodes.
We visited Hobbiton, the original set used for The Lord of the Rings film trilogy and The Hobbit film trilogy where a multitude of hobbit-holes were built into the rolling hills. A unique experience !
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