Coromandel Roads

Coromandel roads are an experience in themselves. While sometimes not for the faint-hearted (like me), larger vehicles often navigate with apparent ease. The roads are windy, often narrow, can be steep and are sometimes loose metal (unsealed). Regardless, the countryside they carry you through is truly beautiful.

“Caution wide vehicles” says a sign—does that mean people should watch out for wide vehicles or does it mean wide vehicles should exercise much caution? While I'm trying to figure out if there is actually any difference . . .

I need to distract myself from the narrow, winding road, the trucks speeding toward us, and the cars that are approaching with their wheels over our side of the white line . . .

So I wind down the window to record some of the magnificent views. Taking photos with Schnauzer breath in my ear.

I'm not sure that any of them are spectacular photos. They were taken on the fly with little or no thought to composition.

 I can see the wheels and the edge of the rig in the bottom mirror.

Logic whispers that my leaning toward the centre of the ute is not going to ensure the wheels of the rig stay on the road. Big trucks drive through here at speed every day. If they were concerned, they would slow down . . .  wouldn’t they?

“I think this must be the slowest I’ve ever driven through here,” Dave comments. I think he’s getting a little impatient with my nervousness. Or maybe he’s just reminiscing. The last time we came through here we were each on two wheels. Same road, same corners, but the road sure feels narrower.

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Two days later we travelled from Coromandel Town to Kuaotunu. Steeper hills . . . more tight corners and narrow roads.

Much of it was not too bad . . .

. . . but it still felt good to arrive safely at Kuaotunu.

After unhitching, later that day we took a trip up to Colville. The road up there wasn't too bad really. It would have been possible to take the rig. Same as out to Whangapoua.

Next we headed out to Opito Bay. Still without the rig. Thank goodness! The corners were tighter and the road even narrower.

Climbing up those hills gave some fabulous views. As we started off we could see our rig waaaay down there in the distance.

The road is loose metal in many places and certainly not a road we would choose to take the rig over. Even a large motorhome might struggle, although braver people than I do apparently travel through here. At one stage we met another car coming the other way and almost came to a halt as we crept past each other.

Although it’s not the greatest road in, Opito Bay is worth the trip.(More photos in this blog post)

 

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The next day we moved on, heading for Simpsons Beach, just north of Whitianga.

After that, Hahei and further south, the road seemed to widen a little and I managed to relax.

Please note, the views expressed in this blog are my own, and another person's experience might be quite different. After another year or so on the road, perhaps I will be braver! 
Regardless, always . . . keep left and take your time.