Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Miranda
It's a pretty name for a settlement on the swampy Firth of Thames, just an hour's drive
from Auckland. The two reasons to come here are splashing around in the thermal pools
and
bird-watching
.
This is one of the most accessible spots for studying waders or shorebirds all year
round. The vast mudflat is teeming with aquatic worms and crustaceans, which attract
thousands of Arctic-nesting shorebirds over the winter - 43 species of wader have been
spotted here. The two main species are the bar-tailed godwit and the lesser or red knot, but
it isn't unusual to see turnstones, sandpipers and the odd vagrant red-necked stint. One
godwit tagged here was tracked making an 11,570km nonstop flight from Alaska. Short-
haul travellers include the pied oystercatcher and the threatened wrybill from the South Is-
land, and banded dotterels and pied stilts.
The
Miranda Shorebird Centre
( 09-232 2781;
www.miranda-shorebird.org.nz
; 283 East Coast Rd;
9am-5pm)
has bird-life displays, hires out binoculars and sells useful birdwatching pamph-
lets ($2). Nearby are a
hide
and several
walks
(30 minutes to two hours). The centre offers
clean bunk-style accommodation (dorm beds/rooms $25/95) with a kitchen.
Miranda Hot Springs
(
www.mirandahotsprings.co.nz
;
Front Miranda Rd; adult/child $13/6; 9am-9.30pm)
,
5km south, has a large thermal swimming pool (reputedly the largest in the southern
hemisphere), a toasty sauna pool and private spas ($10 extra).
Next door is
Miranda Holiday Park
(
07-867 3205;
www.mirandaholidaypark.co.nz
; 595 Front Miranda
Rd; campsites per adult/child $23/11, units $89-189; )
, with sparkling-clean units and fa-
cilities, its own thermally heated pool and a floodlit tennis court.
THE HAURAKI RAIL TRAIL
The cycle trail running from Thames south to Paeroa, and then further south to Te Aroha, or east to Waihi, the
Hauraki Rail Trail, is growing in popularity due to its proximity to the bigger cities of Auckland and Hamilton.
Two- and three-day itineraries are most popular, but shorter sections of the trail can be very rewarding too. The
spur from Paeroa east through the Karangahake Gorge via Waikino to Waihi is spectacular as it skirts a pictur-
esque river valley. The key centres of Thames, Paeroa, Te Aroha and Waihi have an expanding range of related
services including bike hire, shuttles and accommodation. See
www.haurakirailtrail.co.nz
for detailed information
including trail maps and recommendations for day rides.
TOP OF CHAPTER
