Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
9am-5pm)
, combining water, greenery and sculpture. There's accommodation (cottage/
lodge $165/275) and a cafe (mains $14 to $29).
From
Wilsons Bay
the road heads away from the coast and climbs over several hills
and valleys before dropping down to Coromandel Town, 55km from Thames. The view
looking towards the island-studded Coromandel Harbour is exquisite.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Coromandel Town
POP 1480
Crammed with heritage buildings, Coromandel Town is a thoroughly quaint little place.
Its natty cafes, interesting art stores, excellent sleeping options and delicious smoked
mussels could keep you here longer than you expected.
Gold was discovered at Driving Creek in 1852. Initially the local Patukirikiri
iwi
kept
control of the land and received money from digging licences. After initial financial suc-
cess the same fate befell them as the Ngati Maru in Thames. By 1871, debt had forced
them to sell all but 778 mountainous acres of their land. Today, fewer than 100 people re-
main who identify as part of this
iwi
.
Note that Coromandel Town is just one part of the entire Coromandel Peninsula, and
its location on the peninsula's west coast means means it is not a good base for visiting
Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach on the peninsula's east coast.
Sights
Many historic sites are featured in the Historic Places Trust's
Coromandel Town
pamph-
let.
Coromandel Goldfield
Centre & Stamper Battery
HISTORIC BUILDING
( 021 0232 8262;
www.coromandelstamperbattery.weebly.com
;
360 Buffalo Rd; adult/child $10/
5; 10am-4pm, tours hourly 10am-3pm)
The rock-crushing machine clatters into life during
the informative tours of this 1899 plant. You can also try panning for gold ($5). Outside
of tours stop to see NZ's largest working waterwheel.
Coromandel Mining
& Historic Museum
MUSEUM
