Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(427 Port Rd; mains $10-20; 7.30am-3.30pm Tue-Sun)
Winning points for bizarre hand-
shaped stools, this funky lizard does delicious counter food, cooked breakfasts, bagels
and salads. We're big fans of the 'It's a Wrap' breakfast tortilla.
Soul Burger
BURGERS $
(
www.soulburger.co.nz
;
441 Port Rd; burgers $10-15; 5-9pm Thu, 8am-9pm Fri-Sun Easter-late
Oct, 5pm-late Wed-Sun late Oct-Easter)
Serving audacious burgers with names like Soul
Blues Brother and Vegan Vibe, this hip corner joint is also licensed so you can have an
ice-cold beer with your burger.
The Lincoln
CAFE, PUB $$$
(
www.thelincolnbar.co.nz
;
501 Port Rd; mains $17-34)
Part bar, part bistro, part cafe and all-
round good times feature at this versatile spot on Whangamata's main drag. DJs kick in
on summer weekends.
Information
Whangamata i-SITE
(
07-865 8340;
www.whangamatainfo.co.nz
;
616 Port Rd;
9am-5pm
Mon-Fri, 9.30am-3.30pm Sat & Sun)
Getting There & Away
Go Kiwi
(
0800 446 549;
www.go-kiwi.co.nz
)
has a shuttle service to Whangamata.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Waihi & Around
POP 4500 & 1800
Gold and silver have been dragged out of Waihi's
Martha Mine
, NZ's richest, since 1878.
The town formed quickly thereafter and blinged itself up with grand buildings and a
show-offy avenue of phoenix palms, now magnificently mature.
After closing down in 1952, open-cast mining restarted in 1988, and current proposals
to harness the potential of other nearby mines forecast mining to continue to around
2020. Another more low-key bonanza is also taking place with Waihi an integral part of
the excellent Hauraki Rail Trail (
Click here
)
.
While Waihi is interesting for a brief visit, it's
Waihi Beach
where you'll want to
linger. The two places are as dissimilar as surfing is from mining, separated by 11km of
