As we approached the town of Coromandel, we saw views that to us typifies New Zealand - gently rolling hills, very often not many trees, and fences to keep animals in.

Coromandel town has a gold mining history, as is evidenced by its architecture.

On the way to Whitianga we saw our first illustration of what New Zealand logging looks like. Clear cutting, that is the removal of all trees, is the predominant method of timbering. The terrain on the right hand side of picture 1 has been clear cut. While clear cutting often leaves an eye sore, in New Zealand the results were not usually visually objectionable. The fact that little debris remains after their clear cuts helps, as does the fact that they usually plant seedlings (see photo 2). But perhaps the most important reason a New Zealand clear cut does not usually grab your attention is that there are so many pastured rolling hills, one more cleared area does not appear out of place.

Whitianga has a great beach. When we were there it was covered with shells. And there were lots of people in the water harvesting clams. The people in the last picture are culling their haul so that they don't exceed the allowed limit.

We saw some pretty scenery on the way to Hot Water Beach. When we arrived, people were enjoying the sun, sand, and water, but no hot water because the tide was in too far.

We spent the night in Whangamata. That's our van.