It was a staggeringly beautiful 2 hour drive from the suburbs of Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula. Blue skies, green hillsides, live-stock out to pasture and a cacophony of cicadas so loud we actually rolled down the windows to check it was insects and not a problem with the car.
After only 30 minutes I was in love with New Zealand all over again.
We arrived at the small beach town of Hahei early afternoon and got a spot at Hahei campground, a great location at the back of the beach behind the sand dunes. We had a swim then relaxed for a bit on the beach while polishing off a pot of mussels and a Good George craft IPA.
It was a short stroll along the beach to dinner at The Pour House before being serenaded to sleep by the ceaseless cicadas.