14 – 20 OCTOBER 2024 The Coromandel Peninsula does not just have an abundance of natural beauty but is also rich in Maori history and early European settler heritage. This tour will spend 2 nights in Thames to explore historic Thames with a knowledgeable local guide . We visit the Thames School of Mines, the Bella Street Pump House and Museum of Technology as well as the Thames Goldmine Experience. In Coromandel town we will be going on a guided walking tour and we experience the famous Driving Creek Railway and Pottery. As we wind our way around the peninsula, we visit Whitianga for a 2-hour glass-bottom boat cruise to picturesque Cathedral Cove, followed by dinner and wine tasting at Mercury Bay Estate in Cooks Beach. We will stay for 2 nights in Whangamata, as a base to explore the historic town of Waihi with all its gold mining history. We will also take a ride on the historic railway from Waihi to Waikino, and visit the Victoria Battery Tramway museum and Karangahake Gorge. On our last day, before heading back to Auckland, we have time to explore the Paeroa Historical Maritime park and museum.