We breifly drove north from Thames to admire the view of the Firth, before returning with one last lap of the main street. Cazzie then drove us east through the Coromandel forest park on SH 25a. Then south on SH 25 to Whangamatta where we stopped for "elevensies" of banana and a cuppa.

We then drove on with a quick stop in Waihi - to "admire" the open cut gold mine. Now back on SH2, we drove to Tauranga and Mt Maunguarnui where we stopped for sandwiches, a cuppa and a walk partway to the summit. We wanted to get moving, so hd a short drive along the beachfront admiring expensive housing before back on SH2, then SH33 to Rotorua, stopping only to video Lake Rotoiti.

We arrived late afternoon, stopped in town at the tourist information centre then "checked in" to the "Cosy Cottage" van park. We managed to get a walk in before dark. This is St Faiths Maori church on the lake.

Directly opposite the church was the Tamatekapua carved meeting house.