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This popular spot is an easy ride – by
car or bicycle – from Thames. It has it
all – a licensed cafe, Coffee LaLa, a gift
shop, and a cheese factory, which you
can observe through a window.
Owners Kelvin and Cathy Haigh make
BioGro certified organic cheese and
yoghurt that are unhomogenised, gluten
free – with ‘No GMO’, no artificial
additives, no antibiotics, no growth hormones, and no chemical sprays.
Enjoy cheese boards, ploughman’s platters, pizzas, quiche, pies, cakes
and even yummy fudge and ice cream. Nice selection of wine and beers. A
petting farm makes great fun for the kiddies, too – goats, sheep, lop-eared
rabbits, guinea pigs and alpacas – all with a ‘good chance of babies’.
For groups of 20 or more please contact them in advance. They can also
arrange for talks or cheese tastings (call 07 868 1284).
The Rail Trail is just 30m from the back of the farm. “Those wishing to park
their cars and ride the trail from here are welcome”, says Cathy. “We also
allow up to 2 camper vans to park overnight in the carpark for free.”
We Brake for Food!IN MATATOKI: THE CHEESE BARN
30 COROMANDEL LIFE 2015 SPRING/HOLIDAY
R i d i ng o r d r i v i ng f r om T hame s t o
Pae r oa o f f e r s v i s t a s o f t he
p i c t u r e s q u e f o o t h i l l s t ha t onc e
o f f e r e d u p i t s ka u r i , g um and
g o l d o r e . Now t r ea s u r e d i s t he
l and i t s e l f , t he g en t l y r o l l i ng
pa s t u r e l and s s u p p o r t i ng New
Zea l and ’ s f ame d da i r y i nd u s t r y .
T he Ra i l T r a i l t r ac k ac t u a l l y
t r av e r s e s s ome f a rm l and
p r o p e r t y and p e da l i ng t h r o u gh
i t o f f e r s e y e l a s h p r o x i m i t y t o
t ho s e b i g b r own one s !
The Hauraki Rail Trail system consists of three
extended scenic bike trails centred in Paeroa
extending to Thames (33km), Te Aroha (21km),
and Waihi (24km). These grade 1 paths,
generally flat, are well groomed traversing
historic railway beds. Highlight of the system
is on the SH2 Waihi leg through the steep
Karangahake Gorge.
THAMES to PAEROADrive it or Bike it!
Right
this way!
Kauri were felled, and gum was dug, then came
the farmers who burned brush, cleared stumps
and leveled their blocks.
Settlers starting clearing land for farms here as
early as 1840. A lot of this ‘plains’ land needed
more than just clearing; it needed draining, for
most of it was a peat bog – 2-20 metres deep –
or was located in a river flood zone.
Much of the Hauraki Plains was below sea
level, but had potential as farmland. In 1910,
the government opened 66km2 for settlement.
The Hauraki Plains Act was passed to construct
drainage canals to control flooding of the Piako
River, which overflowed at least once a year.
Taking over ten years – with much shoveling
done by hand – the massive project provided
work to many who were then unemployed.
Farmers also dug their own ditches, which are
visible even now on Google’s Earthview map.
Inland on the plains near Paeroa is the country’s
largest fresh water reserve, the Kopuatai
Peat Dome, a major habitat for endangered
species, such as the black mudfish, longfin
eel and brown teal. The dome plays a crucial
role in retaining floodwater from Waitoa and
Piako catchments. It is a prime area for bird
watching...and duck hunting (See the Dome’s
Facebook page for photos.)
Now dairy farmers who once drained the bogs
take measures to restore some of their farm’s
native plants and wetland features.
As you head from Thames toward Paeroa,
you will enjoy pastoral views sporting all
kinds of farm animals. But mostly, this is dairy
country, New Zealand’s finest.
Barns, fences, cattle gates – and cows. We
favour one breed in particular – the Belted
Galloway shown above. Originally from
Scotland, it reminds us of an Oreo cookie...
black front and back, with white in the middle.
The paddocks may not have an obvious history
like an old hotel might, but there’s a story under
the turf. Much of this land was covered in kauri
with rivers and bogs lined with flax plants and
teaming with eels, a staple of the Maori diet.
In the higher elevations away from the river’s
edge, Maori planted crops and peach trees
for trade. They became savvy traders with
bushmen, miners, sailors and settlers.
If carrying your bike on your car, access the
trail from many points; enjoy short portions of
it, bike one leg, take on two, or challenge the
whole system. That would make a 3-day ride
for most or a 2-day ride for the very fit.
There are bike rental shops in the four terminal
cities, and toilets situated at intervals along the
way. You can arrange for a shuttle to transfer
you, your bike, and even your luggage.
At u can arrange
1-2-3 day trips, reserve the shuttle and
accommodations, and download pdf maps.