O
ur journey begins where the Spring issue’s
Road Trip
left off – Ferry Landing near Cooks Beach. (see map).
To get to Whitianga, one can choose to cross the water
by ferry for a ‘tour by foot’ or drive back via Purangi
Road to Hot Water Beach Road, then to SH25. You’ll
pass by Mercury Bay Estate, a great place to not only
taste few wines but to sample popular platters filled with
local treats, while enjoying ocean views through a well
manicured vineyard.
The intersection at SH25 is Dalmeny Corner – Whenuakite
is just south where you’ll find the award winning Colenso
Café and Hot Water Brewing Company, a popular stop for
tasting some local brew. You might even catch the brewer
at work so be sure to ask for bit of a tour.
Continue north 6K to Coroglen and a further 19K to
Whitianga. This region offers farm parks, art studios,
horseback riding ranches, a ropes challenge course and
paintball.
There are many boating activities offered in the area – a
glass bottom boat tour to Cathedral Cove and sea caves
that can include snorkeling, and others for scuba diving
and deep sea fishing.
Enjoy your tour!
r
oad
t
rip
Continuing the JOURNEY
DESTINATION: whitianga area of the coromandel coast
Join our FEatured ARTIST...
CHARLOTTE GIBLIN
Charlotte Giblin’s charming
paintings and wistful musings
honouring the Coromandel
Peninsula adorned the first of
our series of Road Trips in our
13 Spring issue.
Charlotte completed an BA
(Hons) in Ceramics at University of Wales Institute
in 1997, inspiring her to set up Bouncing Pig Pottery. After ten years
throwing an estimated 25,000 mugs, bowls, and plates, Charlotte
changed careers, from art to marketing. And location (with partner Pete)
from the UK to New Zealand.
Now Charlotte combines both. She set up and ran the Wallace Gallery in
Morrinsville, ran an arts festival, and now is in Whitianga as administrator
of the annual Mercury Bay Art Escape.
And she also found her art niche with her “Big Sky” series of paintings,
coupled with perceptive journal
entries. You can find her work as
originals, prints and even her popular
cushions, displayed in the Little
Gallery of Fine Arts (Tairua), Beach
Habitat (Hahei) and Bread & Butter
Gallery (Whitianga). See her on FB or
visit
Charlotte plans one day to assemble
her paintings and illustrations into at
least one book.
From her homestead studio in
nearby Whenuakite, Airdrie
Hamilton has been painting for
over two decades. Farming on the
Coromandel has provided an
excellent environment for her
subject matter, like many of the
images we have included in this
Road Trip.
Drawing inspiration from the natural environment, Airdrie often features
the dramatic landscapes of the Coromandel which capture the essence
of a place such that viewers immediately recognise its location. Her
diverse works include water studies, both river and sea, bird studies and
landscapes, especially native
forest, hills and skies.
View Airdrie’s paintings at The
Little Gallery of Fine Arts (Tairua),
Bread & Butter Gallery (Whitianga)
and Heritage Gallery (Cambridge)
Or visit her studio during the
annual Mercury Bay Art Escape.
Contact Airdrie at a.hamiltons@xnet.
co.nz or 07 8663705. Visit her website,
& special Guest...Airdrie Hamilton
whitianga
Cooks
Beach
Buffalo
Beach
Marina
& Ferry
Whenuakite
Coroglen
Mercury Bay
Whitianga Bay
to tairua
2 Animal
Parks
To Hahei
Hot Water
Beach Rd.
Kaimarama Rd
Ropes &
Paintball
Airport &
Speedway
Tapu-Coroglen
Rd
to kuaotunu
“Purangi in May” by Airdrie Hamilton
