Princes Wharf cruise terminal to Cathedral Cove private car — Chloe's holiday

The cruise ship had disgorged a small battalion onto Princes Wharf. They milled about, clutching maps, looking a little overwhelmed by the sheer number of taxis and private cars waiting. I spotted my passenger fairly quickly. She was standing a little apart from the main throng, looking out at the harbour with a hopeful sort of air. She had that sun-kissed look that spoke of outdoor life and probably a bit too much fun in the Australian summer. Chloe M, her name was. Just here for a few days, she'd said in her booking, wanting to see a bit more of the Coromandel than the usual day-trippers. She’d flown into Auckland and hopped straight off the ship, keen to get some proper New Zealand scenery in before heading back.

We loaded her bag into the boot and pulled away from the waterfront. Even on a Thursday afternoon in February, the traffic out of the city centre was the usual slow crawl. We eventually cleared the downtown streets and headed towards the Southern Motorway, then onto State Highway 2. Chloe wasn’t in a rush, though. She’d mentioned she’d spent a few days at sea and was looking forward to the change of pace, the open road. She watched the urban sprawl thin out, the hills slowly taking over as we passed the turn-off for the Bombay Hills. We were heading for the scenic route, across the motorways and bypasses and then onto the more winding roads towards the Hauraki Plains. I pointed out the Miranda Bird Sanctuary as we passed, and she nodded, smiling, saying she’d seen some amazing birdlife on her own country’s coasts.

Our first real stop was near Thames. Not for a specific attraction, but just for a stretch and a coffee. The afternoon sun was warm, a gentle breeze coming off the water. Chloe bought a flat white and a sticky bun from a little café that was doing a steady trade with locals. She leaned against the bonnet of the car while she ate, taking in the view of the Firth of Thames. She told me then a little about why she’d booked this trip. Her mum had always talked about visiting New Zealand, about the beaches and the forests, but she'd never got the chance. This was a bit of a memorial trip, Chloe explained, her voice softening. Trying to see some of the places her mum had dreamed of.

We drove on, the landscape growing greener, more rugged as we edged closer to the coast. The road narrowed, winding through bush-clad hills. Past the turn-off for Whitianga, the signs for Cathedral Cove became more frequent. The air felt different here, cleaner, saltier. We parked up at the designated carpark for Cathedral Cove, the one where the walking track begins. Chloe gathered her small daypack. She’d heard about the walk down to the beach, the one that leads you out onto the sand and beneath that famous rock archway. It was a decent walk, mostly downhill on the way there, but she was full of energy. She thanked me and set off, pausing at the viewpoint to take a photo, the sea stretching out, blue and inviting.

I waited in the car park, the sound of cicadas humming. It was peaceful. After a good couple of hours, I saw her emerge from the walking track, slightly flushed from the walk back up, but with a wide smile. She’d stopped for a while down on the beach, she told me as she settled back into the car, just watching the waves roll in through the arch. She’d felt a real connection to the place, a sense of calm. It was exactly what she’d hoped for. We made good time back towards Auckland, the sun beginning to dip towards the horizon by the time we reached the Bombay Hills. Chloe sat quietly, watching the lights of the city begin to sparkle in the distance, a faint smile still on her face. It had been a good day.