Travel Eye on Coromandel Peninsula (North Island, New Zealand)

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Overview:

The Coromandel Peninsula is a popular weekend getaway for many Aucklanders. This peninsula at the eastern end of the Hauraki Gulf is home to dense forest that is perfect for hiking; horse riding and mountain biking while the coastal areas have beautiful secluded beaches including the unique Hot Water Beach.

Locality:

The Coromandel Peninsula lies on the N coast of North Island, New Zealand. It is situated in close proximity to one of New Zealand's most populated city, Auckland.

Entertainment/Facilities/Attractions/Things to do:

Thames

Thames is one of the more accessible places on the peninsula. Although it's now a sleepy little town, during the 1870s, this former gold mining town was the biggest city in the country. Thames doesn't have a load of attractions, although the Grahamstown area at the northern end of the city centre has several historic buildings dating from the gold rush and there are a couple of museums that focus on the town's gold mining history.

If you're heading up the peninsula, buy some groceries, fill the car up with petrol and use the ATM, as facilities aren't so good further north.

Sights are plentiful in Thames with attractions such as New Zealands only butterfly house (butterfly & orchid garden) home to around 400 butterflies as well as birds and up to 200 orchids, the Thames Gold mine + Stamper battery and the Thames histroical museum just to name a few.

Coromandel Town

This old gold mining town is a small peaceful place overlooking sparkling blue water of the Coromandel Harbour. It doesn't offer a lot to see or do, but it's a pleasant spot to relax for a couple of days. Attractions include the Coromandel Gold Stamper Battery, Driving Creek Railway and Waiau Waterworks.

Whitianga

Like other resort towns on the Coromandel Peninsula, Whitianga is a popular weekend destination and during the summer holidays the town is crowded with people from Auckland who bring their boats and spend their time fishing or just lazing by the beach. Most notable attractions include boat trips to Cathedral Cove, High Zone and the Mercury Bay Museum.

Hahei

This tiny town makes a convenient base for travellers visiting Hot Water Beach and the Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve.

Hot Water Beach

This unique beach, 10km south of Hahei, is one of the more popular spots on the Coromandel Peninsula. The main attraction is the thermal pools that you can dig in the sand two hours either side of low tide. The water in the pools can get to around 65°C. During summer up to 1500 people may dig pools in the sand. If you don't have a shovel most hostels in Hahei, Tairua and Whitianga should be able to lend you one or you can rent one from the kiosk at the beach.

Conditions aren't always favourable and the hot water doesn't appear around 30% of the time, particularly in winter.

Tairua

Some travellers use this quiet seaside town as a base for visiting Hot Water Beach, which is only a 20-minute drive away. Tairua has a surf beach and there are a couple of good hiking trails in the nearby Broken Hills Recreation Area.

Opoutere

Located between Tairua and Whangamata, this quiet spot has a lagoon and 5km of beach and it is a popular place for birdwatchers.

Whangamata

On the east coast of the Coromandel, Whangamata is one of New Zealand's top surf spots. It is overrun by surfers during the summer holidays in January, but it's much quieter at other times of the year.