Escaping to The Coromandel for a weekend getaway for two? Not only is it easy, but it’s also good for your soul. It’s the perfect place to enjoy life’s pleasures, with good food, fine art and endless opportunities for relaxation. Plan your weekend getaway using the suggested itineraries below.
Savour The Flavour
The Coromandel has a proud homegrown heritage, offering an abundance of fresh produce, home-baked goods and local kaimoana. Start your weekend getaway by exploring the orchards and roadside stalls along the Shorebird Coast and Hauraki Plains. Piako Pete’s in Pipiroa is a good stop-off for smoked flounder, while cheese from Matatoki Cheese Barn and organic relishes from Miranda Orchard will complete your antipasti and set your getaway off to a great start.
There are many atmospheric eateries to choose from on The Coromandel. For those who like to linger longer over coffee and brunch, Manaia Kitchen & Bar in Tairua offers plenty of seating and heating and serves up a lively local vibe with delicious food, including wood-fired pizza on weekends. The blazing fires of the pizza oven will also warm your soul at Luke’s Kitchen in Kūaotunu, Falls Retreat in Karangahake Gorge and Mercury Bay Estate in Cooks Beach; all destination eateries where you can expect to settle in and enjoy yourself for hours.
Craft beer fans have ample opportunity to cosy up over local brews in their favourite Coromandel locations. The Pour House in Hahei and Hot Water Brewing Co in Whenuakite are local craft breweries with excellent on-site eateries, while Kuaotunu’s Blue Fridge Brewery is on tap at Luke’s Kitchen.
Indulge In The Arts
The Coromandel is a creative haven for many, and year-round exploration of the many arts trails, galleries and creative activities around the region will reward you with fascinating discoveries. View the paintings of iconic Coromandel artists Michael Smither and Paula McNeil alongside a diverse range of artwork from new and emerging local artists.
The Little Gallery has premises in Whangamata and Tairua and features visual art, sculpture, jewellery and textiles. Mosaic Gallery in Whitianga and The Lawnmower's Son in Hahei are established art spaces showcasing the visual art of many Mercury Bay and New Zealand artists.
The Artist's Open Studio Weekends, hosted by Mercury Bay Art Escape are a wonderland of art and craft, held annually on two consecutive weekends in March while the Coromandel Arts Tour in Coromandel Town is a two weekend-long celebration of creativity. Creative Coromandel highlights year-round arts events and activities throughout the region, from painting to performance to poetry and more.
Relax and Retreat
For boutique elegance with retreat-style tranquility, Grand Mercure Puka Park resort in Pauanui offers the ultimate in relaxing accommodation. Romantic treetop chalets and a blazing fire in the retreat lodge create a just-right environment for opulent comfort.
For Bed & Breakfast accommodation, treat yourself to a sumptuous sleep-in, then wake to unparalleled views perfectly suited to the laid-back Coromandel location. Wairua Lodge on The 309 Road is a romantic rainforest hideaway, while Sunlover Retreat in Tairua treats you to floor-to-ceiling ocean vistas whilst cosied up beside a blazing fire.
Whatever the weather, The Lost Spring in Whitianga delivers a fitting conclusion to a relaxing weekend away. A soak in the healing hot waters of their tranquil pools, followed by a therapeutic massage and delicious cuisine from the on-site restaurant will complete your Coromandel indulgence with utmost satisfaction.
