Hit the reset button on your spirits with a Good For Your Soul girls' weekend to The Coromandel. Take Friday off to fit in some shopping on the way and we guarantee you’ll arrive at Sunday with a spring in your step.
The Coromandel rewards year-round with its stunning natural environment offering dramatic sunrises, vast views and a myriad of easy paths to enjoy walking and talking with friends. There is plenty to do whatever the weather, including retail therapy! The local towns offer boutique shopping with a selection of homeware, giftware and fashion retailers, as well as several first-class art galleries. The choice is yours when it comes to stylish and contemporary eateries. There are plenty of wining, dining, cake-eating and caffeinating opportunities peppered throughout The Coromandel. Try these ideas for an unforgettable three-day girls' getaway.
Eating
Cafe Melbourne in Thames has a bustling, cosmopolitan vibe, with hip industrial interiors and a cabinet filled with delectable pastries and sweets. Its central communal table comfortably caters for groups. In Whangamata, the Port Road Project is a popular local hotspot with an inspired daytime menu and great vibe for girls' weekends.
For dinner, don’t go past the share plates of dumplings and other Asian fusion delights at Blue Ginger in Whitianga. Tairua Beach Club by the marina is also a great spot for groups, with a superb cocktail and small plates menu, friendly service and a stylish setting. In Coromandel Town, go a la carte at Pepper Tree, one of The Coromandel’s most iconic restaurants. For top-notch nosh, GoVino in Cook’s Beach delivers, whilst Falls Retreat in the Karangahake Gorge oozes rustic charm and homegrown menu innovation.
Of course, what is a girls’ weekend without sugar and spice and all things nice? Indulge in a slice of French chocolate tart at The Old Mill, Tairua, or a heavenly homemade slice from Cafe Coghill House, Whitianga. Girls' weekends are all about indulgence after all!
Shopping
Shopping in The Coromandel is a delight. Stylish boutiques, hidden gems, fabulous sales and friendly service elevate the retail experience to something so much more special than a meander round a mall.
Start at The Style Shop in Mangatarata, after coffee at The Corner Stone Store next door. It’s on State Highway 25, enroute to The Coromandel and offers a curated selection of quality New Zealand labels, as well as accessories and resort wear.
Choose from a great range of wearable fashion and accessories at Mainly Casual; a women’s boutique with stores in Thames, Whangamatā and Whitianga - all ages, shapes and sizes are catered for here. For bibliophiles, Carson’s Bookshop in Thames is a much-loved independent bookshop, recently refurbished to include a fresh new gallery. Stock up on weekend reading from their fantastic selection of books and magazines, then wander up to Grahamstown precinct at the north end of Thames. It’s well worth a visit for its eclectic mix of artisan boutiques (and our very own gin distillery), to be found in The Depot.
A retail road trip traversing the small towns and beach villages on the eastern seaboard will surprise you. For contemporary New Zealand fashion fans, Hello Friday in Pauanui, Stilo Design Co. in Whitianga and Contain in Whangamatā will delight you with exemplary service and cutting-edge style. Lifestyle concept stores such as Armoire in Pauanui, Haus Blank in Tairua and agnes + annabel in Whitianga will beguile you with their lovely layout and distinctive stock selection.
Pampering
A girls' getaway weekend is the ideal time to indulge in some quality pampering. The Coromandel is becoming known for its rejuvenating day spas offering the latest restorative facial and body treatments. Tucked away in serene locations in every town, day spas such as Pamper Me in Thames, Utopia Health and Beauty Pauanui and Invigorate Health & Body in Whangamatā will take appointments online and often at the last minute. At The Lost Spring in Whitianga, enjoy a mani-pedi with your gal pals, then step into the soothing surrounds of the thermal hot springs. With poolside cocktails all round, the indulgence is unbeatable.
