Plan your trip around Hauraki Coromandel along State Highways 25 & 2. Please note some local roads and DOC sites are closed. Find out more
When you are thinking about things to do in winter and places to visit in the cooler months, The Coromandel still offers many of the reasons to visit that make it a Kiwi favourite in summer. Just fewer people to share the wide beaches and green bush walks, and some special activities that come into their own in winter.
A journey around Hauraki Coromandel will be just as spectacular as the destinations you reach and there’s no better way to discover that beauty than on a trip along our Pacific Coast Highway.
Get the latest travel information and driving times and suggested routes.
Renowned for its natural beauty, green valleys, misty rainforests and pristine golden beaches, The Coromandel is blessed with hundreds of hideaways, making it an ideal place to escape. Plan your travel on the official site for The Coromandel and discover why this destination is good for your soul…
The Pinnacles walk is rated as one of New Zealand’s most popular overnight hikes. It can also be walked in one day (allow 8 hours), however it’s staying at the 80-bed DOC hut that gives the opportunity to capture the sunset and sunrise.
Follow in the steps of the early pioneers who plundered the Kauaeranga Valley in pursuit of fortune, logging kauri for timber and gum and mining for gold.
The 200km trail showcases some of the best scenery, taking in our charming rural towns, and is one of the easiest New Zealand Great Rides. Accessible from Kaiaua, Thames, Paeroa, Te Aroha, Waihi, and the Karangahake Gorge, the Hauraki Rail trail is a mostly flat, grade one family-friendly excursion.
The remote northern part of The Coromandel is home to the spectacular Coromandel Coastal Walkway, an untouched beautiful part of the country that is truly good for your soul and worth exploring.
Whangamatā is home to one of New Zealand’s most beautiful coastal attractions. For a long time Whenuakura, (sometimes referred to as Donut Island), was a local secret
Voted as one of the 101 Must Dos for Kiwis. Many will have driven through the dramatic Karangahake Gorge but few will have ventured into the walkways, old tunnels, discovered the rich history hidden in the gorge or cycled the Hauraki Rail Trail.
Cathedral Cove is best visited by sea, with a boat or kayak and local tour guides who explain the geology, cultural and historical significance of the many scenic sites they explore in Te Whanganui o Hei Marine Reserve.
Cathedral Cove is also accessible via several walking tracks adjacent to the reserve giving access to Gemstone Bay, Stingray Bay, Mare's Leg Cove and Cathedral Cove.
The wild protected shellbanks and wetlands of the Shorebird Coast shelter thousands of migrating birds. A spectacular sight from the Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre on the edge of the Hauraki Gulf
Within two hours either side of low tide visitors flock to the usually deserted Hot Water Beach to find hot water bubbling through the golden sand. Rated as one of the world's most renowned beaches - digging your own natural spa is one experience that should be on your bucket list.
Historic Coromandel Town is a haven for talented artists and craftspeople who have moved here from around New Zealand. The town has a unique character, and its soul and ambiance reflects the diverse creativity of those who call this charming town home.
The official home of L&P, Lemon and Paeroa, New Zealand's home-grown soft drink, which alone makes it worth a visit. But there is much more to this bustling and historic rural town. Lying at the junction of two rivers, Paeroa is a gateway to the scenic Karangahake Gorge bisecting the peninsula , also to the lush farmlands further south. It was a major transport hub in the goldmining days and the town still provides an interesting and historic stopping point for visitors travelling by road and on the Hauraki Rail Trail.
Back in the goldrush days, Thames was a teeming mining town and the seat of commerce in the area. That atmosphere remains in the historic buildings and heritage experiences that Thames is now known for, but there's lots more to see and enjoy in this rural hub, that retains the grandeur of its glory days. Great food, a thriving cultural and arts scene and the scenic backdrop of the bushclad ranges and the calm expanse of the Hauraki Gulf to explore.
The Mercury Bay, with its calm waters and sentinel islands, shelters the largest town in The Coromandel, Whitianga. While still far from the hectic bustle of the city, the town offers all the amenities of the big smoke alongside The Coromandel good for your soul experience. Boating, delicious fresh seafood, great festivals, shopping and dining, and close proximity to the world-renowned icon Cathedral Cove, means most visitors will come here at some stage whilst on The Coromandel.
The distinctive form of Mt Paku, the volcanic peak that guards the entrance to the harbour and town of Tairua greets you as you arrive on the eastern seaboard after crossing the Coromandel Ranges. Tairua, "two tides" in Māori, has the advantage of a surf beach and a tranquil harbour. It's worth a detour from the main highway to discover the delights of this small seaside village.
The long and gently-sloping beach and tranquil inner harbour that surround Pauanui provide a safe playground for holidaymakers who flock to this seaside resort. For lovers of fishing, surfing, diving, kayaking and swimming, Pauanui also boasts wide coastal reserves, walking paths, and golf courses, laid back pastimes for all comers.
The strong surfing culture of Whangamatā is evident from the moment you arrive, and the laid back, active outdoor lifestyle of the town encompasses the full range of activities. There's a sophisticated vibe as well, with great shopping, restaurants and bars, and iconic events, like Beach Hop, that attract visitors from around the world.
The abundant natural resources of The Coromandel are nowhere more evident than in the southern town of Waihi. Bush and farm clad hills, the stunning Karangahake Gorge and the seemingly endless white sand arc of Waihi Beach provide a scenic and recreational backdrop to this thriving community. Man's search for gold led him here in the early days, and the spectacular pit of the Martha Mine is a famous landmark, and modern day attraction.
The bohemian nature of locals is embodied in their sustainable hunter-gatherer lifestyle and shared through their artisan produce, whimsical crafts and fine arts, and relaxed warm hospitality.
Kiwis are at their best when they are on holiday in The Coromandel. Take a break, slow down and reconnect with life as it should be.
Discover the relics and stories of those who came before, and come away with a deeper understanding of the people and this place.
Whether you’re heading for the campground, bach or something more glamorous, "endless" summer barbeques, fishing expeditions, bush walks to swimming holes, and picnics at the beach await you.
Emma and Brad first arrived in New Zealand 10 years ago, they visited what was then called Goose Farm a small holding bursting with potential. They had a vision and a dream and slowly they moulded and shaped their home and business into what you experience today - The Falls Retreat.
As a lad, Adam Coleman Smith inherited a homebrew kit from his beloved grandfather and soon started experimenting with the brewing process.
Luke Reilly is a local lad, growing up in Kuaotunu, just 17km north of Whitianga, ranging the beaches and the waves, surfing and fishing like most living here.
Tairua’s Ashlee Strange found herself with two new infants in 2016. Second son Zeb arrived just three months before Ashlee launched Beekeeper’s Daughter, her fledgling skincare business.
The Coromandel is located on the Pacific Coast Highway - on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island, and is within an hour and a half drive of the major centres of Auckland, Hamilton, Rotorua and their international airports.
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