Kaitiaki Tips - Treading Lightly in The Coromandel

 Our native plants are suffering from the effects of invasive species, and their fragile saplings need all the help they can get. If you stay on the paths, you won’t risk trampling new growth or spreading biohazards like kauri dieback disease.

• No need to forge our own track taking shortcuts, just enjoy the walk.
• Stick to slides in our playgrounds, not in our fragile sand dunes. There’s a walkway to the beach nearby.
• Scrub shoes and bikes going in and out of the forest to protect our kauri from diseases.

Our water is so clean you can drink it straight from the tap (or refill your reusable water bottle).

• We are surrounded by water, but we don’t store much. Please use only what you need.
• We make it work with short showers, full wash loads, and tap-off while brushing teeth.
• Ask your host not to change your sheets and towels every day.

Be a sustainable harvester and help ensure there's plenty for future generations.

• Fish for dinner, not the daily legal catch limit. You can always release that extra one or give it to the neighbours.
• Some of our fisheries are closed to recover, so make sure you know where you can go

Remember that we also share these precious waters with the local wildlife.

• Wash the boat on the lawn - no soap down the drain!
• Boaties, don’t spread killer seaweed; check the rules before heading to Aotea Great Barrier and Ahuahu Great Mercury Islands.
• Pick up after pets.

While the temptation to get up close is strong, the true privilege lies in respectfully sharing their natural habitat.

• Dotterel nest on our beaches, so keep dogs on leads, and away from marked nesting areas.
• Kiwi live in our forest, so have aversion training for your dog. Keep on a lead and mind the signs.
• A bell on a cat’s collar will save birds, geckos and skinks.

Bring your own bottles, cups, and bags, and you’ll have one less thing to worry about.

• Take home trash from the trail and the beach.
• Keep cups are the go. We’re not keen on single-use cups here.
• Or single-use anything, really. Say No to plastics – of all sorts.

 With countless restaurants growing their own produce or serving fresh, locally caught seafood, you won’t have to look far for high-quality cuisine. Fresher is always better.

• Buy from our growers and artisans - better value.
• Reduce your carbon footprint by cutting down on long-distance transport, packaging, and storage.
• Enjoy seasonal, diverse, and nutritious flavours unique to our region.

Engaging with local tourism builds stronger bonds between residents, visitors, and local businesses.

• Visit local artists, craftsmen, and producers, hear their stories, and see firsthand the work they do at the heart of their craft.
• Keeping it in the neighbourhood economy helps our people thrive.
• Give time to one of the many community organisations cleaning up our environment.

There are plenty of alternatives to explore than just the car, and your health with thank you too.

• Why drive when you can bike along the Hauraki Rail Trail or kayak through the waters of the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve?
• Minimizing your driving time cuts down on your ecological impact and helps you enjoy your surroundings even more.

Not only will you get the best insider insights, but you'll also experience it like a local.

• Take a guided tour, more time to observe and better stories along the way.
• Share a ride with our guides, who know the roads and can keep both you and the environment safe.
• Go with guided operators who are invested in protecting and preserving the region and in giving back.