Escaping the City, Finding the Coast
Coromandel is only a few hours from downtown Auckland yet this peninsula feels worlds away from the city’s urban pace. Laid-back local towns punctuate its coastline, each typically paired with a golden-sanded cove, rocky bay, or surf beach.
Cathedral Cove’s striking white-rock archway is one of the region’s iconic landmarks, accessible only by foot or boat. New Chums Beach is ranked among the top beaches in the world. But more accessible is Hot Water Beach where a natural ‘bath’ is just a short sand-dig away. Excavate your tub and relax in the geothermally heated water flowing under the sand. Make sure to visit at low(ish) tide.
Elevation and Significance
The Coromandel is more than just a collection of postcard beaches; at its heart lies a densely forested mountainous spine.
The ancient volcanic range reaches its peak at Mt Moehau. This sacred mountain is said to be the final resting place of Tama Te Kapua, the legendary captain of the Te Arawa waka, one of the initial ‘great fleet’ of waka (canoes) that first arrived in New Zealand.
Forests Logged, Tracks Reclaimed
The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail, Pinnacles Walk, is one of the Coromandel’s standout hikes. A challenging ascent follows an old kauri loggers route - this forest giant was systematically logged between the 18th and 20th centuries and even used to rebuild San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake and fire. You emerge from regenerating forest onto a volcanic ridgeline with sweeping views of the Hauraki Gulf and beyond. Do it as a long day walk or stay the night in New Zealand’s largest backcountry hut, the Pinnacles Hut (80 bunks).
Ghosts of Gold Rush Days
Coromandel’s towns nod to its gold mining past. The area was central to New Zealand's gold rush in the late 19th century, attracting many prospectors to places like Thames and Coromandel Town. Although the gold boom has long passed, remnants of mining tunnels, equipment, and preserved buildings still hint at this prosperous, albeit short-lived, era, aside from one giant open cast mine still operating at Waihi Town.
Room to Roam, Reasons to Stay
The Coromandel Peninsula has endless stones to turn over, snuffle your way around, drinking coffee and exploring beautiful coves and bush tracks for days.
4 Days
