Coromandel, Walks & Parks

The Kauaeranga Valley is located 15 minutes out of Thames and is a beautiful and historic location for the entire family. With walks/tramps that last from 10 minutes to a full day, a well informed visitors centre, camping, cottages, swimming holes, a café through summer and canyoning, there's activities to suit everyone.

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Just south of Whitianga and backed by pohutukawa trees, this beautiful beach is a 3 kilometre crescent of fine golden sand, ideal for picnics, and water which is free from rips, making it safe for family swimming. The beach resort also has a café and shopping centre. The beach can be reached via Highway 25 or from Whitianga. You can also access it by ferry to Ferry Landing but you will need to take a five minute taxi drive from the landing to the beach.

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This attractive, white sandy beach with pohutukawas is one and a half kilometres long. The crystal clear water is home to crayfish and fish. At the eastern end of the beach is the site of an old Maori Pa. From the lookout there is access to Cathedral Cove and the marine reserve. There are cafes, a beach store, ice cream parlour and gift shop nearby.

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Wentworth Valley Falls is an easy 3km walk that will take you around 2 hrs 30 mins (return) to complete.This track, from the Wentworth campsite to Wentworth Falls, follows an easy grade alongside the Wentworth River, with two bridged crossings, before climbing to a good view of the falls. The falls are in two drops of about 20 metres each. From here, a steeper tramping track leads to a basin at the top of the falls. This walk can be followed by a 3km walk up the Wentworth River through old Kauri forest.

 

 

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The Broken Hills area has a number of walking tracks through old mining sites. From 5 min - 10 hr. A popular walk is to 'Gem of The Boom' 20 min return from Puketui Valley Rd - This was the site of an old mining settlement, and relics of the past can still be seen, including what appears to be a jail cut into solid rock. It is an easy loop walk with two bridged crossings over a small creek. Nestled beside the slow-moving Tairua River, Broken Hills is a tranquil holiday hideaway in a picturesque setting.This beautiful Broken Hills Gorge provides many opportunities for walking, swimming, canoeing, trout fishing, fossicking, rafting, bird watching, photography, picnicking and camping.

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This walk will take about 40 minutes return and starts near the village of Hahei. Take the signposted road to the lookout car park. The carpark can be full during summer months because this walk is so popular – you may wish to park at an alternative site from the northern end of the Beach car park but you should allow an extra 25 minutes each way.

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A 2.5 -3 hour walk to the hut with fantastic views of the ranges and out to the East Coast from the top of the Pinnacles. This walk is full of gold mining history dating way back in the late 1800. For the more adventurous once at the hut, you can drop your packs and head up the rough climb (40mins one way) to the top of the Pinnacles (759 metres)

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Dig your own hot pools out of the sand one hour before or after low tide near the rocks and see steam rising from the open sea at high tide. Hot Water Beach is just south of Mercury Bay at the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula and is the remains of volcanic activity. The water can be as hot as 64 degrees centigrade so be careful! There are toilets, cafes and a shop at the car park which sells drinks and ice creams. Spades are available for hire if you forget to take your own. Swimming is not safe for children at this beach because of the strong surf.

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Abundant native bush, ferns, watergardens and birds. Wander over bridges and take a bush walk to a cascading waterfall. The seasonal displays of native and exotic flowers are interspersed with garden art. Most of the Gardens are accessible by pushchair, except for the last part of the walk to the falls where there are long steps. It takes about 45 minutes to wander around the Gardens. Take a picnic - there are picnic tables in the car park and ducks and chickens waiting to be fed!

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This is a 2hr - 14km bike ride ( a section of the 160km 2-4 day trip). Ride through the historic and scenic Karangahake Gorge past gold mines and through the 1km long tunnel.

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The seaside at Matarangi is perfect for families with its gentle surf and safe swimming and four and a half kilometers of white sandy beaches. There is a store and café nearby.

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A 20 minute gentle return walk from the carpark at the end of Kauraeranga Road. Follow the Kauri Trail for about five minutes before turning onto the Billygoat Landing Walk just after the swing bridge. At the Billygoat basin there are good views of the 180 metre high falls and the cliffs.

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The cove is part of the Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve which covers 9 square kilometers. The cove itself is named after after the giant rock arch at its entrance and is accessible only by foot or boat. The track to the sandy beach begins at the northern end of Hahei. The beach itself offers shade from the pohutukawa trees along the foreshore.

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