Coromandel, North Island

HERO Coromandel2

Coromandel family holiday

HERO Coromandel 2

Cathedral Cove, Coromandel

HERO Coromandel 3

Hot Water Beach, Coromandel

Welcome to Coromandel

Walks and Parks

Walks & Parks

Get Outdoors!

Discover the region's walks, parks, beaches, lakes or rivers.

The Coromandel Peninsula, with a population of 27,000, is one of New Zealand’s most popular holiday destinations. Just an hour and a half drive from Auckland, the region stretches from the southern towns of Te Aroha and Katikati, through Thames and down the eastern side of the peninsula to Waihi. Coromandel is one of the last few unspoiled destinations, offering a relaxed lifestyle with its white, sandy beaches on the eastern side and on the western side the steep hills and the beautiful, native pohutukawa trees which flower in December. The eastern and western sides of the peninsula are divided by native rainforest with volcanic hills. The coasts of the Coromandel are waiting to be explored, whether it’s by glass bottom boat, diving, snorkeling or just swimming in the crystal clear waters. There are plenty of walks, whether you take a guided tour or find your own way. The Coromandel was the first recorded location of gold being discovered and there are plenty of mining relics to be seen, and even gold to be panned in its 100 year old gold processing museum.

Thames 

Thames is known as the gateway to the Coromandel, and most of the region is within one to one and a half hours’ drive of the town. Visit historic Grahamstown in the north of Thames with its colourful and entertaining market every Saturday or the Butterfly and Orchid House which has butterflies from all over the world.

Waihi

Located at the base of the peninsula and on the Pacific Coast Highway, Waihi is situated between Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty. Waihi boasts one of the safest surf beaches in New Zealand with its nine kilometres of beautiful, white sand, surf and sea fishing.

Whitianga and the Hot Water Beach

On the east coast of the Coromandel is Whitianga, the main town of Mercury Bay. Named by Captain Cook, the bay boasts the famous Hot Water Beach -a truly unique Kiwi experience that every New Zealander should experience at least once in their lifetime!

How it works…an underground river of hot water flows from the interior of the earth to the surface in the Pacific Ocean at Hot Water Beach – a long beautiful white beach located between Tairua and Whitianga.

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. Families, kids and couples can be seen digging their own spa pool in the sand to lie back in and relax while the steam from their hot pool envelops them. With the ebb and flow of the tide each individually created hot pool is washed away clearing the way for the next influx of visitors.

Paeroa

Famous for being the home of L&P (Lemon and Paeroa soft drink) this country town is situated on the edge of the Waihou River with the Ohinemuri River running through its centre. The L& P café is a great place to stop for a bite to eat and to buy some L&P souvenirs. The Bullswool Farm Park in Paerora has animals for the children to meet and pet and, if you are in Paerora in February, check out the Coromandel’s answer to The Edinburgh Tattoo at their Highland Games and Tattoo at the Paerora Domain.

 

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North Island

South Island

Map of New Zealand
  • Central Otago
  • Auckland
  • Bay of Plenty
  • Christchurch
  • Dunedin
  • Coromandel
  • Gisborne
  • Fiordland and Milford Sound
  • Hawkes Bay
  • Marlborough Sounds
  • Manawatu
  • Nelson & Golden Bay
  • Northland
  • North Canterbury
  • Queenstown
  • Rotorua
  • South Canterbury
  • Taranaki
  • Southland
  • Taupo
  • Wanaka
  • Waikato
  • Wellington
  • West Coast
  • Whangarei
  • Bay of Islands
  • Tauranga
  • Gisborne
  • Hamilton
  • Napier
  • Kapiti
  • Palmerston North
  • Whanganui
  • New Plymouth
  • Arrowtown
  • Te Anau
  • Akaroa
  • Ashburton
  • Hanmer
  • Kaikoura
  • Methven
  • Mt Cook
  • Oamaru
  • Tekapo
  • Timaru
  • Abel Tasman
  • Motueka
  • Nelson Lakes
  • Blenheim
  • Picton
  • Catlins
  • Gore
  • Stewart Island
  • Central Plateau
  • Invercargill
  • Cromwell
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Westport
  • Glenorchy

Our favourite destinations…

Auckland

New Zealand’s economic heart and biggest city is also an exciting family visitor destination, situated on a sunny harbour with city beaches just minutes away from the CBD. Orientate yourself by heading down to Viaduct Harbour, wandering the waterfront, checking out the super yachts or enjoying the waterfront restaurants. Nearby is the must-visit Sky Tower along with excellent and kid-friendly museums and tons of exciting activities!

Wellington

Wellington is New Zealand’s capital. Here you will find New Zealand's parliament buildings, including the 'Executive Wing', more well-known as 'The Beehive' due to its distinctive shape. Another icon to look out for is the Wellington Tram, which was the main means of public transport between 1878 and 1964.

Christchurch

With a population of around 400,000 Christchurch, in Canterbury, is the South Island ’s largest city, yet much of it has the feel of a small town. Perhaps that’s why it’s known as the Garden City but with the expansive Hagley Park, Botanic Gardens, Port Hills, River Avon and numerous beaches the city certainly has an open, relaxed feel that’s hard to beat.

Queenstown

With its well-deserved reputation as New Zealand’s activity adventure capital you’ll never run out of activities and things to do in Queenstown, but you may run out of time! With breathtaking scenery, activities and festivals, cafes and restaurants, skiing and snowboarding, shopping and wineries, this lakeside alpine resort rates as one of the world’s top vacation destinations for all ages and seasons.

Rotorua

Rotorua sits on the shore of Lake Rotorua, one of sixteen lakes in the area formed by hundreds of thousands of years of eruptions from the Taupo Volcanic Zone. The area is renowned for its geothermal activity and top of any activity list is to see the bubbling mud pools that are around the region for yourself. The Waimangu Volcanic Valley offers a first hand insight into the devastation caused by the 1886 eruption of Mount Tarawera and is a great place to discover steaming volcanic craters and bubbling, spitting  pools of mud!

Nelson and Golden Bay

The Nelson and Golden Bay regions, at the top of the South Island, boast enviable sunshine hours, glorious sandy beaches, safe swimming spots, lots of wildlife to look out for, and Abel Tasman National Park - an absolute must to explore, on foot, by kayak, your own craft or watertaxi.  Nelson is home to a vibrant arts and crafts community with a fabulous Saturday market, and is close to award-winning wineries and family-friendly bike tracks to take you around the coast.

Hawkes Bay

Napier was rebuilt after the 1931 earthquake and is now known as NZ's Art Deco City.  The Art Deco influence has created a unique city – nowhere else can you see such a varied concentration of art deco style. With over 2,200 sunshine hours a year, Napier is a year-round holiday destination with countless activities to entertain the kids – there's days of entertainment on Marine Parade alone, plus numerous other family-friendly trips and activities.  Add to that the beaches, walks and flat cycle paths, outdoor cafes and entertainment, and you have a perfect holiday destination!

Northland

Beautiful, unspoiled beaches, fishing, historic gum fields, kauri forests – the Far North has it all. With subtropical temperatures, it's often known as ‘the Winterless north', with warm, humid summers and mild winters.
Gateway to the Bay of Islands, Paihia is a pretty, lively beachside town and a perfect base for your family holiday. It’s your start point for Bay of Island adventures including day cruises, sailing, kayaking, swimming with dolphins and reef or wreck diving.