Beautiful white sand beaches

PHOTO: Whagamata Harbour, Coromandel

You know you can trust a place when the locals flock there at every opportunity. The Coromandel peninsula has been and always will be a favourite destination for New Zealanders because it’s just so gloriously beautiful and deliciously relaxed.

The best way to do the Coromandel is all the way round. The contrast between the two coasts is just like the rest of New Zealand. The west provides rocky beaches, less people, quirky arts and crafts and hippies lurking in small towns. The east sports white sand beaches, surf, calmer weather, more people and better coffee. In the middle of the peninsula lies a lush forest carpet full of enchanting walks.

Whangamata, the first ‘must stop’ has a brilliant beach that provides some of the best surf breaks on one side and safe swimming on the other. It has a lively little township of bars/restaurants for some post beach frolicking. The mini golf course is surprisingly entertaining and if you're there between the 24th - 28th March you can view 1200 restored hot rods and classic cars at the Beach Hop Festival. www.beachhop.co.nz

It’s easy to get stuck at Whangamata but there is much more to explore.

Further up is what locals call ‘the twins’ - Tairua and Pauanui, two towns separated by a harbour, however these twins are certainly not identical. Pauanui is the Palm Beach of the Coromandel where you will find jet skis galore, SUVs on every corner and holiday homes that are really mansions on purpose built canals. Tairua is like a quaint fishing town in comparison – low key, full of passionate fishermen waving their arms over beers and classic kiwi baches. It’s worth stopping at both – you can catch the ferry between the two and Pauanui has a stunning beach. To get a dramatic 360 degree view of the harbour then climb up Mount Paku in Tairua (an old Maori pa).

The road winds a bit after the twins and a great way to get over that is a soak at Hot Water Beach, which might sound like an oxymoron but it’s true. Volcanoes have developed underground reservoirs of superheated water that escape to the surface of the beach. You can hire spades from the local store and sit in your own spa on the beach for (approx) two hours either side of low tide. Bliss.

The next destination is Hahei, mainly as a means to get to Cathedral Cove. Hahei has a pleasant beach and Cathedral Cove, which is only accessible by foot or boat has a breathtaking beach. It takes an hour to walk there and you can feast your eyes on waterfalls, walk through a giant hole in a cliff, explore reefs or swim out to rocks and jump into aqua blue water. Take a picnic and go for the day.

Whitianga (the main township of Mercury Bay) is a good location to stop for supplies, swims, meals, coffee, cocktails and boat trips. It’s another sprightly township with a bubbling restaurant scene and the coastline is dotted with islands and reefs ripe for diving, snorkelling, fishing and marvelling.

Most travellers stop at this point, however the curious are richly rewarded if they venture further up the coast. You have to cross over the peninsula to Coromandel township to get up to Kennedy Bay, Waikawau Bay and Sandy Bay but it’s worth it. There are DOC campsites at all three beaches and being in the middle of nowhere on white sand with beautiful lapping blue waves will make you feel very, very lucky.

Whangamata

Coromandel and Tairua Forest Parks provide many walks and mountain bike trails.
One hour walk to old gold mine ruins on the Forestry Road
Two hour walk to 50m high waterfalls in Wentworth – track starts 2.5km south of Whangamata on SH25
More information at www.whangamatainfo.co.nz

Tairua and Pauanui

Mount Paku – track starts from Tirinui crescent, Tairua.
Mount Paku – track starts from Tirinui crescent, Tairua.
Pauanui Mountain (400 m/1200 ft high provides panoramic views) – track leaves from south end of beach.
Chartered fishing boats with trips out to Slipper Island (from Tairua)
River – great for fresh water swimming in Puketui Valley (south of the twins)
Gold mining relics at Broken Hills at the top of Puketui Valley Rd.
More information at www.tairua.info/ or Pauanui Info centre on Ph 07 864 7101

Mercury Bay and Whitianga

Loads of fishing, kayaking, diving and snorkelling boat options to Cathedral Cove (via Hahei and Whitianga)
High Zone Adventure, Whitianga (trapeze and hire wire thrills) www.highzone.co.nz
Cathedral Cove directions – drive up Grange Road (turn left past the shops) and park at the top. Walk from there.
More information at www.whitianga.co.nz

Information on the whole peninsula at: www.thecoromandel.com

Summer bookings essential at DOC campsites at www.doc.govt.nz