Planning a Coromandel getaway? We've picked 11 great things to do around the Coromandel Peninsula to help you plan your trip. From some of the best beaches to hidden waterfalls, beautiful islands and some secret spots you've probably never heard of!
1. Glass Bottom Boat
Imagine being able to experience one of New Zealand’s most famous marine reserves without getting wet. In The Coromandel, you can watch the magical marine life of Te-Whanganui-a-Hei, aka Cathedral Cove, through the custom-built glass panels of Whitianga’s Glass Bottom Boat. Get a whole new perspective of The Coromandel coastline, from Shakespeare Cliff to Cooks Beach, Champagne and Gemstone bays, exploring sea caves, volcanic pinnacles and the peninsula’s signature white-sand beaches. At Cathedral Cove, you’ll experience The Coromandel’s only marine reserve from above the surface, or if the water is too irresistible, take the plunge and snorkel amongst the fish.
2. Shorebird Coast
A precious gem at the base of the Coromandel on the Firth of Thames, this ornithological mecca is home to seaside marshes and mangroves where discreet hides allow visitors to spy on the migratory birds. Depending on the season you might see plovers, red knots (who soar all the way to Siberia to breed), torea / pied oystercatchers, tuturiwhatu / dotterels or ngutu parore / wrybills whose beaks famously bend to the right. A nursery for young godwits who’ve yet to think about starting families, these canny fledglings know there’s little point flying all the way to Alaska till they reach the age of consent. All the birds have astonishing stories and the award-winning Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre explains their epic exploits in detail.
3. Driving Creek Zipline
At Driving Creek on The Coromandel Peninsula, you can choose between chugging through native forest on New Zealand’s only narrow-gauge mountain railway or zooming above it via zipline. The railway at Driving Creek is also New Zealand’s steepest. With an average gradient of 1-in-24, (one vertical metre for every 24 metres of length), the small trains climb 115m to the quirky EyeFull Tower viewing area which sits 167m above sea level. Driving Creek is set amongst native kauri and rimu forest that has been painstakingly cultivated over the decades from farmland to resemble what it would have been like in pre-European times. To further immerse yourself in this remarkable regenerating environment, ride the train to the start of the Coromandel Zipline, where you can fly on eight separate ziplines spanning gullies, streams and taking in the native forest from above.
4. Coromandel Coastal Walkway
Explore the northern tip of the Coromandel Peninsula on foot or mountain bike along the spectacular Coromandel Coastal Walkway. The 20km, seven-hour return route, which should take the best part of a day, will take you between Stony and Fletcher bays. You can choose to return via the same easy grade walking trail, or pick the steeper Coromandel mountain bike track across farmland. Experience dramatic views across Mount Moehau, the Coromandel Ranges and the Hauraki Gulf, featuring regenerating bush, coastal forest and secluded sandy beaches. If you want to stay longer, there are DOC campsites bookending the trail at Fletcher and Stony Bay.
5. Waiau Falls
A short walk from The Coromandel’s inland 309 Road will take you to a majestic grove of kauri trees and the nearby Waiau Falls are a popular summer swimming spot. The trees that make up the 309 Kauri Grove are the most mature stand of kauri in The Coromandel – a tiny remnant of the forest that once covered the whole peninsula. Protected by well-formed walking tracks and boardwalks, you can get up close to these majestic giants without damaging their fragile roots. Then, about a kilometre along the winding gravel road, you’ll find the picturesque Waiau Falls, set amongst dense Coromandel bush. The deep swimming hole at the base of the falls is a great spot for a refreshing dip.
6. Aldermen Islands
The Aldermen or Ruamaahu Islands off the coast of Pāuanui are often referred to as the vanishing volcanoes. Hongiora, Ruamahuaiti, Ngā Horo, The Spire and Ruamahuanui islets are remnants of a much larger volcanic complex which erupted around five million years ago.The rocky islands were originally named ‘The Honorable Court of Aldermen’ by Captain Cook on his 1769 visit. Protected since 1933, the Aldermen group is one of the most important wildlife sanctuaries in the Coromandel region, administered, like the Mercury Islands, as part of the Hauraki Gulf Maritime Park. Home to endangered reptiles, rare native plants and many nesting sea birds, going ashore is strictly prohibited, however, with huge drop-offs and an equally large range of fish life, the diving here is spectacular. Features include caves, pinnacles and a major feeding station just below the surface. Several charters operate out of Whitianga, Hahei, Tairua, Pāuanui and Whangamatā to take you out to experience this strange and wonderful place.
7. The Pinnacles
Climb to the top of the Pinnacles in the heart of the Coromandel Forest Park for panoramic views of the peninsula. The challenging eight-hour walk in the Kauaeranga Valley will take you through nikau groves past huge rātā trees and across swing bridges. Follow the routes once trod by gold miners, gum diggers and kauri loggers, and spot remnants of kauri dams. Reaching the peak of the Pinnacles is an adventure in itself, as you climb ladders up the steep rock face. For a truly special experience, you can spend the night in the Pinnacles Hut – the largest DOC hut in New Zealand, and time your climb to catch the sunrise.
8. Rapaura Water Gardens
Head inland from the small settlement of Tapu on the coast about 20 minutes north of Thames to find a garden wonderland brimming with delights. The Rapaura Water Gardens have been a labour of love for more than 50 years, as exotic flowers have been cultivated alongside dense native bush. Today those efforts have paid off, as Rapaura has been recognised as a ‘Garden of Significance’ by the New Zealand Gardens Trust. Follow meandering pathways over wooden bridges to find lovely lily ponds and waterfalls, or absorb the bounty of colour and creativity with garden art and the mesmerising blooms of irises, rhododendrons, orchids and begonias.
9. Homunga Bay
A secret cove that can only be reached on foot is always an enticing proposition. With a white sandy beach set against dense pōhutukawa forest, Homunga Bay is a special spot that is worth the effort to reach. A walking track from the northern end of Orokawa Bay leads you along the stunning Coromandel coastline. The walk takes around 1.5 hours each way, so ensure you pack plenty of water, snacks and wear comfortable walking shoes.
10. Victoria Battery
On the banks of the Ohinemuri River opposite Waikino in The Coromandel you’ll find the remnants of one of New Zealand’s most impressive industrial sites. Constructed between 1897 and 1898, the Victoria Battery was the largest gold ore crushing battery in the country and was operational for 54 years until its closure in 1952. Today you can walk amongst the hulking concrete remains of cyanide tanks and ore roasting kilns. The original transformer house is now a museum where you can learn more about this intriguing site and the extensive gold mining activity that happened here. On open days you can also take a guided tour to explore underground tunnels or ride the small tram that winds amongst the relics.
11. Mount Paku
The most distinctive geological feature at Tairua on the Coromandel Peninsula is Mount Paku – the two spiky volcanic peaks that mark the entrance to Tairua Harbour. Tackle the short, steep climb to the summit and you’ll be rewarded with incredible views over the harbour, Tairua, Pāuanui and the golden sands of the Coromandel coastline. The route is lined with native bush studded with pōhutukawa, karaka and māhoe, and higher, large boulders which turn the walk into an adventure. The walk takes around 30 minutes return and, yes, you can take your dog if they’re on a lead.
