The Coromandel Peninsula is a little piece of natural delight. It is easy to understand why it is a favourite New Zealand holiday spot for locals and international visitors alike. The Peninsula juts into the Pacific Ocean east of Auckland with an eastern boundary of the Hauraki Gulf. Although relatively close to Auckland, the Coromandel offers easy access to splendid isolation.
Here you can navigate some of New Zealand’s most breathtaking coastal scenery along the Pacific Coast Highway. This is the perfect way to explore the peninsula with the rugged beauty of the Coromandel and Kaimai ranges contrasting with distinctive islands offshore.
The highway hugs much of the coast, past rolling surf and beautiful harbours, through small picturesque fishing villages and over rivers and estuaries to the vast coastal plains. There are many hidden gems and many of the peninsula’s most beautiful beaches and walks are off the beaten track.
A dramatic mountainous spine bisects the region into two very distinct parts. The east coast has some of the North Island’s best white-sand beaches. Down the middle, the mountains are crisscrossed with walking tracks, allowing hikers to explore large tracts of untamed bush where kauri trees once towered and are starting to do so again. The cutesy historic gold-mining towns are dotted on the western side with their distinctive muddy wetlands and picturesque stony bays.
Alan and I recently had four wonderful days exploring the Coromandel by motor home. With short travel distances between sights the slow and easy pace was a very pleasant change, offering the perfect opportunity to stop and admire the spectacular mountain scenery. We loved the concept of the Freedom Camping sites that are dotted around the peninsula. It was great to just stop and overnight at a beachside stop, but during the busy seasons you have to be quick because the locals seem to know all the best locations.
There is plenty to do all year round in the beautiful Coromandel. Winter is pretty cool, summer busy but spring and autumn just perfect. We were there at the start of spring, just in time for scallop season and the oyster festival in Whitianga. The seafood is to die for and the wine is also pretty good. The vibrant art culture, charming colonial architecture and stunning views make this a must visit destination for nature lovers.
Our favourite spots were Hahei Beach and Cathedral Cove. At the cove the picture perfect sandy beach is flanked by rocky headlands and sheltered by Mahurangi Island. There are lots of walks in this region and to access Cathedral Cove you either have to walk about two kilometres or take a boat – either way it is so worth the effort. If you are in the region at low tide you can even dig yourself a spa pool at Hot Water Beach.
