Coromandel Town Whitianga Hahei/Hotwater Tairua Pauanui Whangamata Waihi Paeroa
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Discover that HOMEGROWN in ~ THE COROMANDEL good for your soul Produce, Restaurants, Cafes & Arts moment OFFICIAL VISITOR GUIDE REFER TO CENTRE FOLDOUT www.thecoromandel.com Hauraki Rail Trail, Karangahake Gorge KEY Marine Reserve Walks Golf Course Gold Heritage Fishing Information Centres Surfing Cycleway Airports Kauri Heritage Camping CAPE COLVILLE Fletcher Bay PORT JACKSON COASTAL WALKWAY Stony Bay MOEHAU RANGE Sandy Bay Fantail Bay PORT CHARLES HAURAKI GULF Waikawau Bay Otautu Bay COLVILLE Amodeo Bay Kennedy Bay Papa Aroha NEW CHUM BEACH KUAOTUNU Otama Shelly Beach MATARANGI BAY Beach WHANGAPOUA BEACH Long Bay Opito Bay COROMANDEL Coromandel Harbour To Auckland TOWN Waitaia Bay PASSENGER FERRY Te Kouma Te Kouma Harbour WHITIANGA Mercury Bay Manaia Harbour Manaia 309 Cooks Marine Reserve Kauris Beach Ferry CATHEDRAL COVE Landing HAHEI COROMANDEL RANGE Waikawau HOT WATER COROGLEN BEACH 25 WHENUAKITE Orere 25 Point TAPU Sailors Grave Rangihau Square Valley Te Karo Bay WAIOMU Kauri TE PURU TAIRUA To Auckland Pinnacles Broken PAUANUI 70km KAIAUA Hut Hills Hikuai DOC PINNACLES Puketui Tararu Info WALK Shorebird Coast Centre Slipper Island 1 FIRTH (Whakahau) OF THAMES THAMES Kauaeranga Valley OPOUTERE Pukorokoro/Miranda 25a Kopu ONEMANA MARAMARUA 25 Pipiroa To Auckland Kopuarahi Waitakaruru 2 WHANGAMATA Hauraki Plains Maratoto Valley Wentworth 2 NGATEA Mangatarata Valley Whenuakura Island 25 27 Kerepehi Hikutaia Kopuatai HAURAKI 26 Waimama Bay Wet Lands RAIL TRAIL Whiritoa To Rotorua/ Netherton Taupo PAEROA Waikino Mackaytown WAIHI 2 OROKAWA BAY Tirohia KARANGAHAKE GORGE Waitawheta WAIHI BEACH Athenree Kaimai Forest Park Bowentown To Hamilton To Rotorua 80km TE AROHA To Tauranga 70km facebook.com/ The Coromandel Love HELP KEEP OUR BACKYARD TIDY facebook.com/PickitupnowNZ/ DRIVING TIMES & DISTANCES Thames Coromandel Town Whitianga Hahei/Hotwater Tairua Pauanui Whangamata Waihi Paeroa KMS TIME KMS TIME KMS TIME KMS TIME KMS TIME KMS TIME KMS TIME KMS TIME KMS TIME Thames 54 1.00 89 1.20 72 1.10 49 0.45 51 0.45 59 0.55 54 0.45 33 0.30 Coromandel Town 54 1.00 43 0.45 70 1.10 82 1.20 107 1.45 93 1.45 108 1.45 87 1.35 Whitianga 89 1.20 43 0.45 34 0.30 40 0.40 67 1.00 77 1.15 106 1.45 108 1.35 Hahei/Hotwater 72 1.10 70 1.10 34 0.30 20 0.20 45 0.45 56 0.55 85 1.30 87 1.20 Tairua 49 0.45 82 1.20 40 0.40 20 0.20 25 0.25 36 0.35 66 1.10 68 1.00 Pauanui 51 0.45 107 1.45 67 1.00 45 0.45 25 0.25 36 0.40 69 1.10 70 1.00 Whangamata 59 0.55 93 1.45 77 1.15 56 0.55 36 0.35 36 0.40 29 0.35 49 0.50 Waihi 54 0.45 108 1.45 106 1.45 85 1.30 66 1.10 69 1.10 29 0.35 21 0.20 Paeroa 33 0.30 87 1.35 108 1.35 87 1.20 68 1.00 70 1.00 49 0.50 21 0.20 Auckland 115 1.30 169 2.30 192 2.35 170 2.20 152 2.00 150 2.00 160 2.30 142 1.45 122 1.30 Tauranga 116 1.35 168 2.35 167 2.30 145 2.15 126 2.00 152 2.00 89 1.20 60 0.50 78 1.05 Hamilton 102 1.20 154 2.20 181 2.35 160 2.10 137 2.00 137 1.50 126 1.50 92 1.15 72 0.55 NOTE: Driving times vary depending on the routes taken. Times have been based on the shortest. THAMES THE COROMANDEL Parawai There are many beautiful places in the world, only a few can be described as truly special. With a thousand natural hideaways to enjoy, gorgeous beaches, dramatic rainforests, Must Do’s H friendly people and fantastic fresh food The Coromandel Walk The Pinnacles H Explore the Thames coastline experience is truly unique and not to be missed. while collecting fresh seafood H Fish & Chips and a Thames The Coromandel, New Zealanders’ favourite destination, is within an hour and a half drive of the major centres of Coast sunset H Bike or walk the Thames Auckland and Hamilton and their International Airports, and Coastline Walkway yet the region is a world away from the hustle and bustle of H Visit the old gold mining sites city life. H Hauraki Rail Trail Drive, sail or fly to The Coromandel and bunk down on nature’s doorstep while catching up with locals who love to show you why The Coromandel is good for your soul. CONTENTS Regional Map 1 Thames Driving Times & Distances 1 Our Towns 3-12 The Coromandel Our Region 13-28 3 Walks 29-34 The Coromandel Homgrown Food & Art 37-38 The coastal town of Thames sits at the intersection of the plains and the Other Activities 39-54 mountains of The Coromandel. Steeped in goldmining history, it is now a convenient service hub for the region, minus any big city bustle. Tours & Transport 55-57 It is a ‘crafty’ town proud of its heritage and connected to the natural Accommodation 59-67 environment with an expansive bush wilderness as its backdrop and many delightful shops with local produce, art and friendly service. Local Radio Stations 68 A former gold mining boom town that once produced gold by the tonne, it has Events 69-73 proudly maintained its heritage buildings and has an operational gold stamper Coromandel Town battery and original tunnels that exist now only to preserve a fascinating insight to the past. Nearby Kauaeranga Valley is the best place to seek out campgrounds and bush walks which can be done as day trips or by venturing further up The Coromandel Cover Photo: Coastal Walkway ranges and staying overnight at the large hut owned and operated by the Fold Out: Hauraki Rail Trail - Karangahake Gorge Department of Conservation. Follow the Thames Coast north to experience a stretch of Pohutukawa-fringed DISCLAIMER: While all care has been taken in preparing this publication, Destination Coromandel accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or the offers or details of coastline interspersed with coastal villages, meditative and garden retreats, operator listings. Prices, timetables and other details or terms of business may change classic old dairies (corner shops) and other attractions awaiting those willing to without notice. Published Oct 2018. take a more relaxed pace. Destination Coromandel PO Box 592, Thames, New Zealand 200 Mary Street, Thames P 07 868 0017 E [email protected] THAMES Phone: +64 7 868 7284 W www.thecoromandel.com i-SITE Visitor Centre www.thecormandel.com/thames www.thecoromandel.com COROMANDEL TOWN WHITIANGA & MERCURY BAY Kapa-nga Te Whitianga-a-Kupe Must Do’s Must Do’s H Cathedral Cove Walk H Long Bay Reserve H Natural Thermal Spa H Castle Rock H Hot Water Beach H Coromandel Coastal Walkway H New Chum Beach H Kauri Trees / Waterfalls H Scenic Cruises H Walk the Heritage Trail H Diving & Snorkelling H rive or Cycle past the Oyster D H and Mussel farms Kauri Groves Whitianga & Mercury Bay The Coromandel 4 5 The Coromandel Historic Coromandel Town is a haven for talented artists and crafts people Located on the east coast of The Coromandel, Mercury Bay is an area packed with who have moved here from around the country - inspired not only by the spectacular scenery, coastline dotted with islands, walks, inlets, remote bays tranquil atmosphere, but also by the spectacular natural surrounds. and beaches, thermal hot springs, a marine reserve and native birdlife. The village has a unique character, soul and ambience reflecting art, heritage Its main town of Whitianga is short for Whitianga-o-Kupe (Kupe’s crossing and its cultural importance to Iwi. While it can be said that the journey is the place) after Kupe the explorer who visited Aotearoa (New Zealand) before the destination – arrive by ferry after a stunning journey across the Hauraki Gulf canoe migrations. from downtown Auckland or by road on the winding Pohutukawa coast from Steeped in maritime history, Mercury Bay was also visited by the expert Coromandel Town Thames – Coromandel Town has much to offer. Polynesian navigator and high priest Tupaia with Captain James Cook, whose Homegrown cuisine is in abundance from its raw form, to elegantly cooked crew first sighted New Zealand from his ship the Endeavour in October 1769. and served at the many local restaurants. The discovery of gold at Driving It was on this first voyage that Cook visited Mercury Bay and named it to mark Creek in 1852 brought a boom to Coromandel Town, and the area has the place where his expedition observed the transit of the planet Mercury. continued to flourish while retaining a rich stock of surviving heritage The town of Whitianga is the main hub of Mercury Bay and has everything you may buildings. need to stock up on provisions before venturing out to explore the more remote Coromandel Town is also the gateway to the north Coromandel’s isolated and smaller coastal villages including Kuaotunu, Matarangi, Opito and Otama to beaches, campgrounds, mountains and walking tracks. the north and Hahei, Cooks Beach and Hot Water Beach to the south. Kayaking, diving, snorkelling, swimming and walking are perfect ways to explore the beauty of the area before enjoying the natural hot springs at Hot Water Beach and The Lost Spring thermal resort in Whitianga. Kapanga Rd, Coromandel Town 66 Albert Street, Whitianga COROMANDEL TOWN Phone: +64 7 866 8598 WHITIANGA Phone 07 866 5555 Information Centre www.coromandeltown.co.nz i-SITE Visitor Centre www.whitiangainfo.co.nz www.thecoromandel.com www.thecoromandel.com TAIRUA PAUANUI Must Do’s Must Do’s H Deep sea fishing and diving H Deep sea fishing & diving H Golf, on the internationally H Kayaking on the shallow acclaimed course harbour H Walk the Tangatarori Lane H Walk the History Trail boardwalk H Climb Mt Paku H Climb Mt Pauanui H Play a round of mini golf or tennis Pauanui The Coromandel 6 7 The Coromandel Tairua and Pauanui on the Pacific Coast are excellent bases from which to Pauanui, a purpose built holiday community which lies across the harbour explore the east coast and offshore islands, or the craggy mountainous from Tairua, features the country’s first canal housing development.