HOMEGROWN in the COROMANDEL
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
HOMEGROWN in THE COROMANDEL OFFICIAL VISITOR GUIDE REFER TO CENTRE FOLDOUT www.thecoromandel.com Hauraki Rail Trail, Karangahake Gorge 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 C OROMANDEL 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 Pipiroa 25 To Auckland Waitakaruru Kopuarahi 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 KEY Kaimai Marine Reserve Walks Golf Course Forest Park Bowentown Gold Heritage Fishing Information Centres Surfing Cycleway Airports TE AROHA To Tauranga 70km Kauri Heritage Camping life asitshouldbe. slow downandreconnectwith abreak, it’s time to relax.Take selling homegrown foodandart, and meetingcreativelocals you. Aftersomeretailtherapy perfect, becauseit’s allabout The Coromandel is a prescription for your own own your is aprescriptionfor wellbeing. Take it regularly itregularly Take wellbeing. Life in The Coromandel inTheCoromandel Life inwinteris and frequently. 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. THE COROMANDEL THAMES Hōtoreni There are many beautiful places in the world, only a few can Must Do’s H Walk The Pinnacles be described as truly special. With a thousand natural H Explore the Thames hideaways to enjoy, gorgeous beaches, dramatic rainforests, coastline while collecting friendly people and fantastic fresh food The Coromandel fresh seafood H Fish & Chips and a experience is truly unique and not to be missed. Thames Coast sunset The Coromandel, New Zealanders’ favourite destination, is H Bike or walk the Thames within an hour and a half drive of the major centres of Coastline Walkway H Visit the old gold mining Auckland and Hamilton and their International Airports, and sites yet the region is a world away from the hustle and bustle of H Hauraki Rail Trail city life. 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 Thames Regional Map 1 The Coromandel Driving Times & Distances 1 2 Our Towns 3 - 12 3 Our Region 13 - 28 The Coromandel Walks 29 - 34 The coastal town of Thames sits at the intersection of the plains and the mountains of The Coromandel. Steeped in goldmining history, it is now a Homgrown Food & Art 37 - 38 convenient service hub for the region, minus any big city bustle. Contents Activities 39 - 56 It is a ‘crafty’ town proud of its heritage and connected to the natural Tours & Transport 57 - 59 environment with an expansive bush wilderness as its backdrop and many delightful shops with local produce, art and friendly service. Accommodation 60 - 69 A former gold mining boom town that once produced gold by the tonne, it has Local Radio Stations 70 & 74 proudly maintained its heritage buildings and has an operational gold stamper battery and original tunnels that exist now only to preserve a fascinating insight Events 71 - 73 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. DISCLAIMER: While all care has been taken in preparing this publication, Destination Follow the Thames Coast north to experience a stretch of Pohutukawa-fringed Coromandel accepts no responsibility for any errors, omissions or the offers or details of operator coastline interspersed with coastal villages, meditative and garden retreats, listings. Prices, timetables and other details or terms of business may change without notice. classic old dairies (corner shops) and other attractions awaiting those willing to Published Oct 2019. 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 thecoromandel.com thecoromandel.com COROMANDEL TOWN WHITIANGA & MERCURY BAY Kapānga 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 H Walkway New Chum Beach H Scenic Cruises H Kauri Trees / Waterfalls H Diving & Snorkelling H Walk the Heritage Trail H Kauri Groves H Drive or cycle past the Oyster and Mussel farms Whitianga & Mercury Bay The Coromandel 4 5 The Coromandel Historic Coromandel Town is a haven for talented artists and craftspeople 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 Thames – Coromandel Town has much to offer. Coromandel Town Polynesian navigator and high priest Tupaia with Captain James Cook, whose Homegrown cuisine is in abundance from its raw form, to elegantly crew first sighted New Zealand from his ship the Endeavour in October 1769. cooked and served at the many local restaurants. The discovery of gold at It was on this first voyage that Cook visited Mercury Bay and named it to mark Driving Creek in 1852 brought a boom to Coromandel Town, and the the place where his expedition observed the transit of the planet Mercury. area has continued to flourish while retaining a rich stock of surviving The town of Whitianga is the main hub of Mercury Bay and has everything you may heritage 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.