 Kupe, who, according to Maori legend, crossed the harbour here. Te -a–Kupe, now just called Whitianga, was named for History a favouritewithNewZealanders. plains, brings you to this recreational paradise that has long been Hauraki the across downtown Auckland, from Twohours’drive forest. dense and mountains of interior an and beaches sand golden its horizon. Edging the Pacific Ocean, the peninsula is renowned for from Auckland, a dark seen and be mysterious looking can mass ranges Peninsula’son Coromandel the the eastern day clear a On The CoromandelPeninsula . forest. ancient of remnants as well as Gulf, Hauraki the of islands and ocean the over lookouts fantastic offer Park Forest Coromandel Walks the clouds. into the into soar ranges Moehau the and few are settlements the culture, café new-found its these and Coromandel linking road of Beyond Coromandel. to Thames stretch of towns gold-mining historic the for trees pohutukawa with dotted coves rocky mainly is peninsula the of coast western The The West Coast architecture hintofthewildcolonialnaturethosetimes. surviving and museums Today, thrived. industries Supporting prospectors. with Waihiand bustling Coromandel were Thames, In the 1800s, gold was found on the peninsula. Then, the towns of planet Mercuryacrossthesunon9November1769. HMS aboard the of 1769 transit the observed Cook in where is by Close here Endeavour. sailed who Cook, James Captain history.navigator,and explorer the for named was Beach Cooks Zealand New early with closely link also names places English village isareserveabovethesouthernendofbeach. his of site pa historic The chieftains. Maori prominent most the ’s Ocean, Pacific the On of one after named is beach sandy 1 ae, akr eecsn ad aiis ih hlrn playing. children with families and exercising walkers the catching waves, surfers for year all magnet a are beaches The popular footprints. only the making solitude, perfect in length its walk and untouched almost beach a find and lucky be still can white-sand idyllic fishing. and numerous surfing diving, You swimming, for perfect beaches, by rimmed is coast eastern The The CoromandelEastCoast by thesestatelytrees. again graced be will Coromandel the of valleys and hills the day will be planted at the right time and carefully nurtured so that one forest. Anyone can purchase a young kauri for a small sum and it ancient this replace to place takes kauri of planting a year every cut down in the 1800s to build homes and for sailing ships. Now kauri tree, called the giant of the forest. Most were Peninsula was once completely covered in the magnificent native Visitors can add a special memento of their visit. The Coromandel Kauri forests onadaywalk,orkayakdowntherivers. sand white numerous the at and hills the explore or bays unpopulated and remote on beaches sunrise the catch can you track, beaten the off get to loves who traveller the For nearby. resorts Popular golf courses are at and with upmarket restaurants. and galleries its for Whitianga or sand the pools amongst hot natural the for Beach Water Hot cafes, and food sea its for town Coromandel miss Don’t lifestyle. seaside relaxed a and choices accommodation pleasant offer towns Beach-side pleasure cruising. and diving fishing, of days for out set boats shores, the Beyond