FREE OFFICIAL VISITOR GUIDE www.thecoromandel.com Coromandel Harbour THE COROMANDEL 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, friendly people and fantastic fresh food The Coromandel experience is truly unique and not to be missed. The Coromandel, New Zealanders’ favourite destination, is within an hour and a half drive of the major centres of Auckland and Hamilton and their International Airports, and yet the region is a world away from the hustle and bustle of 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 Regional Map 4 - 5 Our Towns 6 - 15 Our Region 16 - 26 Walks 27 - 32 3 On & Around the Water 33 - 40 Other Activities 41 - 48 Homegrown Cuisine 49 - 54 Tours & Transport 55 - 57 Accommodation 59 - 70 Events 71 - 73 Local Radio Stations 74 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 operator listings. Prices, timetables and other details or terms of business may change without notice. Published Oct 2015. Destination Coromandel PO Box 592, Thames, New Zealand P 07 868 0017 F 07 868 5986 E [email protected] W www.thecoromandel.com Cover Photo: Northern Coromandel CAPE COLVILLE Fletcher Bay PORT JACKSON Stony Bay The Coromandel ‘Must Do’s’ MOEHAU RANG Sandy Bay Fantail Bay Cathedral Cove PORT CHARLES Hot Water Beach E The Pinnacles Karangahake Gorge Waik New Chum Beach Otautu Bay Hauraki Rail Trail Gold Discovery COLVILLE plus so much more... Amodeo Bay Ke Papa Aroha Shelly Beach WHANGAPO Long Bay COROMANDEL TOWN Ma M Coromandel Harbour To Auckland PASSENGER FERRY Te Kouma p Te Kouma Harbour of Manaia Harbour Manaia 309 t Kauris he e R CO eg ROMANDEL RANGE io Waikawau n 25 Orere Point TAPU 4 Square WAIOMU Kauri The To Auckland 70km TE PURU FIRTH C KAIAUA OF THAMES or DOC Tararu Info Seabird Coast om Centre m 1 THAMES an Kauaeranga Valley Pukorokoro/Miranda de Kopu l MARAMARUA 25 Pipiroa To Auckland Kopuarahi Waitakaruru 2 Hauraki Plains 2 NGATEA Mangatarata 27 Kerepehi Hikutaia To Rotorua/Taupo Kopuatai 26 Wet Lands Netherton PAEROA Mackaytown Tirohia KA W Kaimai Forest Pa TE AROHA To Hamilton To Rotorua 80km Marine Reserve Heritage Surfing Kauri Heritage Walks kawau Bay Fishing Cycleway Camping ennedy Bay Golf Course Information Centres New Chum Beach KUAOTUNU Otama Airports MATARANGI BAY Beach OUA BEACH Opito Bay Waitaia Bay l Mercury Bay WHITIANGA de Marine Reserve Cooks n CATHEDRAL COVE an Ferry Beach Landing HAHEI m om or o HOT WATER BEACH C COROGLEN WHENUAKITE The 25 Rangihau Sailors Grave Valley Te Karo Bay 5 TAIRUA n Pinnacles Broken PAUANUI Hut Hills io i Hikaui Puketui Slipper Is. eg R OPOUTERE he t 25a ONEMANA of o p Ma Maratoto Valley Wentworth Valley WHANGAMATA 25 Waimama Bay Whiritoa Waikino WAIHI Orokawa Bay 2 ARANGAHAKE GORGE Waitawheta WAIHI BEACH Athenree i ark Bowentown To Tauranga 70km www.thecoromandel.com when The Coromandel Must Do’s Must i springs Bathe in the natural hot hot natural the in Bathe galleries Check out the local art art local the out Check and chips and Enjoy a feed of NZ’s best fish fish best NZ’s of feed a Enjoy Fish the Firth of Thames of Firth the Fish Centre Visit the Miranda Shorebird Shorebird Miranda the Visit Vis + + + + + + travelling to Auckland via Clevedon. The drive meanders through green pastures with expansive views of coast and marshland along the way. This coast is a stop off point for many thousands of migratory birds each year. Remember that you share the road with cyclists and if you’re travelling by campervan stop off at Ray’s Rest; a popular spot that looks across the Firth of Thames towards the Coromandel Peninsula. This is a good route to take your time, enjoy the views and stop often to sample the creative wares on show. Fresh produce and seafood are sold from roadside country stores. Locals will be happy to tell you about the world-class snapper fishing in the Hauraki Gulf, and this is a good place to book a trip. The Seabird Coast is your entry and exit point from www.thecoromandel.com SEABIRD COAST Seaba irrd Coast 6 TheTh Coromana del NGATEA &THEHAURAKIPLAINS NGATEA arrival. Locals areonlytoohappytoofferhelporgiveacustomarywavegreetyour picnic orsamplethefareatoneoftown’scafés. Stop offtopicksomehomegrownblueberriesontheHaurakiPlains,packa tournaments, owingtoitscentrallocation. family. Thetownhostsmanyboutiqueconferences,weddingsandsports Tauranga andanidealjunctiontocoordinatetravelforbusiness,friends It isagreatstopoffpointwhendrivingfromAuckland,Hamilton,Rotoruaand away fromthecitylightsofAuckland,HamiltonandTauranga. boasts thebestofbothworlds.Thecountrylifestyleisaboutanhoursdrive As athrivingservicehubfortherichfarmlandsofHaurakiPlains,Ngatea COPPER KETTLE CAFÉ + + + + + VisitVis the Picturesque Water Gardens Visit the nearby Hot Springs and Shorebird Centre Visit the Annual Ngatea Garage Sale Pick your own blueberries www.haurakiplains.co.nz at the blueberry orchard View the Captain Cook Memorial Phone: +6478677157 i Must Do’s www.thecoromandel.com SH2, Ngatea Ngatea & the Hauraki Plains 7 The Coro ommanndel The Phone: +64 7 868 7284 200 Mary Street, Thames www.thecormandel.com/thames . Steeped in goldmining history, it is now a The Coromandel ranges and staying overnight at the large hut owned and THAMES THAMES Must Do’s Must Hauraki Rail Trail Rail Hauraki Visit the old gold mining sites mining gold old the Visit Coastal Walkway Walkway Coastal Bike or walk the Thames Thames the walk or Bike Coast sunset Coast Fish & Chips and a Thames Thames a and Chips & Fish while collecting fresh seafood fresh collecting while Explore the Thames coastline coastline Thames the Explore Walk The Pinnacles The Walk Wal + + i-SITE Centre Visitor + + + + + + convenient service hub for the region, minus any big city bustle. It is a ‘crafty’ town proud of its heritage and connected to the natural environment with an expansive bush wilderness as its backdrop and many delightful shops with local produce, art and friendly service. A former gold mining boom town that once produced gold by the tonne, it has proudly maintained its heritage buildings and has an operational gold stamper battery and original tunnels that exist now only to preserve a fascinating insight to the past. The community has focused firmly on restoring the natural beauty of the hills that were subjected to the extractive industries of its pioneering 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 coastal town of Thames sits at the intersection of the plains and the mountains of Coromandel operated by the Department of Conservation. Follow the Thames Coast north to experience a stretch of Pohutukawa- fringed coastline interspersed with coastal villages, meditative and garden retreats, classic old dairies (corner shops) and other attractions awaiting those willing to take a more relaxed pace. www.thecoromandel.com Parawai THAMES THAMES Thamese 8 TheTh Coromana del beaches, campgrounds,mountainsandwalkingtracks. Coromandel TownisalsothegatewaytonorthCoromandel’sisolated buildings. continued toflourishwhileretainingarichstockofsurvivingheritage Creek in1852broughtaboomtoCoromandelTown,andtheareahas and servedatthemanylocalrestaurants.ThediscoveryofgoldDriving Homegrown cuisineisinabundancefromitsrawform,toelegantlycooked Pohutukawa coastfromThames–CoromandelTownhasmuchtooffer. the HaurakiGulffromdowntownAucklandorbyroadonwinding journey isthedestination–arrivebyferryafterastunningacross heritage anditsculturalimportancetoIwi.Whileitcanbesaidthatthe The villagehasauniquecharacter,soulandambiencereflectingart, tranquil atmosphere,butalsobythespectacularnaturalsurrounds. who havemovedherefromaroundthecountry-inspirednotonlyby Historic CoromandelTownisahavenfortalentedartistsandcraftspeople COROMANDEL TOWN TOWN COROMANDEL Information Centre Information COROMANDEL TOWN TOWN COROMANDEL + + + + + Kapanga Rd,CoromandelTown + LongLon Bay Reserve www.coromandeltown.co.nz Castle Rock Coromandel Coastal Walkway Kauri Trees / Waterfalls Walk the Heritage Trail Drive or Cycle past the Oyster and Mussel farms Phone: +6478668598 Must Do’s www.thecoromandel.com Kapa - nga Cooromandel Town 9 The Coro ommanndel Phone 07 866 5555 www.whitiangainfo.co.nz 66 Albert Street, Whitianga Mercury Bay is an area packed The Coromandel, Must Do’s Must WHITIANGA WHITIANGA Kauri Groves Kauri Diving & Snorkelling & Diving Scenic Cruises Scenic New Chum Beach Chum New Hot Water Beach Water Hot Natural Thermal Spa Thermal Natural Cathedral Cove Walk Cove Cathedral Cath + i-SITE Centre Visitor + + + + + + + + with spectacular scenery, coastline dotted with islands, walks, inlets, remote bays and beaches, thermal hot springs, a marine reserve and native birdlife. Its main town of Whitianga is short for Whitianga-o-Kupe (Kupe’s crossing place) after Kupe the explorer who visited Aotearoa (New Zealand) before the canoe migrations. Steeped in maritime history, Mercury Bay was also visited by the expert Polynesian navigator and high priest Tupaia with Captain James Cook, whose crew first sighted New Zealand from his ship the Endeavour in October 1769. It was on this first voyage that Cook visited Mercury Bay and named it to mark the place where