The Coromandel Peninsula

The Coromandel Peninsula, a couple of hours from Auckland, is a spine of steep, forest-clad hills dropping to a coast of golden beaches, coves and offshore islands, long a favourite summer escape for New Zealanders. Its two most famous spots lie on the east coast: Cathedral Cove, a beautiful beach reached on foot, framed by a great natural rock arch through the headland, and Hot Water Beach, where a geothermal spring seeps up through the sand so that, for a couple of hours either side of low tide, visitors dig their own steaming pools and soak in them on the beach. Beyond these, the peninsula offers native forest walks among giant kauri trees, the old gold-mining town of Thames, craft and artisan food, and quieter beaches all along its shores. It combines easily accessible highlights with a laid-back, small-town coastal character.

History

Before contact with Europeans, the Tahanga Quarries of Opito Bay were an important source of basalt, which Māori used to make adzes and other stone tools, particularly in the Archaic period of 1300-1500 (Wikipedia, Coromandel Peninsula).

What you'll find

• Cathedral Cove - the beach framed by a great natural rock arch through the headland.
• Hot Water Beach - digging your own hot pool in the sand around low tide.
• The forest and kauri walks - native bush trails among giant trees in the interior.
• The beaches and coves - the many golden beaches along the peninsula's coast.

When to go

November to April is the warm season for swimming and the beaches; the summer holidays, especially around New Year, are extremely busy, when Kiwis flock here. Hot Water Beach works only around low tide, so check the tide times. Spring and autumn are quieter and still pleasant.

Things to know

Access to Cathedral Cove has been affected by storm damage in recent years, so the walk and its availability can change, and it is worth checking the current situation before relying on it. Hot Water Beach only works in the low-tide window, and that window can be crowded and the sand scaldingly hot in places, so tread carefully and bring a spade. The peninsula's roads are winding and slow, and it is packed over the summer holidays.

Nearby

Auckland is two to three hours away; the surf town of Raglan and the Waikato lie to the southwest.

Key facts