Things To Do In Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand - www.travelswithsun.com

With so many things to do in the Coromandel Peninsula:

The Coromandel coast, The Coromandel or rather Coromandel Peninsula should be on your bucket list if you get the chance to visit the North Island of New Zealand,

Because where else can you dig out your own hot pool at a beach (Hot Water Beach) or see the screensaver-worthy Cathedral Cove?

Topics:

How To Get To The Coromandel Peninsula

The Coromandel Peninsula (the box in red) is above the Bay of Plenty (Southeast of Whakatane – not shown) and not too far from Auckland.

Auckland To Coromandel

According to Google, it’s a 2-hour, 20-minute direct drive to Hahei beach where Cathedral Cove and the Hot Water Beach are.

Tip: We filled up on gas in the town of Paeroa as it was way cheaper than in Auckland. If that name sounds familiar to you, it is. Paeroa is famous for being the birthplace of a particular New Zealand drink called L&P or Lemon and Paeroa. There are a number of antique shoes in that town!

Coromandel peninsula location on a map - routes and more on www.travelswithsun.com
Coromandel peninsula location on a map

Rotorua To Coromandel

If you’re coming up from Rotorua:

Then, it’s a 3-hour drive to Hahei beach.

Waitomo To Coromandel

From Waitomo (Hobbiton):

It will also take you 3 hours to drive to Hahei.

When should you go?

Weather In Coromandel / When To Visit Coromandel

Peak months

During summer (Dec to Feb), the temperature ranges between ~24-30 degrees Celsius.

However, it is still possible to visit Coromandel during the less popular summer months:

Off-Peak Season

If you can stand a bit of chill and want to escape the summer crowds:

Then, consider going in the other seasons or you’ll find it difficult to secure a spot for your hot pool. Or a parking spot for that matter.

What about going in winter?

We went in winter from Auckland when it was around 12-14 degrees Celsius.

During winter, you may want to monitor the weather for a couple of weeks. To look for a break in the clouds (literally).

Sunny days don’t happen often during June.

And when a sunny weekend appears on the forecast, just grab the opportunity and go!

Coromandel Weather forecast in mid-June (winter)
Coromandel Weather forecast in mid-June (winter)

By the way:

MetService and Accuweather are both reliable weather forecast services great for checking the weather on a daily basis.

The whole Coromandel area is quite large. So the weather depends which area you visit. Either Thames‘ side or Whitianga’s side.

Also, since you’re checking the weather:

Important Information For Visiting Coromandel Peninsula

Assuming you will be checking out Cathedral Cove and the infamous Hot Water Beach:

You have to check when low tide is.

If low tide is at 5 pm, then you can go within any 2 hours before or after 5 pm. Like 4 pm or 6 pm, to be safe.

Need a rain and windproof jacket to serve your time in New Zealand, regardless of the weather?

We recommend the Uniqlo Blocktech Parka – see our full review here.

23 Things To Do In Coromandel Peninsula

Firstly, we are going to introduce all of these places anti-clockwise starting from Karangahake.

1. Check Out Old Tunnels And The Bridges At Karangahake Gorge

Did you know that the Coromandel region of New Zealand has a rich gold mining history?

There a few walks you can do in this area:

You could probably spend a day here doing all the walks at your own pace.

Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway

This 3-hour walk’s main feature are the ruins of the old Victoria battery (Victoria Battery Historic Reserve). Ore from Martha Mine used to be processed here.

You can take this walk all the way to Waikino Station.

Rail Tunnel Loop

We chose to do the Rail Tunnel Loop which is around 45 minutes (including the return trip).

The main bridge at Karangahake Gorge, Coromandel Peninsula - More on www.travelswithsun.com
The main bridge at Karangahake Gorge, Coromandel Peninsula

You will see some mining relics along the trail. And you can go into an old mining tunnel and cross over 2 bridges.

There are more photos on our Instagram.

The Crown Mines

The Crown Mines are definitely one of the highlights at Karangahake Gorge.

They make the hike so much more interesting.

Note: Taking either the Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway or Rail Tunnel Loop will pass through here 20 minutes into the walk.

It is pretty wet and muddy in the tunnels. And dark too so have your phone or a flashlight on standby. And a bag to put your camera in.

The whole family can check the tunnel out too because it is a relatively easy walk.

Location: 8011 State Highway 2, Karangahake 3674, New Zealand

2. Owharoa Falls

Because the Owharoa Falls are just a quick walk down an uneven path from the car park (or ~30 minutes’ walk if you’re coming from the historic Waikino train station), they’re an excellent stop for cooling off on a hot summer day. Dogs are welcome too.

Weekends and public holidays typically see crowds.

If you don’t fancy swimming, you can just relax on the bank under the shade. And there are toilets (albeit no changing rooms) nearby as well.

Note: This waterfall (like others) looks more impressive after a day of rain

Location: 30 Waitawheta Road, Waikino 3682, New Zealand

3. Victoria Battery Tramway & Museum

If seeing the old mine relics is not enough to satiate your curiosity on the region’s gold mining history, you can seek answers at Victoria Battery Tramway & Museum.

Note: Open on the weekends and public holidays

In fact, you can take a package that includes the tram, tunnel tour and museum visit!

Some of the staff (volunteers) have personal experience in the mining industry.

Plus, there is plenty of old machinery and other artifacts to gawk at here too! There are also guided tours that will take you underground in an old mine tunnel (200m walk).

This is also part of the Karangahake Gorge Bike Trail.

Follow the gold:

4. Stop By The Historical Waihi Town

Close to Karangahake Gorge is Waihi town.

The town is literally built on gold and gold mining is still their main source of income today.

This is the main road that passes through the town.

Main road of Waihi Gold Mining Town, Coromandel Peninsula - more on www.travelswithsun.com
Main road of Waihi Gold Mining Town, Coromandel Peninsula – Photo by Travelswithsun

The source:

Martha Mine, Waihi

Don’t exclude this place out if you find yourself in Waihi town and are looking for things to do in the Coromandel Peninsula!

The mine is still in operation and the sheer size of it is awesome to behold in person.

It is easy to walk to the mine from the town.

You can even walk around the mine pit from behind the fence (we stuck the camera lens through the fence so it doesn’t show up here but there is definitely a fence).

Martha gold mine, Coromandel Peninsula - more on www.travelswithsun.com
Martha gold mine, Coromandel Peninsula – Photo by Travelswithsun

There are other mining relics scattered around the town too:

Pumphouse, Waihi

And old steam pumphouse that was relocated from its original spot.

They use electricity instead of the pumphouse to draw the excess water out from the mines now.

Old steam pumphouse near Martha gold mine, Coromandel Peninsula - more on www.travelswithsun.com
Old steam pumphouse near Martha gold mine, Coromandel Peninsula – Photo by Travelswithsun

Mining Shaft Lift Tower, Waihi

A replica of an old mining shaft tower but without the lift.

You can find this one if you go down some steps behind the old steam pumphouse. It is beside the main road into Waihi Town.

Replica of a mining shaft in Waihi Town, Coromandel Peninsula - more on www.travelswithsun.com
Replica of a mining shaft in Waihi Town, Coromandel Peninsula – Photo by Travelswithsun

Bogger, Waihi

This machine is fenced off in an old carpark for display purposes.

The carpark is somewhere along the way into town if you’re coming from the mining shaft lift tower.

Note: A bogger is apparently an Australian term for someone who’s occupation is digging.

A retired bogger near Martha mine and Waihi town - more on www.travelswithsun.com
A retired bogger near Martha mine and Waihi town – Photo by Travelswithsun

Full Breakfast And Savory Bites At Waihi

Over in Waihi town, Ti Tree Cafe is a great place to get a bite to eat. We highly recommend the pesto scones!

Lovely atmosphere inside. Including an indoor fireplace, cozy spaces and many local artwork for sale on the wall.

Ti Tree Cafe in Waihi Town, Coromandel Peninsula - more on www.travelswithsun.com
Ti Tree Cafe in Waihi Town, Coromandel Peninsula – Photo by Travelswithsun
Pesto scone and big breakfast at Ti Tree Cafe in Waihi Town, Coromandel Peninsula - more on www.travelswithsun.com
Pesto scone and big breakfast at Ti Tree Cafe in Waihi Town, Coromandel Peninsula – Photo by Travelswithsun

5. Pass Through All The Surf Towns In Coromandel

The following towns are recommended for those who love surfing:

  • Whangamata
  • Pauanui
  • Waihi
  • Hot Water Beach

Of these, Whangamata is the most well known and boasts world-class surf breaks.

As you can see, all of these towns are on the east side of the Coromandel Peninsula.

Surfing towns in Coromandel Peninsula - look for more things to do in Coromandel on www.travelswithsun.com
Surfing towns in Coromandel Peninsula

6. Get Panoramic Views Of The Region At Paku Hill Summit

This is a short climb with a spectacular vantage point! And it is one of the (if not the best) views we had in Coromandel peninsula even if the views are partially obstructed.

The view from Paku Hill summit - more on www.travelswithsun.com
The view from Paku Hill summit – Photo by Travelswithsun

Tip: Don’t confuse this with the other summit walk (Mt Pauanui also known as Mt Tairua) on the other side. This one takes more time to complete and the views are not as nice (in my personal opinion). Return time is almost 3 hours.

Do you have to be fit to get reach Paku Hill Summit?

With average fitness, you could attempt this in less than 20 minutes one way. Maybe even 15 minutes despite what the sign says.

The last few minutes involves a bit of scrambling over rocks (without any rail guards present) but you don’t need any special gear for that. Though be sure to keep an extremely watchful eye on kids here.

If you want to park your car, look out for this sign:

Paku Hill Summit Walk signage - more on this walk on www.travelswithsun.com
Paku Hill Summit Walk signage – Photo by Travelswithsun

Park in the field here and start walking to the top. Be quiet as this is a residential area and you will have to pass through the neighborhood at the beginning of the walk.

Carpark at the start of the Paku Hill Summit walk - more on www.travelswithsun.com
Carpark at the start of the Paku Hill Summit walk – Photo by Travelswithsun

Location: Paku Drive, Tairua 3508, New Zealand

7. Build Your Own Pool At Hot Water Beach, Hahei

Hot Water Beach is one of the most unique places to see in Coromandel – the geothermal activity beneath the sand is the reason why you can dig your own spa pool on the beach:

We went in mid-June which is the start of winter in New Zealand. The water was still plenty hot close to the beach (around 40-60 degrees Celsius) depending on where you dig.

You can see steam rising from the sand in some places on the beach.

There were not many people when we were there and it was easy to find a spot to start our pool.

Hot Water Beach at start of sunset - find out how to get here and more on www.travelswithsun.com
Hot Water Beach at start of sunset – Photo by Travelswithsun

The timing of the tides does matter if you want to visit this beach and have the experience of soaking in your own self-dug pool.

Tip: Go with friends so you can take turns digging out the pool 😉

Where To Park At Hot Water Beach

We parked here (refer map) since there was nobody using the building at the time.

Otherwise, you do have to pay for the main car park (Pye Pl).

Hot Water Beach
Hot Water Beach

Where To Get Shovels For Hot Water Beach

Bring shovels!

Or:

You can rent shovels (to dig your hot pool!) at the nearby hotels or cafe if you didn’t bring your own.

But try to rent one from a friend, neighbor or your landlord if you can.

What To Eat At Hot Water Beach

If you’re looking for somewhere to have dinner after going to the hot water beach:

Check out the fish and chips shack next to (more like in) Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park.

Facilities At Hot Water Beach

There are cold showers, spacious changing rooms and toilets for public use near the car park.

Or you can get hot showers ($5 per person) at the Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park.

Read also:

The must-have app for vanlife in New Zealand, CamperMate – here’s a guide on how to make the most of it

Next,

8. Admire Cathedral Cove, Hahei

Cathedral Cove is perhaps the most iconic of Coromandel attractions and hence, this majestic natural formation is a must-see if you’ve never been to this side of New Zealand.

Just to be sure to check out the tides before coming here! Else you won’t see the characteristic dome that gives Cathedral Cove its name.

Cathedral cove - Visit our blog to see how we got here www.travelswithsun.com
Cathedral Cove – Photo by Travelswithsun

Here is a bonus location:

9. Explore Stingray Bay

Stingray Bay is just as or more beautiful than Cathedral Cove. At least, we think so.

Have a look at this secluded and small bay before you leave the area. It’s walking distance from Cathedral Cove.

You can climb down to the beach but be careful.

Note: We didn’t see any stingrays.

Stingray bay in Coromandel - www.travelswithsun.com
Stingray Bay in Coromandel – Photo by Travelswithsun

Related: 11 Best Coromandel Beaches You Can’t Afford To Miss

10. Snorkel At Gemstone Bay

There is another smaller bay nearby called Gemstone Bay.

Gemstone Bay Is Popular For Snorkeling
Gemstone Bay Is Popular For Snorkeling – Photo by travelswithsun

You will know what it is called that when you see it – the rocks here do sort of look like jewelled eggs in the sunlight.

Part of the water here has been partitioned for safe snorkeling. And Gemstone Bay is in fact a known snorkeling trail.

11. Cooks Beach And Shakespeare Cliff Lookout

Kids can safely swim in the shallows of Cooks Beach. And Cooks Beach itself is wonderful for a stroll too.

If you want to see the entirety of Cooks Beach from above, climb up to Shakespeare Cliff Lookout from the main road (~25 minutes walk) or drive up a steep gravel road directly to the lookout.

Note: There are two car parks

This easy walk (you can do this with toddlers in tow too) ends in a proper lookout platform where you can see Lonely Bay, Cooks Beach and other islands too.

Location: Cooks Beach 3591, New Zealand

12. Whiti Farm Park

This stroller-friendly stop is perfect for families. Kids can feed and interact with the different animals.

These include highland cows, emus, wallabies, and Swiss mountain rams. And they have alpacas, goats, and deer too

Besides the animals, kids can get excited about swings, a trampoline and a tree-house while they’re here!

13. Mill Creek Bird Park And Animal Encounters

Apart from the 4km gravel road that you need to drive on to get to Mill Creak Bird Park And Animal Encounters:

This is another enticing stop for a family with young kids especially if you want to get up close to the birds.

The couple that run the park have more than just a few animals to see. You can expect to spend up an hour here.

Other than birds, they have horses, donkeys, goats, and alpaca too.

Note: Mill Creek Bird Park and Animal Encounters runs a campground too

14. Visiting Whitianga Town

Banana Boat Water Activities Whitianga

What better way to see the Cathedral Cove than to ride a banana boat (Cathedral Explorer Ride)?

This is one of many Coromandel activities that will make for a memorable experience for the whole family.

The scenic route takes you to Gemstone Bay as well where you can see the fish through the crystal clear waters!

Most importantly, the staff is extremely professional and pleasant besides so even if your boat capsizes, there’s nothing to worry about.

Mercury Bay Museum

Mercury Bay Museum offers another option for a rainy day. And you’ll be surprised at how entertaining this museum can be for kids too.

The museum focuses mainly on Whitianga’s history with fantastic exhibits and equally wonderful staff.

If you want to take your time exploring this museum, allocate a few hours for your visit.

15. Try the Delicious Wood-Stove Pizza At Lukes Kitchen In Kūaotunu

We had the most delicious wood-stove pizza at Lukes Kitchen in Kūaotunu.

Do come early if you don’t like waiting. The local lunch crowd does start to pour in around 12-1pm. This place is highly popular for dinner as well (sometimes they have a live band).

Look out for their special of the day too!

We ordered the Never Fail pizza at $28 and the Sunshine pizza ($16) and both were equally good.

However, the fish pizza (i.e. Never Fail) had a really unique flavor to it and we would recommend this one if you don’t know what to order.

Note: Sunshine pizza is the one with the pineapple pieces if you refer to the photo below.

Pizza from Lukes Kitchen in Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula
Pizza from Lukes Kitchen in Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula – more on www.travelswithsun.com

Other popular flavors to try include the Antipesto, or garlic pizza. On top of the intriguing pizza menu is a dazzling selection of drinks to choose from. Including beer.

Bonus location:

After a great meal at Lukes’, you can enjoy this little park outside. There is a swing by the Kuaotuna stream with a great view of the ocean.

A swing just outside Lukes Kitchen in Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula
A swing just outside Lukes Kitchen in Whitianga, Coromandel Peninsula – Photo by Travelswithsun

16. Have An Adventure Finding New Chums Beach

Your shoes (and possibly your legs) will get wet getting to this secluded beach.

The trek (1 hour return) starts with a stream that you have wade through. So it helps to check the tide schedule before going!

We didn’t see it ourselves but our friends found the stream intimidating and turned back.

You will get a nice view of the beach from above somewhere along the trek too. A big of rock scrambling is involved too.

Location: North End, Whangapoua 3582, New Zealand

17. Complete The Coromandel Coastal Walk

We skipped this one too because there is no way to directly drive through from Fletcher Bay to Port Charles.

The walk is not a loop track and you will have to go back the same way you came from after you finish.

One way takes ~4hours+ by walking.

Method 1

You could find a friend (with a car) and agree to start the walk from opposite ends and meet each other in the middle to swap car keys.

Then, you could meet each other for lunch or dinner and switch cars again.

Method 2

Or you could pay a tour service ($135 per adult) to arrange the pick up for you instead.

And there are of course still many other things you can do in Coromandel Peninsula if you have money to spare.

There are island-hopping tours, kayaking, a glass bottom boat cruise, a railway train ride along the coast, etc.

18. Soak In The Summer Atmosphere At Coromandel (Town)

Again, we just passed through here but this town probably sees a lot of action in the summer.

A lot of artists have made this town their own. Recreational fishing is a common pasttime.

There is a small scenic railway for tourists in this town (Driving Creek Railway).

Read more on Coromandel town attractions.

19. Take A Dip At Waiau Falls

The beauty of the falls makes the windy gravel road worth it. After you park your car, it only takes about 2 minutes to get to the falls.

It’s very peaceful here and you may even spot some eels!

Note: Dogs are allowed here

Location: 176/206 309 Road, Waiau 3581, New Zealand

One of the (if not the best) views we had in Coromandel peninsula:

20. Walk Among Ancient Trees At Coromandel Kauri Groves

What to see a mature Kauri tree? This fabulous species of tree is native to New Zealand and can obtain great sizes.

There are quite a few places to see mature kauri trees in the Coromandel Peninsula, particularly on the Thames side:

The one we went to (Waiau Kauri Grove or 309 Kauri Grove) was a 20-30 minute return walk.

You won’t need to walk much to see some kauri trees at Waiau Kauri Grove. There are trees here that are a few hundred hears old! As well as a pair of Siamese kauri trees!

Hence, seeing the trees is a must if you’re coming for Waiau Falls. The well-maintained and shaded wooden walkways and boardwalks make the walk very family-friendly.

That’s where the photo below was taken.

One of the kauri groves in Coromandel Peninsula - more on www.travelswithsun.com
One of the kauri groves in Coromandel Peninsula – Photo by Travelswithsun

Please clean off dirt from your shoes before entering one of these magnificent groves.

The local councils make that easy by providing cleaning stations at the entrance of the groves and trails. They do this to prevent Kauri Dieback disease which ultimately kills any kauri tree that is infected.

Other Kauri walks include:

  • Square Kauri Walk (20 minutes return) – good views from the deck
  • The Pinnacles – Kauaeranga Kauri Trail (8 hours return)  – excellent views at the top
  • Waiomu Kauri Grove (<3hours return, near Thames) – there are creeks to cross. Trail starts where the Waiomu Valley road ends.
  • Kauri Block (2 hours return) – close to a Pa site (Maori historical site)

Here are the locations of the groves between Coromandel and Thames:

21. Enjoy The Drive From Coromandel To Thames

The views of the coast are insane once you head out of Coromandel town!

Make sure you have a good playlist ready before you head out for this drive. 😉

There are lookout points and places to picnic along the way so keep an eye out for those if you need a quick break.

Manaia Road Saddle And Lookout

This is one pullover stop you don’t want to miss on this route. It’s windy here and you’ll be able to get a 180 degree view of the east and west coastline.

The view of the coast between Thames and Coromandel - more on www.travelswithsun.com
The view of the coast between Thames and Coromandel from Manaia Road Saddle And Lookout – Photo by Travelswithsun

Location: Manaia Road, Manaia 3581, New Zealand

22. Bask In Thames’ Rich Heritage

We didn’t stop here for too long but it’s a lovely town as they still keep many of their old buildings from gold mining days (starting from the year 1867).

Thames Goldmine Experience

For $20, the Thames Goldmine Experience provides an in-depth look into the gold mining industry.

A visit here will take at least 2 hours where amiable and knowledgeable volunteers will take visitors into a gold mine and to the museum.

They have functional gold mining equipment on-site and you will get to see demonstrations as well.

23. Climb The Pinnacles

Climbing to the top to view the pinnacles at sunrise would require you to stay overnight in the DOC (Department of Conservation) hut on top. It costs $15 a night per person.

The hike is steep towards the end.

And although it’s possible to do in a day (the whole Pinnacles walk takes about 8 hours round trip):

You might find yourself pressed for time if you want to avoid hiking in the dark.

Note that around summer, the hut’s popularity increases. So book early if you plan to do this climb and stay overnight.

You would also need to bring your own sleeping bag if you want to stay the night there.

Alternative Accommodation At The Pinnacles Park

The Pinnacles park is close to Thames.

There are a few campsites before the start of the trail based on Campermate.

Here are some options:

  1. Danby Field carpark (Free for SC, close to local pool hot showers for $3, has clean 24hr toilets, 39 minutes drive to Pinnacles )
  2. Rhodes Park Reserve (Free for SC, close to local pool hot showers for $3 and no toilets, closer to Pinnacles at 37 minutes drive)

*SC = Self contained vehicle (certified)

Coromandel In 2 Days

If you start your journey from Auckland, you can plan your itinerary to include the following:

Seafood:

You can stick to the coastline and check out the seaside towns first (like Kaiaua and Miranda). As there’s good seafood to be had there.

Like birds?

Birdwatching:

There is a migrating birds lookout, beach and center that bird enthusiasts can enjoy:

  • Seabird Coast Lookout
  • Miranda Shorebird Centre
  • Nice beach walk at Opoutere (45 minutes’ return) where you can observe dotterel and oystercatchers.

Or maybe you like to fish?

Fishing:

For the fishing enthusiasts, you can go snapper fishing around the Firth of Thames.

Hot Springs:

And at $14 dollars (per adult), you can visit Miranda Hot Springs.

Surfing:

If you’re coming to surf:

Consider a longer duration as there are a couple of surf towns and beaches along Coromandel.

Or you can use the following as a base for your Coromandel trip:

Coromandel Peninsula Itinerary (2 Days To 4 Days)

This was our overall plan (from left to right):

Day 1 – Auckland – Karangahake Gorge – Waihi Town – Martha Mine – Mt Paku Summit Climb* – Hot water beach

*You will need another day if you want to try the Mt Paku Summit Climb

On a fine day, the views along the drive really take the cake. You will see many farms and rolling green hills dotted with cows (or sheep but mostly cows).

Countryside views along the drive to Coromandel Peninsula - our full journey is on www.travelswithsun.com
Countryside views along the drive to Coromandel Peninsula – Photo by Travelswithsun

Day 2 – Cathedral Cove (+Stingray Bay and Gemstone Bay) – Lukes Kitchen (Best wood-fire pizza!!) – Coromandel town (pass by) – Kauri Grove – Thames town – Auckland

Don’t be fooled:

On the map, the various towns can look like they are close together but in reality:

In reality:

ThThe roads twist and turn a lot so if you can spare more than 2 days in Coromandel, that will be better!

As we keep saying, Coromandel is a huge area to cover. You will definitely need somewhere to stay during your visit:

Accommodation In Coromandel

Depending on your budget, there are a number of options to choose from when it comes to where to stay in Coromandel.

1. Cooks Beach Campsite (Free Campsite)

There are toilets but we didn’t use them so we can’t comment on them.

We like this place because it is quiet (in a residential area) and close to Cathedral Cove.

The area at the tip of the land point (before the boats) is where the self-contained vehicles are parked.

We parked in the grass patch in the center.

Cooks Beach Reserve (Purangi) - places to stay near Hahei beach, Coromandel - more on www.travelswithsun.com
Cooks Beach Reserve (Purangi)

This map shows the proximity of the free campsite to Hot Water Beach (20′ minutes drive) and Cathedral Cove (20 minutes’ drive).

2. Airbnb Close To Hahei

3. Holiday Parks

Even with their winter deals:

Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park can still put a burden on your pocket if you are on a budget!

But they have family rooms and also powered sites for camper vans.  There are romantic modern-looking cabins for couples too.

The deluxe cabin (2 pax maximum) usually sets you back for $85 NZD /night.

With 20% winter discount, it can be $68 instead.

Perks?

The holiday park is 1 minute walking distance to the Hot Water Beach.

Communal facilities are also very nice:

  • There is big common kitchen
  • Cozy and large lounge with a fireplace, couches and a TV
  • Laundry machines
  • Spacious clean bathrooms with hot showers. The showers run on 5-minute timers but you can step out of the shower stall and press the button again if you need more time. Or just ask your shower stall neighbor to help you if they’re done with their shower. The bathrooms have hair dryers too!

Tip: We paid for hot showers ($5 each) at the reception of the Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park before we made our way to the free campsite at Cooks beach. Don’t forget to ask the clerk to write down your vehicle number. They do have a guard in the evening watching out for people who try to use the facilities for free. Not that we tried to do that but he still wanted to check whether we had paid or not.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are plenty of things to do in the Coromandel Peninsula.

This region of North Island, New Zealand has no shortage of gorgeous bays, beaches to historic gold mining towns, majestic kauri groves, pinnacles, etc.

Definitely do explore this region if you can afford the time. Two days was definitely not enough.

And since you’ll probably be passing through, take a look at this list of things to do in Coromandel Town.

Want more? Check out our other New Zealand posts below:

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Coromandel Peninsula in 2 days - www.travelswithsun.com
Coromandel Peninsula in 2 days – www.travelswithsun.com

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