Break Down of The Best Things to do in Coromandel
For anyone who loves the outdoors and if the weather forecast is in your favor, there are endless Coromandel attractions. As I mentioned above 2 days really isn’t long enough to see everything but it’s definitely still worth it. This is such a beautiful part of New Zealand and the bonus is, it’s an easy drive from Auckland.
Along with the itinerary I wanted to list many of the awesome things to do in the Coromandel area, these are based on my own personal experiences and recommendations from locals.
Kayak or SUP to Donuts Island
These tours start from Whangamata Beach and due to the distance between the beach and Donut Island (600m), these trips are for two hours.
There is the option to book a guided tour or hire the SUP or Kayak and go on a self-guided trip.
Donut Island is open at the top and it’s possible to go inside donut Island, you just can’t walk on the land as Donut Island is a wildlife sanctuary.
The Waterworks
The Waterworks is an inland Coromandel attraction that would be perfect for anyone traveling with kids. It’s built on an old farm and has heaps of unique attractions mostly made from recycled materials and powered by water.
During the winter months The Waterworks has restricted opening hours, click here to check their website.
Driving Creek Railway
Driving Creek Railway is another of the most popular things to do in the Coromandel. It’s a narrow-gauge mountain railway and this scenic train journey goes through the forest and around mountains.
The railway starts close to Coromandel Town, and is a guided 1-hour tour, the prices are between $13-$35.
Free things to do in Coromandel
Explore Port Jackson
When we first arrived in the Coromandel a local had recommended driving further up the Peninsula to Port Jackson. It, unfortunately, wasn’t ideal for us as we were only in town for a few days and didn’t really have the right vehicle for it.
The drive to Port Jackson from Coromandel Town is 54km and the majority of the road is unpaved. I have read that this is one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand but not recommended for inexperienced drivers. The road runs very closeby to the ocean and at times there are steep drops offs.
People visit Port Jackson for the stunning (and quieter) beaches, hikes, swimming, snorkeling & kayaking opportunities. And, there’s a campground on the beach as well.
Wharekirauponga Track
The Wharekirauponga Track is perfect for hikers or those after an easy walk and a swim. The map’s address is 157 Parakiwai Quarry Rd and at the end of this street there is a small area to park.
There are two hikes that start from this spot;
Royal Standard Battery 5km
Wharekirauponga Walking Track 11km.
If you aren’t interested in walking too far, only 5 minutes up the trail is a stunning swimming hole that also has a cliff that can be jumped off into a deep part of the pool.
Hiking
The scenery all over the Coromandel Peninsula is absolutely beautiful, a fun way to explore more than just the beach is by hiking. There are many safe and scenic hikes to be done while in the Coromandel, I’ll list a few of the highly recommended hikes.
Kauaeranga Kauri Trail (Pinnacles Walk)
Waiau Falls Walk (this trail is super short but leads to waterfalls)
Kaipawa Trig from Whangapoua Rd.
Kauri Block Track.
Best Beaches in Coromandel
Hot Water Beach
Although it’s a bit of a tourist trap I would still recommend Hot Water Beach as one of the things you should do while visiting the Coromandel. (If you missed it, scroll back up to day 2 of the Coromandel itinerary for more details on Hot Water Beach).
Whangapoua Beach
Whangapoua Beach is in a small town with the same name & is a 30-minute drive from Coromandel Town. To access the beach you can park along Tangiora Ave or Mangakahia Rd, and you’ll be right at the beach.
This beach is reasonably protected so a great place for swimming.
New Chum Beach
Being one of New Zealand’s most beautiful beaches this is definitely a must-do while in the Coromandel.
The walk to New Chum Beach starts at Whangapoua Beach. You’ll park your car at the end of Mangakahia Rd and walk from here.
Start walking to the far left (north) of Whangapoua Beach, pass over the shallow stream and continue walking over the rocks along the side of the beach. Eventually, you will see a narrow path into the forest, follow along and soon you’ll hear the crashing waves of New Chum Beach.
Before reaching the beach you can also scramble further up the hill and eventually reach a viewpoint. Here you will get epic views of the whole beach.
This walk is best done during low tide, definitely don’t go barefoot and it’ll take you about 30 – 45 minutes one way.
Hahei Main Beach
This is another of the best beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula. Hahei Beach is protected by the many offshore islands, and it’s perfect for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling & sun baking.
My favorite part of the beach was to the far left, as this area is close to the cliffs surrounding the beach, making for awesome photos and less foot traffic.
There is a car park right at the beach and to get there drive to the end of Hahei Beach Road.
Cathedral Cove
Cathedral Cove is one of the most insta-worthy places in all of the Coromandel’s but it’s not the easiest to get there. I would recommend having at least half a day free, this will give you plenty of time to get there & back and also enjoy time at the beach.
The part that makes this beach so popular is the massive rocks that have formed an arch, leading to a pristine bay.
There are three options for getting to the beach and which one you choose will depend on time and budget.
How To Get To Cathedral Cove;
The first option is to walk from Hahei Beach, the track starts to the north of the beach, right next to the car park. This is the longest way to get there but also the free one.
Follow the Cathedral Cove Walkway, up and down hills along the coast, also passing Gemstone Bay & Stingray Beach. This walk will take approximately 1 hour & 15 mins one way.
Then the second option is to park in town (this is paid parking and clearly signed), and from there a shuttle bus will drive you to the end of Grange Rd. This will shave off about 45 minutes of the walk.
Lastly, there is a Cathedral Cover Water Taxi, that leaves from Hahei beach and only takes about 10 minutes. But in my opinion, it’s so expensive, $20 each way for an adult & $15 each way for a child (2-14 years).
Whangamata Beach
Whangamata Beach is a 6km stretch of beach and would be perfect for an early morning walk, especially during sunrise. From the beach, you also get amazing views of the nearby islands, particularly Donut Island.
This is also considered one of the best surf destinations in New Zealand.