Coromandel
- Rotorua
169 km (106 miles)
Approximately 3 hours
Road Conditions: State Highway
During the drive from Coromandel to Rotorua, you can visit Hot Water Beach, where geothermally-heated water bubbles up through the sand. At low tide you can dig your own spa pool.
Further on, the road takes you past the surf town of Whangamata and historic Waihi, a gold mining town. As you approach the city of Tauranga, roadside stalls are an opportunity to buy seasonal fruit.
Tauranga has a well developed café culture and boat charters are available to take you big game fishing, snorkelling or dolphin watching. Nearby Mt Maunganui is a destination for surfing and beach walking.
It’s an easy drive from Tauranga to Rotorua. The road climbs up and over the Mamaku Range, delivering fabulous views before descending towards Lake Rotorua. Rotorua sits squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire, so volcanic activity is part of the city’s past and present.
Scenic Highlights
Colville and beyond
Take a scenic drive to the northern end of Coromandel Peninsula and discover beautiful isolated beaches and remote forest trails.
Whakarewarewa Forest
Mountain bike, run or hike on purpose-built trails in a century-old experimental forest with more than 170 different tree species.
Coromandel Coastal Walkway
Taking in views of Great Barrier Island, Cuvier, the Hauraki Gulf and Pacific Ocean, this must rank as one of the most beautiful coastal walks in the country.
Historic Coromandel township
This historic town makes an excellent base for blissful days of forest hiking and beach-hopping.
Crater Lakes
Eleven beautiful lakes surround the geothermal town of Rotorua, which is great if you like to hike, bike, fish or kayak.
Government Gardens
Explore historic gardens that surround a Tudor-style spa bath house and an ornate Mediterranean-style public swimming pool. Peer through the steam into ancient bubbling geothermal pools.
Kuirau Park
Take a walk and discover the steaming, hissing and bubbling geothermal activity in this informal public park located right next to Rotorua's city centre.
Geothermal activity
Explore a landscape that has been shaped and coloured by extraordinary volcanic and geothermal forces.
Mount Tarawera
Gaze in awe at Mount Tarawera and imagine the frightening night of June 10 1886, when the mountain's summit split open in a violent eruption.
Lake Rotorua
In the centre of Lake Rotorua is Mokoia Island, the setting for one of New Zealand's most famous love stories.
Lakeside Trail
Walk, run or ride along a scenic lakeside trail on the front porch of downtown Rotorua. Learn about the local birdlife and geothermal activity.
Ohinemutu
View an intricately carved Maori meeting house and enter a 1901 Tudor-style church set amidst steaming geothermal vents at the edge of Lake Rotorua.
Okere Falls Scenic Reserve
Explore forest walks that lead to a series of beautiful waterfalls, the Tutea Caves and Hinemoa's Steps.
Rainbow Mountain tracks
Explore an active geothermal mountain with coloured rocks and native plants that are unique to geothermal environments. Climb to the summit for a huge view of this fascinating part of the world.
Activities
Coromandel
Arts & Crafts (6),
Spas/Health Resorts and Thermal Bathing Pools (1)
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