Coromandel

Coromandel

Unspoilt Coromandel

Heritage

Ancient Māori village sites along the Coromandel coast are evidence of New Zealand’s earliest Polynesian settlement.

British explorer Captain Cook visited the Coromandel in 1769 to observe the transit of the planet Mercury across the face of the sun. Cook’s mission is commemorated in the names of beaches such as Mercury Bay and Cook’s beach. Lured by Cook’s descriptions of the towering kauri trees, early European settlers came to mill the forests.

Gold was discovered in the Coromandel area in the late 1800s. This was New Zealand’s first recorded gold discovery and gold rush. Coromandel goldfields yielded 16 million tonnes of gold ore between 1862 and 1952.

Nature and Wildlife

Unique New Zealand wildlife inhabits the Coromandel’s coastland and rainforests. Several conservation projects for kauri, kiwi and other birds originated on the Coromandel Peninsula where 34 percent of the land is under Department of Conservation (DOC) protection.

Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat is nestled in the heart of the Moehau kiwi sanctuary - one of New Zealand’s first kiwi sanctuaries. Visitors can sit on the deck of a luxurious bush hut at night and listen to kiwi call.

Te Whanganui a Hei marine reserve is a community-led project off the Hahei coastline and iconic Cathedral Cove. This area has been a no-take zone for 20 years and marine life is thriving. Glass bottom boats reveal many types of marine life including fish, seals, crayfish (lobster), stingrays, blue penguins, dolphins and orca.

Adventure / Outdoors

Coromandel outdoor adventures include scuba diving, sea kayaking and fishing, short and long forest treks.

Many walking tracks are steeped in local mining and logging history. The ‘Windows’ walkway in the Karangahake Gorge follows the old Paeroa - Waihi railway line, exploring gold mining relics and river scenery.

The ‘Pinnacles’ overnight walkway through the Kauaeranga valley was originally constructed for horses carrying supplies to kauri loggers, gum diggers and gold miners in the early 1900s. Walkers stay in a DOC hut where an early morning rise reveals the sun’s first rays on the Pacific Ocean and 360-degree panoramic views.

Cathedral Cove’s iconic limestone archway and pristine golden beach featured in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. To get to the cove, there’s the option of a two-hour return walk, or a guided kayaking trip. The cove is an idyllic location for swimming, snorkelling, picnics and relaxing under pohutukawa trees.

At Hot Water beach, where underground thermal activity supplies bubbling hot water, visitors can create a personal natural jacuzzi in the wet sand during low tide.

Seasonal Highlights

A sunny climate and laid-back lifestyle make the Coromandel a year-round holiday destination for visitors. In summer, Kiwis flock to the region to stay in baches (holiday homes) and camping grounds but throughout the year there are also regular events and festivals that offer visitors a chance to indulge in the Coromandel way of life and environment.

Coromandel Pohutukawa Festival is a celebration of New Zealand’s native ‘Christmas’ tree and its symbolic ties to New Zealand beach culture. Held in late spring to coincide with the trees’ flowering, the region-wide month-long festival hosts art exhibitions, café crawls, dive events and open-air concerts.

In winter, Coromandel celebrates the scallop harvest at the Whitianga Scallop festival. This large outdoor food festival combines local food, wine, entertainment and family activities.

DID YOU KNOW

• Thames (current pop: 7000) - gateway to the Coromandel Peninsula - was once New Zealand's biggest town, boasted more than 100 pubs, and was proposed as the country's capital city.
  
• Thames colonial architecture goes back to its gold mining heritage.
• Coromandel’s name has an Indian origin. HMS Coromandel - the first European ship to bring settlers to the region - was named after India’s ‘Coromandel Coast’.
• Foodies consumed more than 100,000 scallops in one day at the 2008 Whitianga Scallop Festival.