Good times on The Coromandel

THAMES & THAMES COAST

THE ILL-ADVISED RUSH THROUGH THAMES IN A HURRY TO GREATER COROMANDEL, WHEREAS THOSE WITH SOME NOUSE SCRATCH A LITTLE DEEPER. STICK AROUND – THIS HISTORIC TOWN ONLY REVEALS ITS SECRETS TO THE INQUISITIVE.

Built on the pioneering industries of gold mining and kauri logging, tens of thousands of Europeans flocked here in the 19th century looking to get rich quick. The resources eventually dried up, but the town’s golden spirit lives on. From its appealing main street, flush with historic wooden buildings, to history hunting at The Treasury and Thames Historical Museum, the past is as vocal as the present. Don’t miss your chance to try gold panning at the Thames Goldmine Experience.

Top Hut, Tuateawa

Carmen Huter

Other, more modern activities include nipping into the cafés on and around Pollen St for a coffee fix, abseiling down thrashing waterfalls in Sleeping God Canyon and venturing into Kauaeranga Valley for a hike just a 10km drive from the Thames town centre.

Thames hosts a weekend market brimming with organic produce, arts, crafts and products unique to the region, held every Saturday from 8am-12pm in Grahamstown.

Thames market

Peter Burchell

COROMANDEL TOWN

COROMANDEL TOWN IS PERFECTLY PEACEFUL. IN FACT, THE NEXT TIME YOU’RE IN NEED OF A LITTLE HARMONY, MAKE A BEELINE HERE.

Coromandel Town’s main street was made for ambling. Stroll from art gallery to art gallery, of which there are many. Between viewings, admire the town’s restored Victorian buildings and fall into various cafés. Should you wish to saunter further, the town’s closest beach, Long Bay (3km north west) has soft sand and a gorgeous campsite, while Waiau Falls, a 20-minute drive south, offers an idyllic swimming spot. Some of Aotearoa’s best mussels and oysters flourish in these waters so taking a charter boat to the outer islands for fishing and sightseeing is highly recommended. Eating them is pretty good, too.

TOP TIP: Coromandel Town is linked to downtown Auckland by a two-hour seasonal ferry with stops at Waiheke and Rotoroa islands. Once docked at Hannaford’s Wharf, a complimentary bus transfers passengers into Coromandel Town proper.

Coromandel Town

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FUN FOR THE FAMILY

Driving Creek Railway is five minutes from Coromandel Town with a shuttle service running from the centre. Chug through native kauri forest on a one-hour miniature train, admiring Hauraki Gulf views. The narrow gauge locomotive zigzags past ceramic sculptures to a platform called the Eyefull Tower which boasts far-reaching views. Visitors can also soar through the forest on a zipline with Coromandel Zipline Tours, and if you’ve never tried a bike-powered water cannon before, the wacky water-powered creations at Waiau Waterworks are also a must.

Driving Creek Conservation Park

Coromandel Zipline Tours

HMS Coromandel, the first European ship to bring settlers to the region, was named after India’s Coromandel Coast and the region came to take the same name. Local Māori called the Coromandel Peninsula, Te Tara-ote-Ika-a-Maui, or the barb on the tail of Maui’s stringray. Maui used the barb to catch a stingray which then became the North Island.

Coromandel Countryside

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COLVILLE & THE TOP OF THE PENINSULA

Head north from Coromandel town to Papa Aroha, Amodeo Bay and beyond, stopping at these must-see places on the way...

MCGREGOR BAY

A sliver of sand and a thing of beauty, McGregor Bay’s golden good looks are only enhanced when the sun sets.

COLVILLE

Local artisans sell their crafts here and the Hereford ‘n’ a Pickle café offers a cosy coffee spot as well as a great range of home-made preserves and an assortment of artwork and books.

ŌTAUTU BAY

Home to Ōtautu Bay Farm Campsite which is a bit of a gem. Enveloped by a working farm, there’s a safe, sandy swimming beach 500 metres away as well as a boat launch.

COROMANDEL COASTAL WALKWAY

At the very tip of the peninsula is the 7km track that takes three to four hours to walk one way and boasts remarkable views of the offshore islands.

WAITETE BAY

You’ll immediately want to dip your toes into the aqua-blue water that laps Waitete’s clean champagne sand. Found at the end of a gravel road and untouched by the masses.

Colville General Store

Destination Coromandel

Looking for a place to stay? Find a huge range of accommodation options, including discounts for AA Members, at travel.aa.co.nz/Hotels