Coromandel – Guide for Backpackers

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Thames

What was once a thriving town in the gold-rush era, Thames is now the ideal base for backpackers wanting to explore the Kauaeranga Valley (see below), just 10-minutes outside of the town.

Along the Thames Coast are a number of safe swimming beaches lined with pohutukawa trees, the New Zealand Christmas tree, which blossoms red flowers during summer. Why not have a BBQ on the beach? Free gas BBQs are at Kuranui Bay and Waiomu Beach.

Visit a tropical butterfly and orchid house at the Butterfly and Orchid Gardens or educate yourself on the area by visiting Thames Historical Museum, Thames School of Mines, the Small Gauge Railway, and the Society of Arts Gallery.

If you have a car while in Thames, cheese lovers will die with excitement at The Cheese Barn along the Thames-Paeroa Highway.

For more inspiration, see 7 Best Things to Do in Thames.

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Kauaeranga Valley

If you want to go out into the Coromandel wilderness, then Kauaeranga Valley is a great place to start. There are heaps of walking tracks from short walks to full-day hikes. The highlight for many is The Pinnacles. At 759m (2,490ft) high, this rock formation also has amazing views of the surrounding mountains, forests and coastline. To get there, start from the car park at Kauaeranga Road End. The hike takes about 3 hours to get to the Pinnacle Hut then another 40 minutes to get to The Pinnacles. Be aware that the road is gravel.

Alternatively, fromKauaeranga Road End you can take the Billygoat Circuit. Along this 4-5hour hike, you will walk the same tracks as packhorses during the kauri logging days. The ascent gives some great views of the area, then you drop down into the basin to see rivers and Billygoat Falls.

For a short walk to see a model kauri dam nestled in native bush, start the Kahikatea Walk 20 minutes from the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre.

The most adventurous way to experience the heart of the Coromandel has to be canyoning in the Sleeping Gods Canyon with CanyoNZ. Check out more canyoning opportunities in 7 Impressive Canyoning Locations in New Zealand.

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Coromandel Town

Apart from the main street covered in art galleries, other attractions of the Coromandel are walks the railway tour.

There is a ferry terminal in the town, meaning you can use the ferry to get to Auckland and back. But for those wishing to stick around in the Coromandel, take a ride on the Driving Creek Railway. This is a 1-hour mountain railway treating you with views of the Hauraki Gulf while you go through a native Kauri forest. The trip also includes access to a pottery and wildlife sanctuary.

From the Coromandel, take the 309 Road to see the Waiau Waterworks, for a crazy collection of water-powered inventions, and Waiau Kauri Grove and Waterfalls. Just by the road are Waiau Falls a pretty sight and a swimming site.

See more activities in 5 Fun Things to Do in Coromandel Town.

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Mercury Bay

A mix of land and sea activities can be enjoyed at Mercury Bay. The towns of Whitianga and Hahei make a good base while visiting Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach (see below).

From the towns, you can go on horse treks in amazing scenery, go on fishing charters, snorkel in the Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve, dive at Mercury Islands, relax on Cooks Beach, and taste some fine beers at Hot Water Beach Brewing and The Coromandel Brewing Company. Plus, check out the 10 Best Walks in Whitianga.

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Must-Visit Beaches

On the west side of the Coromandel peninsula is where you will find the beaches everyone talks about.

A 30min walk from Whangapoua will lead you to the stunning beach of New Chum. The long stretch of golden sand is lined by native forest and is often deserted, as it is not well known.

Make your next beach stop the famous Cathedral Cove featured in the Narnia trilogy. The dramatic arched rock is a token tourist photo every backpacker needs. You can swim at this beach or explore further by taking a kayaking tour. Note that the Cathedral Cove car park in Hahei is closed during the busy summer season (October 1 – April 30). Parking is available instead at the northern end of Hahei Beach, which adds an additional 20 minutes to the Cathedral Cove Walk.

When it is low tide, head to Hot Water Beach. As the name implies, you will find some hot water if you dig into the sand. Then relax in your very own natural hot pool. At night, you’re likely to see glowworms along the path to Hot Water Beach.

Whangamata not only has its own long-stretching beach, but it is the ideal base for some surfing, paddle-boarding and kayaking. Ask your paddle-board and kayaking operator about Donut Island – a must-visit on a low-swell day.

Find more beaches in the 10 Coromandel Beaches You Can’t Miss. For more awesome natural attractions, check out 10 Features That Make The Coromandel Unique.

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Karangahake Gorge

On the way out of the Coromandel, if you are heading south, don’t miss out the Karangahake Gorge. The remains of gold mining railways and tunnels are situated in a beautiful gorge for you to explore. Make sure you bring a torch for the tunnels… or not if you want to challenge yourself.

On the border of the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty region is Waihi, the end of this gold-mining trail. The grand finale is a 200m mining pit. Find out more in the 10 Wonderful Things to Do in Waihi.