Coromandel

Beautiful beaches, lovely treks, rugged forest, gold mine and New Zealand hospitality. In short, that is Coromandel. Explore, relax and have fun in this lovely place, far away from the hustle and bustle of the cities.

Location

Coromandel is located within 1 ½ hours drive from Auckland.

Weather

Coromandel probably has the best weather in the entire country, which makes it a travel destination year round. During summer temperatures reach 24C / 75 F – 31 C / 88 F, while during winter they never go below 12C / 54 F -14 C/ 57 F.

Gold Mine Attractions

The area is particularly popular for the gold mines which have been producing hold here since the 19th century.

Goldmine Experience includes a tour of an operational 19th century gold mine. It’s located on the corner of Moanataiari Road and State Highway 25, at the northern end of Thames. Self guided tours are available and you can explore the museum and discover the old machines used to extract gold. The tour takes about 40 minutes and there is no need to book ahead unless you come in a group. The mine if open from 10 AM to 4 PM. The ticket costs NZ$10 for an adult and NZ$4 for a child (under 13).

Newmont Waihi Gold is a working mine which produces over $1 million worth of gold and silver each week. Guided tours are available during the weekdays and booking in advance is a must.

What else to do

There is a lot to do and see in Coromandel. A short list includes: mountain bike tours, walking tours, freefall from a giant swing, hikes, motorcycle off road tours, farm stays (yes, includes working in the farm), Creek Railway train ride, golfing, horseback riding, the Lost Spring thermal waters, How Water Beach, winery stay, diving, snorkeling, fishing, boat cruises, sailing, sea kayaking and visiting museums.

Coromandel Peninsula offers a lot of walking trails, campsites and even a marine reserve, with its own snorkeling trail.

If you like a romantic walk by the beach, head to the northern end of Waihi Beach and you’ll see Orokawa Bay Walk signposted. The walk takes 1 hour and 20 min return but there is also a 45 minutes detour to William Wright Falls.

If you prefer to hike in the mountains, following the track of a river bank and see the old mine buildings along the way, then head Paeroa and Waihi and take the Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway. The walk takes two hours one way.