An essential guide to the top tourist attractions in Coromandel, New Zealand

cook’s beach

Considered one of the Coromandel’s best kept secrets, Cooks Beach has 3 km of crescent-shaped golden sand beach, flanked to the west by the tree-covered Shakespearean Cliff and to the east by the Purangi Estuary. What makes Cooks Beach unique is its location. This is a quiet seaside paradise unaffected by traffic noise, yet Cooks Beach is only a 10 minute drive from the thriving town of Whitianga, the popular Hahei Beach and two of the Coromandel’s busiest tourist attractions, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.

One of the most sheltered beaches on the East Coromandel coast, Cook’s Beach is a safe beach for swimming and has two boat ramps, making it popular with families and boaters alike. You can also rent kayaks on the beach and explore the surrounding rock outcroppings and crystal clear waters of the nearby Te Whanganui A Hei Marine Reserve, located between Cooks and Hahei Beach. Teeming with marine life, this reserve is also home to the world famous Cathedral Cove.

Cove Cathedral

Cathedral Cove is one of the most visited and photographed spots on the Coromandel Peninsula and is only accessible on foot (via a slip road at the northern end of Hahei Beach) or by water. Exploring Cathedral Cove by kayak is a sensational experience, as you will reach beaches, caves, blowholes and islands that others cannot reach by boat or on foot. If you prefer to stay dry, head to the Whitianga Marina and take a boat ride to Cathedral Cove on the cathedral cruiser or one of several glass bottom boats.

hot water beach

Hot Water Beach is one of the best surf breaks on the Coromandel Peninsula, but the real reason for its fame is what gives this beach its name. An underground river of hot water rises to the surface on the beach and two hours on either side of low tide, people flock there to dig in and soak in their own natural geothermal hot pool in the sand. Winter or summer, this is a natural phenomenon that once experienced, you will never forget!

While you’re there, learn to surf with Hot Water Beach Surf School or grab great coffee and delicious home-cooked food at Hot Waves Cafe; just steps from Hot Water Beach and right next to Moko Artspace. Brimming with contemporary New Zealand and Pacific art, designer items and jewellery, Moko is made for browsing.

Hiking and Relaxed Walks

At the western end of Cooks Beach is Shakespeare Cliff Reserve, a massive rock edifice clad in natural vegetation. A walk to the top rewards tourists with stunning views of the ocean, Cooks Beach, and Lonely Bay. You can walk to Lonely Bay, a picturesque beach popular as a wedding venue, or continue on to Flaxmill Bay and Ferry Landing.

Eggcentrics Cafe in Flaxmill Bay is a place that has everyone talking. It’s hard to pinpoint what makes this place so special, as it’s really a combination of factors; the name, the casual atmosphere, the art and sculpture lining the walls and floors, the impromptu sing-alongs, and the “you just can’t fault” food. House specialties at their best include crumbled mussels and luscious scallops in a macadamia cream sauce.

Cut down on your food with a short walk to Ferry Landing, where you can catch the Whitianga Ferry for the short journey across the harbor to Whitianga. Another way to see the sights is by quad bike, which can be rented at Ferry Landing. They are a great way to get around and explore the sheltered north facing beaches of Flaxmill Bay and Front Beach or if you want to go a little further afield you can also hire a scooter.

Local products and cafeterias

If you love macadamias, then you must visit Cathedral Cove Macadamias in Hahei. Organically grown and hand-selected, macadamia nuts are oil-crusted, ground into nut chips for salads, covered in chocolate for a chocoholics treat, or prepared as a spread. You can sample the products before you buy and just sitting in the beautiful setting of macadamia and native trees makes it worth the visit.

Colenso Cafe is located in an old house on the main road towards Whitianga, again just minutes from Cooks Beach. Surrounded by beautiful old plum trees and a huge herb garden, this place gives you that warm tingling feeling of cozy country comfort; You’ll just want to sit back and enjoy the peaceful surroundings and fresh local produce.

scenic flights

One way to see Cooks Beach and the rest of the Coromandel Coast is by helicopter. Coromandel Helicopters, based at Whitianga Airfield, perform scenic flights all over the Coromandel, but for an absolute buzz that’s sure to get your heart racing, fly into the Pinnacles Ranges and mountain bike from 2300 vertical feet of adrenaline-pumping downhill.

There is so much available to you here at Cooks Beach. Close to all of Whitianga’s popular tourist spots, Hahei Beach, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, as well as the not so well known but beautiful white sand beaches of Lonely Bay, Flaxmill Bay, Front Beach, Buffalo, Brophys and Simpsons Beach, Cooks Beach is the ideal location for your Coromandel holiday. So come visit Cooks Beach and see what makes it such a great place. But be prepared to stay a while, as there is too much to do for a short stay.