Christine Beyleveldt

Just two hours away from bustling Tauranga is Coromandel, widely considered the ultimate summer destination here in Northland. Okay, maybe second to Waiheke Island. But if you’ve only got two days to cram in the ultimate beach getaway, this is how you ought to do it.

Whangamatā and Donut Island

First stop: Whangamatā. Just off the coast of Whangamatā beach is the real gem: Donut Island, a spectacular ring-shaped island with a turquoise lagoon at its centre that formed when an ancient volcanic blowhole collapsed. It’s a beautiful, albeit HOT, sunny day when I arrive in Whangamatā and pull up at the SurfSUP paddy wagon. You can join a guided tour for $105 (recommended if it’s your first time) or hire a kayak for two hours for $35. The island is only about half a kilometre offshore and can be reached in about 15-20 minutes on a calm day, and the lagoon at its centre when the tide is high and the swell is low. Paddle around the west side of the island and you’ll find a narrow entrance leading to the grotto.

Now, note that the island is a wildlife sanctuary and you will have to sign as part of your waiver an agreement not to set foot on the island to protect the native Tuatara—rare lizard-like reptiles indigenous to New Zealand. You can admire the inner grotto from the safety and comfort of your kayak. Sadly, flouting the rules has lead to fears that the island will be barred to visitors altogether.

Hahei and Cathedral Cove

After Whangamatā, I continued my journey up the east coast of the peninsula to Hahei, a picturesque coastal town with blinding white cliffs. Hahei beach is paradise, but most people come for Cathedral Cove. Since the pandemic, you can no longer park at the lot at the top of Grange Road. There are, however, two large car parks.

The Hahei Visitor Carpark on Pa Road at the village entrance is free and a shuttle runs between the carpark and the trailhead at the top of Grange Road every ten minutes. A round-trip fare is just $8 and the shuttle operates between 9:00 am and 6:00 pm during peak season, with the parking lot gates closing at 7:00 pm. Fancy stretching your legs? You can also hike to the top of Grange Road to reach the start of the Mautohe Track. It’s only half an hour, but it is a steep climb up a winding road.

The alternative is to park at Lees Road, which costs $15 per vehicle per day and takes just 20 minutes to join up with the Mautohe Track. The Track itself takes about 45 minutes to walk and traces a path through the New Zealand World War I Memorial Forest. The beach itself is often busy with water taxis, kayak tours and catamarans pulling up along its shore throughout the day. However, you don’t want to skip this one. I spent several happy hours wallowing in the crystal clear turquoise water.

Hot Water Beach and Mercury Bay

At the end of a long day, I set up camp for the night at the Holiday Park at Hot Water Beach. It’s best to visit the beach two hours on either side of low tide, which generally occurs around 8:00 am and 8:00 pm. Hot Water Beach is a unique geothermal area, and when the tide goes out, holiday makers trudge out onto the sand with their shovels and dig holes that fill up with hot groundwater.

After spending some time at the beach, I packed up my camp and drove out to Mercury Bay where I visited the Estate for lunch. Check back here later for details on the menu!