Coromandel Town

Old colonial Coromandel Town is a well kept, small and friendly place, ideal for a holiday with a difference. It’s located on the Coromandel Peninsula, just two and a half or three hours scenic drive from Auckland, Hamilton or Tauranga. A ferry service from Auckland runs several times a week via Waiheke Island. Cafes, shopping and an interesting range of activities, including the famous Driving Creek Railway, keeps the visitor busy. Accommodation is available for all tastes and budgets: motels, beaut old pubs, back-packers, cabins, lodges, B&Bs, quality apartments or stay at a campground with cabins, sites for tents and vans, often right on the beach!

There’s plenty to do in town for the visitor: try shopping, golf, gardens, art studios and gift shops, the museum, ride the Driving Creek Railway, The Waterworks, boating, fishing, diving, the old gold stamper battery, bus tours and plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants. The town is well known for its quality cafes, bars and restaurants serving up the local seafood and often featuring live music and entertainment. The original ‘olde worlde’ colonial buildings and friendly service create a special local character. Fresh fish and shellfish from just out in the bay is a popular speciality. The Coro. Smoking Company and the Coro Oyster Company produce renowned seafood and shellfish delicacies.

Colville and The Northern Coast

The dramatic hill and coastal scenery of the Northern Coromandel is amongst the best in the North Island. The long and varied coastline is fringed with ancient Pohutukawa trees against a backdrop of high hills. The Coromandel Coastal Walkway is a highlight of the region, see the Coromandel Discovery advertisement. Colville is a very small town with a motel/camp ground, General Store with petrol, top Cafe, Branch Creek hand-made furniture, the Mahamudra Retreat Centre and a shop for holiday supplies. Enquire at the shop regarding the local alternative lifestyle communities and their summer workshops. Further north at Port Charles the Tangiaro Kiwi Resort offers top accommodation, a la carte restaurant with top quality NZ wines, cafe and bar.

NOTE: Drive slowly and carefully - some roads are winding, narrow and unsealed.

The 309 Road & Waiau Stream

The 309 Road links Coromandel Town over the hills to Whitianga. Check out the Waiau Waterworks, several acres of whimsical water wizardry and gadgetry in a garden setting, with a cafe too. It’s more Kiwi ingenuity at its best!

Further on up the road it’s only a short walk to the Waiau Falls and then the Waiau Kauri Grove to see some of the best Kauri trees anywhere. The hill country in this area includes ancient volcanic activity, see the craggy Castle Rock (526m) and then a ‘sister rock’ Pukewhakataratara (394m), just south of Manaia.

NOTE: The 309 road is in places steep, winding and often unsealed so drive slowly and carefully.

DOC Campsites

The Northern Region includes Department of Conservation (DoC) camp sites, walking tracks and scenic reserves. All camp sites have basic facilities, water supply and toilets. Some are beachfront with provision for open fires.

Driving Creek Railway & Potteries

The Driving Creek Railway and Potteries is a not-to-be-missed highlight of the region. The railway is a narrow gauge passenger train which winds tortuously up the hillside through tunnels and over bridges to the ‘Eyefull Tower’ for the awesome view. The hillside has been replanted with native trees.

Driving Creek was originally a hippy potter’s community and the train was used to bring in raw materials. Nowdays it’s mostly a tourist activity but the railway station complex is still a working pottery with glass blowing and a well stocked art shop. You could say that as a whole, it’s a living work of art! The trains run daily, bookings are advised.

Boating, Fishing, Sailing & Diving

This side of the peninsula is sheltered from the Pacific swell and made interesting for on-the-water activities by the many small islands and large number of mussel and oyster farms. The islands provide the shelter, the farms attract the fish so it’s excellent for diving and fishing, sailing and sightseeing. Charter boats offer all of these activities.

Mussel Barge Snapper Safaries run several trips per day on large, stable vessels with plenty of flat, stable deck space, cover overhead, proper toilet and even a BBQ. Fishing fun for young and old and ideal for staff outings.

There are many launching ramps in the area for trailer boats and facilities for cleaning fish, storage for boats, etc.

Art & Festivals

Coromandel Town is the art centre of the Peninsula. Many top artists live and work in the area. Output includes: painting, pottery, jewellery, sculpture and carving in stone and bone.

It’s possible to visit art studios and buy high quality works direct from the artist. And each year the town enjoys several events and festivals: every Labour weekend it’s the Coro Do, the popular town arts festival with art and entertainments. On January 2nd there is the the Keltic Fair, the Peninsula’s largest one day event with over 300 stalls, food, music and entertainment all day.

Fishing the Mussel Farms

There are several mussel farms in this area. Fishing amongst the shellfish ropes can bring in large catches and big fish. NOTE: Care must be taken not to damage the farm ropes or buoys. Use only lightweight grapnel anchors which will bend free should they become hooked up in the mooring system and only approach close when wind and tide conditions permit.

Unique Forest & Birdlife

This part of the Coromandel forms a natural sanctuary for wildlife. Cave wetas, rare native frogs and large centipedes (check your sleeping bags!) can be found in the hills. Regenerating native forest includes kauri, puriri and a large range of ferns. Birdlife includes the tui, bellbird, fantail, kingfisher, kiwi, harrier hawk and seabirds including large numbers of gannets on an island colony.

How to Find Us

Refer to the maps page. Enquire about the ferry service to Auckland.

Where to Stay

Accommodation is available to suit all tastes and budgets: motels, hotels, chalets, lodges, cabins, backpackers, B&B or stay at a campground catering for tents, campervans and caravans. The DOC campsites offer water’s edge camping at its best.