Day 7: What to see on the Coromandel Peninsula: Coromandel, Waiau kauri grove, Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach - Rotorua
Today begins the route through places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula, visiting the town of Coromandel, the Waiau kauri grove, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, which we will dedicate all day to later, go to Rotorua, which will be the next stage of this trip to New Zealand.
Today we wake up in front of the sea, in Te Mata Point Reserve, our accommodation in the Thames area, remembering in some way everything we have lived these days ago, from the flight to New Zealand, the day we spent doing a route through the places to see in Auckland, visit Cabo Reinga for later, return back to the city, touring many of the places to see in Northland. And honestly, we have to say that although it has been a week since we started in New Zealand in a motorhome, this is being so intense that it seems that we have been here for a month enjoying one of the most incredible countries in the world.
And so, with these memories and in front of the most, we enjoy a new breakfast, so at 8 in the morning start the route through the places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula, one of the places to see in New Zealand essential, how could it be otherwise, we will travel with our motorhome Jucy.
Remember that if you are interested in making a trip of this type, we recommend you look at the Motorhome Republic page where you can see all the available options, prices and make the reservation directly.
Coromandel Peninsula
To understand a little the history of this place, we have to move several years ago, when it was known as Hauraki by the Maori, who according to different findings, it was estimated they occupied the area for more than 1000 years continuously.
At that time and due to the proximity to Auckland, the different tribes began to do business with European merchants, among which the forest exploitation of the Kauri was especially noteworthy, which little by little and due to bad management and over exploitation, they ended up being scarce and end the business over 1940.
In addition to the Kauris, the Coromandel Peninsula is also known for being the area where gold was first discovered, especially in the Thames area.
What to see in the Coromandel Peninsula
Although there are many places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula, if you have a single day in this area, we recommend you to visit the most recommended and tourist, to have a wide view of this beautiful place, located just a few kilometers from Auckland.
Something to keep in mind when you start preparing your route for the places to visit in the Coromandel Peninsula are the tides, since in two of the most tourist places, such as Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, these are essential to enjoy to the maximum of the visit.
You can check the status of the tides on the Metservice page which is also perfect for checking the weather in New Zealand.
Although afterwards we will review the broadest route, we leave you a summary of the most important places:
- Thames: This town is the gateway, which we arrived yesterday after going to the Coromandel Peninsula from Northland. In addition to making a brief stop to know its main street, with some buildings of the s. XIX, Thames is the perfect place to load the refrigerator in one of its supermarkets and refill the gas tank.
- Coromandel Peninsula Road: For us one of the essential places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula. The road that connects Thames with Coromandel and borders the coast, is a spectacle for the senses.
- Coromandel: Small town where it is more than advisable to make a stop to walk along its main street and have a coffee in one of its coffee shops.
- Road 309: Entering a documentary would be the most similar thing we can tell you about this unpaved road that passes through a forest of kauris.
- Cathedral Cave: Probably the main reason for many travelers to tour the Coromandel Peninsula. Without a doubt, after the experience, it is not surprising that this is the case.
- Hot Water Beach: A curious stop, which although we do not believe is essential.
Cathedral Cave on the Coromandel Peninsula
As we said yesterday, remember that if you are going to make a route through the things to do in the Coromandel Peninsula and you want to stay in the area, a super advisable option is to do it in the surroundings of Thames, in which along some 12-15 kilometers of coastline, there are 5 free parking areas where you can spend the night if you have a self vehicle -contained. They all have spectacular views of Thames Fjord, especially Te Mata Point Reserve, where we stayed.
Route through the places to visit in the Coromandel Peninsula
Although the route that we propose to know the places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula essential begins in Thames, we recommend you to go a little quieter, make a stop the day before as we did.
In case this has not been possible, on this day you can get up early and take the opportunity to have breakfast there and at the same time know its most central area.
Highway 25 Coromandel Peninsula
For us this is one of the places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula essential. Bordering the coast, the road 25 that connects Thames with Coromandel on a stretch of about 50 kilometers, is a spectacle for the senses and without a doubt, one of the great reasons to come here.
Although there are not many places to stop, keep in mind that the road is quite narrow and there are many curves, we recommend you to travel it calmly, to enjoy the scenery and make stops at all the viewpoints or rest areas where you have possibility.
Highway 25 of the Coromandel Peninsula
Coromandel
Located in the West Coast area of the Coromandel Peninsula, this small town is perfect for a stopover and in addition to enjoying an atmosphere that seems to move several centuries ago, stretch your legs, walk between historic buildings and have a coffee in some of its beautiful coffee shops.
Coromandel
We, after an hour traveling on Highway 25, arrive at Coromandel when it is 9 am, taking the opportunity to take a walk along its main street and have a coffee in a flirtatious cafeteria at 10:15 in the morning continue the route.
Road 309, another place to see in the Coromandel Peninsula
Although for us the main reason for including Highway 309 among the places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula, it was a bit casual, after the experience we can only recommend doing this tour as we believe it is a real wonder.
As we said before, to visit Cathedral Cave, the famous beach of the movie Chronicles of NarniaYou have to wait to do it when there is low tide or two hours before or after. Today this will happen around 1 noon, which is why we decided make time crossing the road 309.
The first thing to keep in mind is that if you do some research, you probably read that this unpaved road is not suitable for motorhomes. At least according to our experience when we have traveled it, although it is not really paved, it is totally feasible to travel it by motorhome, in addition to being in optimal conditions to do so.
Yes, it is true that you will have to drive for about 20 kilometers to 40 kilometers per hour, but it is also true that during that tour you will feel inside the movie Jurassic Park, since some of the most incredible landscapes of the North Island of New Zealand are traveled .
Highway 309
You must take the road about 3 kilometers from Coromandel, it is perfectly signposted and it rejoins the SH25, about 5 kilometers south of Whitianga.
Along the route we recommend you make two stops: Waiau Falls and Waiau Kauri Forest.
Waiau falls
Following a path of just 100 meters, you will arrive at Waiau Falls, some 10 meter high waterfalls, which although they are not really spectacular, are in an enormously attractive environment that make them one of the recommended visits to do on the route of Highway 309 of the Coromandel Peninsula.
Waiau falls
The visit will not take you more than 15-30 minutes and is next to the forest of kauris.
Waiau Kauri Forest
Less than 1 kilometer from Waiau Falls is Waiau Kauri Forest, a small forest of kauris, which is another stop you can make on the Coromandel Peninsula.
Although within this forest there are several paths that can be done, the most recommended of them is the one that runs in about 500 meters, a forest of the 600-year-old Kauris who miraculously saved themselves from indiscriminate logging.
Waiau Kauri Forest walkways
We must bear in mind that these kauris do not have the protection that we saw in the famous Kauri Coast, so you have to be very respectful and always stay at a distance as well as not leaving any type of residue that can alter them.
Another of the trails that we recommend you to do is the one that takes you to the kauri of the two trunks, similar to the Four Sisters that we also saw the other day, which is reached after traveling a short path of several minutes.
Kauris in Waiau Kauri Forest
You can leave the caravan or car in a small parking lot, just in front of the waterfall or in the Kauris forest.
The visit to both places will not take you more than 1 hour and as we commented, it is highly recommended if you also agree that the low tide time does not fit the route you want to do for the places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula.
More practical information to prepare your trip to New Zealand
- 10 essential tips for traveling to New Zealand
- 10 essential places to see in New Zealand
- The best travel insurance for New Zealand
Another option that you can assess is to make this excursion to Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach and the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve from Coromandel or this day trip to the Coromandel Peninsula from Auckland.
After these visits and crossing the road 309, we have 40 kilometers to reach Cathedral Cave, one of the Essential visits in the Coromandel Peninsula, where we arrived when 12 in the morning.
After several evaluations, seeing what time it is and the margin we have with the tide times, we decided to leave the motorhome in the parking lot enabled for it, free of charge, also taking advantage to mount the picnic table on the lawn and do an impromptu meal in the sun, which we will not deny, makes us feel great.
Cathedral Cove
Known for being one of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand and also being one of the scenes of the film The Chronicles of Narnia, knowing Cathedral Cove is undoubtedly one of the things to do in the Coromandel Peninsula.
In addition to the impressive landscapes that surround it, its natural stone arch and a waterfall that sprouts after the rain, make it a highly recommended stop in this area of the North Island of New Zealand.
Cathedral Cove, one of the places to see on the Coromandel Peninsula
Tips for visiting Cathedral Cove
- The first thing you should keep in mind to visit Cathedral Cove are the tides. Although you can visit it at high tide, you can only cross the natural stone arch at low tide or two hours before and after it. You can check the status of the tides on the Metservice page which is also perfect for checking the weather in New Zealand.
- To get to Cathedral Cove, you will have to travel a path of about 45 minutes, in which there are several quite steep ascents and descents, which involve a considerable physical effort. Another option is to take a water taxi from Hahei, which will take you to the beach for 15NZD each way.
- In low or measured season, if you arrive by car or motorhome to Hahei, which is the town where Cathedral Cove is located, you must leave your vehicle in the parking lot enabled for it, free of charge, which is 2 kilometers from the trail That takes you to the beach. These two kilometers are of road with a steep slope, in which you will not have any kind of views, so we recommend you to travel them on buses that make this route every 20 minutes for 5NZD per person round trip and that take you to The beginning of the path. You can pay this with cash or credit card.
- Another option is to try to reach the top and park in the parking lots of private houses that have enabled areas for this purpose. About 10 to 15 NZD left for leaving your vehicle, although you should keep in mind that these are not at the end of the climb, so even if you save a stretch, you must do the last walk.
- In high season, another parking is enabled right at the beginning of the path, although this is quite small, so if you arrive late, you probably won't find a place. If this is your case, you can always choose to leave it in the village and get there by bus.
- Keep in mind that there is no kind of place to buy water or something to eat on the entire trail or on the beach. Anything you need you should take it from the area of the town or buy it in one of the positions in the parking area at the beginning of the walk.
- The complete visit, which includes the round trip path and the visit to the beach, will take you about 2 hours, as long as you do not want to take a bath or stay in the area longer.
- Whenever you fit the tide schedule, it is advisable to make the visit first thing in the morning or late in the afternoon, at which time there is much less tourism.
Cathedral Cove
Although we had read several people who said that the visit to Cathedral Cove was not worth it, in our case we believe it is an essential visit, especially if you are making a route through the Coromandel Peninsula and have these two hours to visit it, since in addition to the beach, doing the trail gives you wonderful views of the coast.
Cathedral Cove
After the visit to Cathedral Cove, we return to the 45-minute walk along the path, which we have to confess, at this time of the afternoon it is already a bit difficult for us, to take the meeting point once again the bus and get to the parking lot where we have our motorhome when it is 3:30 in the afternoon.
Seeing that time is running over us, we decided that it is time to approach the last point of the route through the Coromandel Peninsula, the Hot Water Beach, which although we know is very touristy, we do not want to miss it.
Cathedral Cove Trail
Hot water beach
Located 8 kilometers from Cathedral Cove, this beach is one of the best known points of the Coromandel Peninsula for a very special feature and it is that at low tide and two hours before and after, if you make a hole in the sand, with your shovel or one that you can rent there, in the part closest to the shore, hot water springs from it, product of the location of the beach in an area of great volcanic activity.
Hot water beach
Keep in mind that as we say, if you want to have the experience, your visit must coincide with the tides, although being these the same as in Cathedral Cove, they are perfectly complementary visits, being able to do one after another.
In case you do not want to bathe, the visit will not take you more than 30 minutes, including the parking search time, since the existing one is quite small.
Hot Water Beach, another place to see on the Coromandel Peninsula
Taking into account the experience, although for us it has not been an essential place, it can be curious to see, especially considering the proximity to Cathedral Cove and that the visit will not take you more than 30 minutes.
After this visit and although initially our idea was to stay in the area to sleep, we decided that as we have time and we are not very tired, the ideal thing is to follow the route to Rotorua, which will be the place we will visit tomorrow and is 3 hours of places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula.
These changes of plans is something that allows you to move in a motorhome through New Zealand and that we will have the good fortune of experiencing throughout the trip and that we have to confess, we love it since it allows us to adapt the route to our needs, without worrying about the accommodation booked.
We arrived in Rotorua a few minutes before 8 pm, noticing as we enter the characteristic smell that reminds us that we are approaching some of the most important geothermal fields in New Zealand.
After checking in the Campermate application the different accommodation options we have, we decided on the Rotorua Thermal Holiday Park, which will be our accommodation in Rotorua tonight, where we choose a powered site, to take advantage of the last hours of the day working and dreaming in how much this country is giving us and what it still has prepared.
Keep in mind that in Rotorua there are two free areas where you can spend the night with a self-contained vehicle. These are duly marked in the Campermate application, but in the mid season and high season, these are usually complete early in the afternoon, so if you want to spend the night there, it is preferable to arrive soon.
We leave you the map of the route that we have followed by places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula passing through Coromandel, Waiau kauri grove, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach to arrive later at Rotorua, where we will stay.
Keep in mind that the route through places to see in the Coromandel Peninsula It will be about 120 kilometers and 2 hours of driving, in addition to the stops and to reach Rotorua you must add 3 more hours of travel. According to our experience, it is perfectly feasible to do it and do so, it will also allow you to be the next day in Rotorua to start the day making visits.
Day 8: Places to see in Rotorua: Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu - Matamata (Hobbiton)
