New Zealand’s best-kept secret

The Coromandel is more than just a perfect summer break. With its spectacular coastal scenery, simple way of life and homegrown dining scene, it’s an inviting escape all year round.

Aucklanders have been keeping The Coromandel all to themselves. From sandy beaches and thermal springs to mountain hikes and scenic cycle trails, this peninsular playground on the North Island is an easy getaway from the city. Take a two-hour ferry ride from Auckland or drive the coast road via historic Thames – having wheels will make exploring easier once you’re there.

WARM UP

Soak in nature’s own spa at Hot Water Beach, where, with just a little digging, naturally heated mineral water bubbles up between your toes. (If you don’t have a plastic spade on you, rent a shovel from a beachside café.) Visit two hours either side of low tide to find the hot spring. For more of a lagoon scene, steep yourself in the geothermal pools at The Lost Spring in Whitianga or relax into a treatment at the day spa.

COOL OFF

Getting to the beautiful natural-stone archway of Cathedral Cove is half the adventure. There’s no road access to this beach: enter either by foot, boat or kayak. In the warmer months, bring your snorkel to spy on stingrays and schools of fish in the marine reserve; in winter, wear your walking shoes to take on scenic coastal hikes.

GET OUT

The breathtaking 360-degree view from atop The Pinnacles inside Coromandel Forest Park, with the sea sparkling in the distance, is well worth the three-hour hike. If a six-hour-plus return trip sounds too strenuous in one hit, book an overnight berth in the Pinnacles Hut and head back down the next day. If you prefer two wheels to two feet, cycle along the river and through the tunnels of Karangahake Gorge, part of the Hauraki Rail Trail, a long but laid-back cycle track broken into five easy-to-manage sections. Travelling with the family? Jump aboard the Driving Creek Railway, New Zealand’s only narrow-gauge mountain railway. As you climb through the regenerating kauri forest, take in panoramic views over Coromandel Harbour.

SETTLE IN

Something special for dinner? Make your way to The Falls Retreat in Karangahake Gorge, where a four-course meal using produce fresh from the garden is served every Saturday night. For a relaxed meal, Luke’s Kitchen at Kūaotunu Beach serves pizza with a view of the surf and a soundtrack of local tunes. Drop in for a cold beer at the Hot Water Brewing Co., which has craft pale ale, porter and IPA on tap, or the Pour House in Hahei, for a Good as Gold pilsner brewed right there at the beach.