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To the east of Auckland CBD is a 400km stretch of pristine coastline, where the water is crystal clear and the offshore islands & rock formations make you feel like you’re somewhere in SE Asia. Below I have put together a 2 day Coromandel itinerary and also suggested heaps of other things to do in Coromandel.
Auckland to Coromandel Road Trip
The drive from Auckland to the Coromandel Peninsula is relatively easy, most of the drive is along the freeway and then scenic country roads. Of course, the ease of this trip will depend on traffic so try and leave Auckland before peak hour hits.
The distance from Auckland to Coromandel is between 1.5 and 2 hours.
The first big town on the Coromandel Peninsula is the Themes and from here the fun really began with so many stunning viewpoints and plenty of places to stop along the way.
2 – Day Coromandel Itinerary
When planning this trip I did a lot of research on all the things I wanted to do, mapped it all, and off we went. What I underestimated was how windy the roads are and how much longer it took to get around.
So after two full days of exploring the Coromandel Peninsula, I can safely say this isn’t enough time! We still saw a lot and had time to enjoy some of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand, but if planning a trip here, I would highly recommend at least 4 days.
Is Coromandel worth visiting for just two days?
YES!
If a couple of days is all you have then follow this 2 day Coromandel itinerary. It’s full of insanely beautiful beaches, hikes, waterfalls & coastal drives.
Day 1
After leaving Auckland early morning & arriving at the Thames, I recommend grabbing some food for the drive. There are plenty of shops in the Thames and from here there are heaps of beautiful places to stop for a picnic breakfast.
When leaving the Thames drive north along Thames Coast rd, this windy road hugs the coastline and has some awesome views. Although, this is along the west side of the peninsula so when the tide is out the beaches aren’t too picturesque!
The next main town you’ll arrive in is Coromandel Town, without stopping the drive takes about an hour from the Thames.
Coromandel Town is a great place to be based for the night. There are a number of accommodation options, a couple of pubs and plenty of places to get food. Keep in mind though, that unless you’re visiting during the summer holidays, places do close pretty early. If going out for dinner I would do so before 7 pm to avoid missing out.
Once arriving in Coromandel Town take this opportunity to stretch your legs and wander the quaint streets. This would also be a great opportunity to grab lunch and check into your accommodation.
Then the afternoon can be spent at one of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand, New Chum Beach.
From town you’ll drive along State Hwy 25 towards Whangapoua, the drive is about 30 minutes, and keep in mind this road is very windy.
Along the way, on the left side of the road, there’s a scenic lookout & I definitely recommend pulling over. From the road, the lookout is only a short walk and the views in each direction are beautiful.
So to get to New Chum Beach drive to Mangakahia Rd, it’s a residential street but you’ll be able to park here then it’s a 30-minute walk. (I’ll add more details on getting to New Chum Beach below)
New Chums Beach is worth every second of the walk, it’s literally amazing. And, I think the walk makes it even better because there will be fewer people here compared to other beaches.
The beach is surrounded by cliffs and thick forest, the sand is white, and the water is blue & crystal clear. So clear I could easily spot a stingray swimming by!
Also, off into the distance were rock formations sticking out of the ocean, this made me question whether I was in New Zealand or Thailand.
Spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying this beauty before heading back to town for dinner. We loved the local Fish & Chip shop. Their menu was massive, with all the favorites plus a wide variety of burgers.
Day 2
One of the most popular things to do in the Coromandel is to visit Hot Water Beach. So first up on day 2 of this Coromandel itinerary is grabbing a shovel and driving just over an hour towards Whenuakite.
Turn off the highway onto Hot Water Beach Rd and at the end, there’s a big car park right at the beach (as you get closer it is very well signed).
Hot Water Beach is famous because in certain areas of the beach you can dig into the sand and the water will be steaming hot! It’s like your very own jacuzzi.
While this is an accurate description of the beach, what’s not usually mentioned is how small the ‘hot water’ area is, and being such a popular attraction, it was super busy. There would have been about 100 people all in a small area of the beach.
The hot water can be found 200m up the beach from the car park, in front of a large rock. Although, the exact spot is a bit of a guessing game. I was digging right next to someone else’s steamy hot hole and the water in mine was cold.
Here are a few things to note when visiting Hot Water Beach;
Visit within two hours on either side of low tide.
Parking at the beach costs $4 an hour.
There’s a cafe & bathroom facilities at the beach.
Bring your own shovel or you can hire one for $10
I definitely enjoyed this beach as it was such a unique experience. But it’s one of those tourist traps, it’s very busy and the area for hot water is only about a 20-meter radius.
Depending on the tide times you should be done here by lunchtime, (I would recommend taking a packed lunch or getting take-away to save time), then it’s only a 15-minute drive to Hahei beach.
Drive to the end of Hahei Beach Rd and park your car!
Unfortunately, there aren’t enough hours in the day to do everything so it’s decision time.
Cathedral Cove or Whangamata?
Hahei Beach is the beginning of the walking trail to Cathedral Cove, which is one of the most popular beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula. There’re a few options for getting to Cathedral Cove but all take time (I’ll add more details below).
If you choose to spend the afternoon there I have no doubt you’ll have an amazing time. But this option won’t give you enough time to continue driving south along the coast and stop at a town called Whangamata. And, Whangamata is a 1-hours drive away.
Whangamata is a very popular town with holidaymakers. Some of the things to do are explore the local shops, enjoy the main beach, and even kayak to the nearby donut island. And, also Wentworth Falls are only a 15-minute drive from town.
[I will add though that if you’re visiting in summer it won’t get dark until around 9 pm, so then it may be possible to do both].
Whether you choose to spend the afternoon at Cathedral Cove or Whangamata, either way, you will have time to spend at Hahei Beach beforehand.
Hahei Beach is absolutely beautiful, another example of why the Coromandel’s are so popular. This beach is massive and the offshore islands offer protection, making the conditions perfect for swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking.
We made the most of our day and didn’t begin driving back to Auckland until the late afternoon. The perfect place to stop for dinner was the Thames. After passing the Thames you will only be driving along quiet country roads before getting onto the State Hwy northbound. The Thames has a number of takeaway restaurants and petrol stations.
Break Down of The Best Things to do in Coromandel
For anyone who loves the outdoors and if the weather forecast is in your favor, there are endless Coromandel attractions. As I mentioned above 2 days really isn’t long enough to see everything but it’s definitely still worth it. This is such a beautiful part of New Zealand and the bonus is, it’s an easy drive from Auckland.
Along with the itinerary I wanted to list many of the awesome things to do in the Coromandel area, these are based on my own personal experiences and recommendations from locals.
Kayak or SUP to Donuts Island
These tours start from Whangamata Beach and due to the distance between the beach and Donut Island (600m), these trips are for two hours.
There is the option to book a guided tour or hire the SUP or Kayak and go on a self-guided trip.
Donut Island is open at the top and it’s possible to go inside donut Island, you just can’t walk on the land as Donut Island is a wildlife sanctuary.
The Waterworks
The Waterworks is an inland Coromandel attraction that would be perfect for anyone traveling with kids. It’s built on an old farm and has heaps of unique attractions mostly made from recycled materials and powered by water.
During the winter months The Waterworks has restricted opening hours, click here to check their website.
Driving Creek Railway
Driving Creek Railway is another of the most popular things to do in the Coromandel. It’s a narrow-gauge mountain railway and this scenic train journey goes through the forest and around mountains.
The railway starts close to Coromandel Town, and is a guided 1-hour tour, the prices are between $13-$35.
Free things to do in Coromandel
Explore Port Jackson
When we first arrived in the Coromandel a local had recommended driving further up the Peninsula to Port Jackson. It, unfortunately, wasn’t ideal for us as we were only in town for a few days and didn’t really have the right vehicle for it.
The drive to Port Jackson from Coromandel Town is 54km and the majority of the road is unpaved. I have read that this is one of the most scenic drives in New Zealand but not recommended for inexperienced drivers. The road runs very closeby to the ocean and at times there are steep drops offs.
People visit Port Jackson for the stunning (and quieter) beaches, hikes, swimming, snorkeling & kayaking opportunities. And, there’s a campground on the beach as well.
Wharekirauponga Track
The Wharekirauponga Track is perfect for hikers or those after an easy walk and a swim. The map’s address is 157 Parakiwai Quarry Rd and at the end of this street there is a small area to park.
There are two hikes that start from this spot;
Royal Standard Battery 5km
Wharekirauponga Walking Track 11km.
If you aren’t interested in walking too far, only 5 minutes up the trail is a stunning swimming hole that also has a cliff that can be jumped off into a deep part of the pool.
Hiking
The scenery all over the Coromandel Peninsula is absolutely beautiful, a fun way to explore more than just the beach is by hiking. There are many safe and scenic hikes to be done while in the Coromandel, I’ll list a few of the highly recommended hikes.
Kauaeranga Kauri Trail (Pinnacles Walk)
Waiau Falls Walk (this trail is super short but leads to waterfalls)
Kaipawa Trig from Whangapoua Rd.
Kauri Block Track.
Best Beaches in Coromandel
Hot Water Beach
Although it’s a bit of a tourist trap I would still recommend Hot Water Beach as one of the things you should do while visiting the Coromandel. (If you missed it, scroll back up to day 2 of the Coromandel itinerary for more details on Hot Water Beach).
Whangapoua Beach
Whangapoua Beach is in a small town with the same name & is a 30-minute drive from Coromandel Town. To access the beach you can park along Tangiora Ave or Mangakahia Rd, and you’ll be right at the beach.
This beach is reasonably protected so a great place for swimming.
New Chum Beach
Being one of New Zealand’s most beautiful beaches this is definitely a must-do while in the Coromandel.
The walk to New Chum Beach starts at Whangapoua Beach. You’ll park your car at the end of Mangakahia Rd and walk from here.
Start walking to the far left (north) of Whangapoua Beach, pass over the shallow stream and continue walking over the rocks along the side of the beach. Eventually, you will see a narrow path into the forest, follow along and soon you’ll hear the crashing waves of New Chum Beach.
Before reaching the beach you can also scramble further up the hill and eventually reach a viewpoint. Here you will get epic views of the whole beach.
This walk is best done during low tide, definitely don’t go barefoot and it’ll take you about 30 – 45 minutes one way.
Hahei Main Beach
This is another of the best beaches on the Coromandel Peninsula. Hahei Beach is protected by the many offshore islands, and it’s perfect for swimming, kayaking, snorkeling & sun baking.
My favorite part of the beach was to the far left, as this area is close to the cliffs surrounding the beach, making for awesome photos and less foot traffic.
There is a car park right at the beach and to get there drive to the end of Hahei Beach Road.
Cathedral Cove
Cathedral Cove is one of the most insta-worthy places in all of the Coromandel’s but it’s not the easiest to get there. I would recommend having at least half a day free, this will give you plenty of time to get there & back and also enjoy time at the beach.
The part that makes this beach so popular is the massive rocks that have formed an arch, leading to a pristine bay.
There are three options for getting to the beach and which one you choose will depend on time and budget.
How To Get To Cathedral Cove;
The first option is to walk from Hahei Beach, the track starts to the north of the beach, right next to the car park. This is the longest way to get there but also the free one.
Follow the Cathedral Cove Walkway, up and down hills along the coast, also passing Gemstone Bay & Stingray Beach. This walk will take approximately 1 hour & 15 mins one way.
Then the second option is to park in town (this is paid parking and clearly signed), and from there a shuttle bus will drive you to the end of Grange Rd. This will shave off about 45 minutes of the walk.
Lastly, there is a Cathedral Cover Water Taxi, that leaves from Hahei beach and only takes about 10 minutes. But in my opinion, it’s so expensive, $20 each way for an adult & $15 each way for a child (2-14 years).
Whangamata Beach
Whangamata Beach is a 6km stretch of beach and would be perfect for an early morning walk, especially during sunrise. From the beach, you also get amazing views of the nearby islands, particularly Donut Island.
This is also considered one of the best surf destinations in New Zealand.
Other Things to do in The Coromandel
About The Coromandel Peninsula
The Coromandel peninsula is relatively unknown to international tourists traveling to New Zealand and sorry locals, but I want to tell everyone how awesome it is. The beaches here are like no other in NZ and the laid-back vibe can’t be beaten.
The best time to visit the Coromandels is in the summer months, but even as late as April the weather can be good.
During the Christmas school holidays (late December through January) it will be super busy in every town. The suggested Coromandel itinerary would still be awesome but the beaches definitely won’t be quiet and accommodation would need to be booked far in advanced to be able to secure the best options.
Where to Stay in Coromandel
Many of the Coromandel attractions are very spread out over the peninsula so there isn’t one particular area that would be the perfect place to base yourself in. But these are three towns that would be great options for travelers.
Coromandel Town
Whitianga
Whangamata
We stayed at Top 10 Holiday Park at Shelley Beach, which is just outside of Coromandel Town. These parks are one of the beat places to stay in Coromandel, particularly for families, budget travelers, and campers.
Or, another great type of accommodation in the Coromandels is a holiday home rental. These obviously give you heaps more space and the option to cook your own food.
The best holiday homes can be found at Vrbo.
I hope this guide has put a road trip to the Coromandel Peninsula on your radar for this summer. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
Thanks for reading,
Happy Travels
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Elyse is the author & content creator behind A World To Live. After traveling to over 40 countries, she has a passion for discovering new places. Elyse is a money-conscious traveller who loves writing independent travel guides to help her readers get the most out of their travels.
I love all of the beaches! Incredible that the water is so clear at New Chum beach that you can see stingrays. What a unique experience.
I love the layout of the itinerary. It’s so helpful in planning a trip. Thank you for sharing this. Saving for later!
Sign me up! I want to go to Coromandels NZ! Hitting the beach and even driving just to get there sounds amazing!
Okay that’s SO many beach options I feel like this itinerary could serve any type of traveler, to the beach bum or the adventure junkie!
oh I’m so glad, thank you so much for your comment Amanda
Woooza what an incredible area! We were so excited to get to the volcanoes and mountains that we skipped this part of NZ when we visited – what a rookie error – the coastline looks beeeeautiful!
haha, a lot of people do Josy. The coastline really is stunning
This definitely looks like my type of trip! And yes, i totally get what you mean. Some things are just straight out tourist traps but I can’t imagine skipping it even so. 😅
Wow, is there a lot to do in two days. I would want to relax at the beach, go for a hike, and check out the hot beach!