Plan Your Trip

Major towns throughout Hauraki Coromandel have supermarkets, fuel stations and essential services, but facilities become less frequent in more remote areas. While most communities have at least a convenience store and petrol station, if you're planning to explore the area or travel longer distances, we recommend filling up with fuel and purchasing supplies as you can. 

Yes, definitely. Spades are available for hire at multiple locations at Hot Water Beach, including Hotties Cafe, Hot Water Beach Cafe, Moko ArtSpace and the Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park.

As long as you can! Hauraki Coromandel is expansive, with diverse landscapes, towns and experiences spread across the region. While a day trip allows you to experience one or two highlights, we recommend staying at least two nights to give yourself time to explore without feeling rushed.

Allow time for driving between destinations, as journeys can take longer than expected on our winding coastal and rural roads. Some of the region’s most memorable experiences are also tide-dependent, including walking to Cathedral Cove and digging a spa at Hot Water Beach, so a little flexibility in your itinerary means you can plan around the tides and make the most of your visit.

Stay longer and you’ll have even more time to slow down and explore beyond the well-known highlights.

That depends on what you want to see. Thames, Paeroa or the Karangahake Gorge are just 90 minutes from Auckland by car, and a day trip would give plenty of time to soak up the local food, activities, and heritage of these towns. It's about 2 and a half hours drive to Coromandel Town or Cathedral Cove from Auckland, so many people prefer to stay at least overnight. 

If you’re visiting from Auckland for the day, factor in the travel time to and around Hauraki Coromandel, as many of our roads are winding and coastal. With several experiences, including Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, dependent on the tides, it’s important to check timings before you set off and plan your day around what you most want to see and do. For this reason, staying at least two nights is recommended if you want to experience more than one part of the region without spending your visit in the car.

Mobile coverage is generally good in towns and along the main highways, but reception can be limited or unavailable in some remote coastal areas, forested valleys and backcountry tracks.

There is little cellphone coverage across sections of SH25a and sometimes the reception at Hot Water Beach can be patchy, depending on your provider.

If you're heading off the beaten path, it's a good idea to download maps and trails beforehand and let someone know your travel plans.

1. Cathedral Cove
2. Hot Water Beach
3. Coromandel Coastal Walkway
4. Whenuakura Wildlife Sanctuary
5. New Chum Beach
6. The Pinnacles
7. Shorebird Coast
8. Hauraki Rail Trail
9. Karangahake Gorge

These are the must-do experiences for visitors in the region. Naturally, there are endless others that have been left off this list (it would be too long!). See here for lists of must-do activities depending on the time of your visit, where you are in our region, and what interests you most.

Pick a starting point and go! The Coromandel Loop starts where you choose but connects to the whole region through Thames, Coromandel Town, Whitianga, Tairua, Pāuanui, Whangamatā, Waihī, Paeroa and the Shorebird Coast. Depending on your interests and duration, we have a range of suggested itineraries available. The combinations are endless.

‘Hauraki Coromandel’ is the name of the region, which is made up of several towns within the Thames-Coromandel and Hauraki Districts. The area used to be refereed to as 'The Coromandel' up until 2025, when the transition commenced to Hauraki Coromandel.

'Coromandel Peninsula’ is the name of the peninsula.

Coromandel, also known as Coromandel Town, is on the north-western coast of the Coromandel Peninsula.

Note: Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach are located on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula, not in Coromandel Town.

Hauraki Coromandel enjoys a mild, subtropical climate, with summer temperatures typically reaching 24–31°C and winter temperatures averaging 12–14°C. Conditions can vary across the region, so it’s a good idea to check the latest weather and tides before you travel, or discover the best time to visit Hauraki Coromandel.

With just one day, choose a small area rather than trying to see the entire region. Popular options include Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, cycling part of the Hauraki Rail Trail, meander the Karangahake Gorge, hike the Pinnacles or explore Whenuakura Wildlife Sanctuary. You'll enjoy your visit much more by slowing down and making time to experience the local atmosphere. See short break itineraries or themed itineraries for more suggestions.