12 AMAZING Things to Do in The Coromandel, New Zealand
What a cool little corner of New Zealand! The Coromandel is a pocket of gorgeous waterfalls, stunning beaches, vistas for days, epic hikes, and more…
You could spend weeks hanging out in the area, but most of us don’t have that long.
If you’re in need of a great list of things to do in The Coromandel and only have a few days, you’re in the right place.
Below are some of the best things to do with tips to help you along on your trip. We spent a week hanging out in this lovely corner of our earth, but you can probably squeeze most of this list in a few days!
Table of Contents
- Things to Do in The Coromandel
- 1. Kayak to Donut Island/Whenuakura (My Fav Thing to Do in The Coromandel)
- 2. Wentworth Valley Waterfall Hike
- 3. Hike Up Mount Paku
- 4. Sunsets and Surf at Whangamata Beach (Popular Thing to Do in The Coromandel)
- 5. Cooks Beach
- 6. Cathedral Cove
- 7. Onemana Beach
- 8. Victoria Battery
- 9. Owharoa Falls (Another Fav Thing to Do in The Coromandel!)
- 10. Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway
- 11. Hot Water Beach
- 12. The Pinnacles
- Auckland Day Trip to The Coromandel
- Where to Stay
- More New Zealand Guides:
Things to Do in The Coromandel
Planning Your Trip NOW?
Here is the quick lowdown for your itinerary.
🗺️ Top Experiences and Tours
- Take a kayak to Donut Island
- Tackle the well-worth-it Wentworth Falls trail.
- Visit the famous Cathedral Cove by boat or on foot
- Catch a sunset or surf, or both, at Whangamata Beach
- Dig your own hot tub at Hot Water Beach
- If you’re low on time, take a day trip from Auckland.
🏨 Where to Stay
🚘 Looking for a way to get around?
See current car rental deals here | rent a camper van here
🛟 Safety
Travel insurance is a must, and it doesn’t have to cost much—Here’s what I use.
1. Kayak to Donut Island/Whenuakura (My Fav Thing to Do in The Coromandel)
This is seriously one of the top things to do in Coromandel, and it’s epic!
At first, I was unsure if we would make it out as the water and winds were a bit hectic, but we decided to take it on and head out to Donut Island.
We battled the wind and tides, making it to the entrance, then paddled through a narrow cave entrance with the waves “breathing” in and out of the inlet, crashing up on the sides.
Once you make it through, you’ll understand why this gorgeous place is called Donut Island. You’re now in a lagoon that’s completely encircled by jagged rocks that make up a donut shape.
From here, you can kayak to the nearby Hauturu Island, where you can chill on a beach without another soul around you except the odd kayaker on the same journey as you are.
Please note that Donut Island (Whenuakura) is a wildlife sanctuary, and they don’t want you to get out of your kayak while exploring the lagoon to protect any native wildlife in the area.
It only took us about an hour and 20 minutes in total, and it was one of the more memorable highlights in the area for us!
👉 BOOK IT:
2. Wentworth Valley Waterfall Hike
I didn’t think much of this hike, but I happened to be here as it’s located at a great DOC campsite where Garrett and I spent a few nights camping, so I decided I should probably do it.
I was happily surprised; this easy hike was worth it!
I walked through the lush jungle, passing some mushrooms reminiscent of Super Mario while listening to the creek below flow on, and the birds chirping. I ended up at a viewing platform for the two-tiered Wentworth Falls that was gushing.
I saw a pathway leading to the base of the waterfalls, worth the slightly hectic climb down over tree branches and slippery rocks.
The hike takes about an hour and a half and is 3 km long. Do note that there’s a 7 km-long unpaved road to get here!
3. Hike Up Mount Paku
This cute cone-shaped hill has a quick and easy trail that leads to the top.
You’ll roam through native tree-lined paths, and soon enough, you’ll reach the top to get a great vista of Tairua and Pauanui, the Coromandel ranges, and if you’re lucky, even some fantails will come out to play.
4. Sunsets and Surf at Whangamata Beach (Popular Thing to Do in The Coromandel)
We watched two nights in a row while the sun set behind surfers, but we didn’t get the chance to tackle the waves ourselves.
Unfortunately, the nights we were here, the water was a bit messy, which would have made for a challenging surf for us (we are not that good!). But hey, at least the sunsets were epic!
If you don’t know how to surf, taking a lesson here would be so much fun.
👉 BOOK IT:
5. Cooks Beach
Set on Mercury Bay and known for being where Captain Cook anchored back in 1769. The Purangi Estuary is to the east and Shakespeare Cliff to the west.
Cooks Beach is sitting pretty in between, glinting in the sun and lapsing its chilly, beautiful blue water on a sandy shore.
Hanging out on the beach and doing nothing all day is acceptable, but the views from the quick and easy Shakespeare Cliff walk to get that bird’s eye view are undoubtedly worth it as well.
6. Cathedral Cove
This is probably the most popular thing to do in The Coromandel. Everyone knows this picture, everyone wants to visit, and it’s the gem of the area.
You take a boat or hike the trails to get a stunning view of Cathedral Cove, along with swim and snorkel spots and other coves to check out!
However, there are a few things to know before heading out here, so I wrote a mini guide to Cathedral Cove to help you be better prepared.
If you’re low on time or don’t want to hike, you can take a boat out to Cathedral Cove instead.
👉 BOOK IT:
7. Onemana Beach
I LOVED stumbling on this random hidden find, and here’s my gift to you. This gorgeous beach takes you through a weird hike that’s mostly between a cliff’s edge and someone’s farm.
The hike is nothing to write home about; there are hardly any views, and I questioned if the beach was even going to be worth it.
Spoiler alert: It was!
Down below was a secluded little cove with pretty much nobody at it. Rocky outcrops and gentle waves lapping on the shore, and that’s about it. You can chill here for a while and probably see more birds than people. You’re welcome.
8. Victoria Battery
I love me some weird, and Victoria Battery was precisely that! Here’s an old gold mine facility used to crush gold-bearing quartz, along with some abandoned arsenic barrels. It’s a quick stopover as it’s right off the road.
It’s a cool way to stretch those legs for a second while reading some of the info boards in the area.
Even though it was raining, I still wanted to check it out. Garrett stayed in the car, and luckily so, because he reported some super sketchy individuals who rode up on our car, not knowing he was in it, and started peeking inside! Creepy. Be careful at this spot!
9. Owharoa Falls (Another Fav Thing to Do in The Coromandel!)
Two minutes from the road, you’d be crazy to miss this spot!
Just take a peek, even in the rain as I did, and you’ll be happy you did. It’s a gorgeous “dribbling” waterfall, as I like to call it. Look at the picture and just put it on your list, promise it’s good!
10. Karangahake Gorge Historic Walkway
From the parking lot, you have access to a few cool walks like the Talisman Battery, The Windows, Crown Tramway Track, and a few viewpoints along the way. Bring a headlamp if you want to do the entire walk, as it enters old gold mining tunnels.
From the Windows hike, you can get a view over the Gorge, which is quite nice, and you’ll see some remnants of the tracks and machinery. While in the tunnel, look closely, you may be able to spot a few glowworms!
Depending on the hikes you do in the area, you can spend an hour or two or half a day here.
RELATED: Things To Do in Northland, New Zealand.
11. Hot Water Beach
I think I’d be in some hot water if I didn’t mention this spot, right?
Hot Water Beach promises a cool experience where you can dig a hole in the beach and make your own hot water pool right there! They even rent shovels on the beach to assist you in digging.
But it’s a bit touristy, and you can only dig up the holes at low tide (or just before/after). This makes the window for this activity very slim and even busier.
People say you sometimes have to be a bit lucky to find a good spot with warm water, and after visiting all the amazing hot pools in Rotorua, I skipped the digging!
12. The Pinnacles
Something we desperately tried to do while in The Coromandel was hike The Pinnacles. Unfortunately, there are A LOT of rocks to get to the actual pinnacles, and it wouldn’t stop raining while here (don’t go in the rain!).
A two-hour drive from Auckland, the Pinnacles hike takes around 8 hours. You’ll begin on flat gravel until you reach steps that have been carved into the rocks by 1920s Kauri tree loggers. You’ll definitely get a workout climbing up these!
You can rest at the DOC hut, either for a quick stop or overnight, with accommodations available for up to 80 people (but you must pre-book!). The benefit of this is that you can see an incredible sunrise at the top. Just note that everything is BYO, from bedding to cooking utensils.
The final stretch to the summit involves plenty of stairs and metal ladders hooked into the rocks. You’ll be rewarded with 360-degree views of the Coromandel Peninsula and a great sense of achievement.
Auckland Day Trip to The Coromandel
Low on time? If you’re coming to Auckland, take a day trip out here to explore the best of the Coromandel in a day. You’ll squeeze in the top highlights: Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove!
👉 BOOK IT:
Where to Stay
Funny enough, you don’t necessarily want to base yourself in the town of Coromandel, but rather a bit more east, as that’s where most of the things to do are. So keep that in mind when booking a spot!
👉 Best Accommodation Options
What would you add to my list of things to do in The Coromandel? What are you most looking forward to seeing? Let us know in the comments!
More New Zealand Guides:
- Work & Travel New Zealand: Get a Working Holiday Visa for New Zealand
- A 5-Day Queenstown Itinerary For the Intrepid
- New Zealand Road Trip Itinerary—2 Weeks to 2 Months
- 20+ Day New Zealand South Island Road Trip Itinerary
- 50+ of the Best Hikes in New Zealand & Hiking Tips
- Campervan Sites in New Zealand + Camping and Food Tips
- Campervanning New Zealand: Buying, Selling, Renovating, and Tips
- New Zealand Travel Tips + A Budget Breakdown
- A Guide to Hiking The Kepler Track in Fiordland National Park
- 5 Epic Hikes in Mount Cook National Park That Are TOTALLY Worth It
- A Guide to Hiking French Ridge Hut in Aspiring National Park
- A Guide to Hiking the Mueller Hut Track & What to Pack
- Hooker Valley Track: The Easiest & Most Beautiful Hike in Mount Cook NP
- Guide to the Routeburn Track: Should You Do It as a Day Hike?
- 5 Things to Know about Milford Sound, How to See It and Is It Worth It?
- Hiking Roy’s Peak & How to NOT to Wait in Line For A Pic
- An Adventurer’s Guide to Exploring Lake Tekapo, New Zealand
- 4 Easy But Beautiful Walks Around Dunedin, New Zealand
- 11 Things to Do in The Catlins in 2 Days
- A Guide to Exploring The Cave Stream Scenic Reserve
