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Travel

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Marie Stone

Marie reports here on our blog about travel, adventure and weddings.

Marie Stone Author

Experience the Coromandel Peninsula

The beautiful Coromandel Peninsula has a variety of natural attractions and activities. You can dig your own natural hot spring in the sand, walk through ancient rainforest or jump aboard a chartered boat cruise. The Coromandel region is a collection of sheltered bays with forest-lined golden beaches and rocky outcrops. The beaches provide safe swimming, fishing and excellent coastal walks.  Hire a bus from Tauranga, Hamilton or Auckland for a quick trip to the Coromandel.

The Coromandel Peninsula is home to a thriving art and crafts community who welcome you into their studios and galleries. There are often art exhibitions and market days to visit which showcase the local talent. The towns that make up the Coromandel Peninsula include Whitianga, Tairua, Pauanui, Coromandel, Whangamata and many other inland settlements, each with their own identity. As a result, the best places to stay on the Coromandel peninsula are retaining the same coastal ambience for which the Coromandel area is known for.

Attractions and activities in the Coromandel Peninsula include sea kayaking, sailing, fishing, diving, horse riding and tramping. Natural attractions include Cathedral Cove which is only accessible by boat or on foot. The Cove is part of a 9-hectare marine reserve which is home to a unique variety of marine life and rock formations. The pretty beach is sheltered and the perfect place for kayaking, swimming and beach walking. A number of scenic trails provide extensive views of both the rock formations and the ocean beyond. Another unique Coromandel Peninsula attraction is Hot Water Beach. Two hours either side of low tide you can dig your own private spa pool in the sand and admire the view. An underground river provides an endless supply of hot bubbling water to the beach which is rejuvenated to its original state by the ebb and flow of the tide.

The Coromandel Peninsula has some magnificent stands of ancient Kauri trees which can be viewed from a choice of walks ranging in length from 20 minutes to 2.5 hours. Hire a bus to enjoy all of these attractions.

In the unlikely event that you run out of activities in the Coromandel, you can always travel down to Tauranga to get more of the city life, or travel further to Whakatane.