Things to Do in Coromandel

• Thames
  The region's largest town and a former goldrush centre offering historic buildings, museums and guided tours through a gold stamper battery. The Thames School of Mines and Museum features goldmining artefacts and a mineralogical museum.
• Kauaeranga Valley
  A bushclad valley near Thames, with hiking tracks and historic kauri dams. There is a three-hour walk to the 80-bed Pinnacles Hut and the restored Dancing Camp Dam.
• Coromandel Township
  A village known for its vibrant arts and crafts and goldmining history, including a historic gold stamper battery. New Zealand's only narrow gauge railway travels through regenerating kauri forest.
• Hahei
  The seaside centre of Hahei on the east coast offers surfcasting, swimming and boating.
• Hahei Marine Reserve
  Incorporates islands, reefs and sea caves, and beautiful Cathedral Cove, with its landmark rock arch.
• Hot Water Beach
  Hot springs bubble up through the sand two hours either side of low tide, allowing visitors to dig their own private spa pool.
• Tairua and Pauanui
  Twin harbour towns on the Coromandel's east coast, known for their beautiful surfing and swimming beaches.
• Mercury Bay
  An area accessing a string of fine, white sand beaches, with deep sea fishing and diving around the Mercury Islands.
• New Chums Beach
  North of Mercury Bay, a 30-minute walk along the rocky foreshore at Whangapoua leads to this isolated beach, considered to be one of the Coromandel's most beautiful.
• Whangamata
  One of the Coromandel's most popular seaside resorts with excellent swimming and surfing.
• Whitianga
  Mercury Bay's main centre is popular for big game fishing and watersports during the summer months, and known for its lively retail centre and adjacent marina.
• Coromandel Forest Park
  The park encompasses the heavily forested centre of the Peninsula and the Coromandel and Moehau Ranges, offering numerous hikes and walks.
• Karangahake Gorge
  A dramatic gorge carved out by the Ohinemuri River, and stretching from Waihi to Paeroa. A historic walkway follows the disused railway line and takes in old goldmining sites.
• Road 309
  One of New Zealand's most scenic roads, the famous 309 road crosses from the west to east coast. Sights en route include the 2-hour return Castle Rock walk, the easily accessible 309 Kauri and the Waiau Falls.
• Cape Colville Farm Park
  A 2400ha reserve at the northern end of the peninsula, preserving an area of natural beauty.
• Rapaura Watergardens
  These beautiful watergardens have 14 ponds, a cascading waterfall and a bushwalk.
• Coastal Walkway Tour
  A 3hr walk leading from Fletcher Bay to Stony Bay on the east coast, and offering dramatic views of the Coromandel Peninsula.