What to Do in Pauanui and Tairua
Escape to one of the local’s favourite holiday hot spots at Tairua and Pauanui on the Coromandel Peninsula! These two coastal towns separated by a harbour are excellent bases to explore the east coast of the Coromandel. Stay on land and experience the beautiful beaches or mountain climbs for stunning vistas, or join a local charter out to Slipper, Shoe and Aldermen Islands for fishing and scuba diving. Otherwise, the towns are just another wonderful place to relax in the Coromandel.
Get more inspiration in our 10 Coromandel Beaches You Can’t Miss, as well as, 15 Coromandel Must-Dos.
1. Climb Up Mt Paku
Get your bearings on a not too demanding walk (except for the last 10-15m/33-49ft) up Mt Paku. This mountain peering over Tairua rewards those who climb it with 360-degree views along the coast of the Coromandel. For more walks in the area, check out 16 Awesome Hikes in The Coromandel.
Location: Tirinui Crescent, Tairua
© Joshua Eckert on Flickr2. Get Some Beach Time at Pauanui or Tairua Beach
However you like to spend your beach time, you’ll be able to enjoy it at either Pauanui Bech or Tairua Beach. Tairua Beach has coarse sand and is popular with experienced surfers. Pauanui Beach is the calmer beach of the two, popular with sunbathers, walkers and some more friendlier surf breaks.
Location: Pauanui Beach & Tairua Beach
© daspunkt on Flickr3. Walk the Tangatarori Lane Boardwalk
Walk along the wetlands in a special ecosystem on the Tangatarori Lane Boardwalk. Spot an abundance of birds on this walk of the Tairua Harbour starting from Pauanui. The walk starts on a grassy reserve until turning into a boardwalk to lead to Tangitarori Lane. The track is still being worked on to eventually connect Pauanui and Tairua. Until then, just enough the current 5km (3 miles) of the track taking around 1 hour to complete.
Location: Waterways Parade, Pauanui
© Nz nature lover on Wikipedia4. Climb Mt Pauanui
To get a birds-eye-view of Pauanui, take a couple of hours to tackle the Pauanui Trig Walk to the top of Mt Pauanui. From beaches to coves, it will lead you to a great lookout after passing through a coastal forest. Take a picnic with you so you can stop by Cave Bay, located about 45 minutes into the walk.
Location: Pauanui Beach Road, Pauanui
© Melanie Gibb on Flickr5. Play Golf or Mini Golf
Get stuck into New Zealand’s most popular sport with the highest participation rate: golf! Pauanui gives you plenty of chances to putt with two 9-hole golf courses and a mini-golf course at the Pauanui Club and an international 18-hole course at the Lakes Resort. You might also be interested in the 21 Best Golf Courses in New Zealand.
Location: Lakes Resort Golf – 100 Augusta Drive, Pauanui Golf Club – Britten Place.
© PexelsMore Things to Do Near Tairua & Pauanui
- 10 Features That Make The Coromandel Unique
- 10 Best Things to Do in the Coromandel
- The Complete Guide to the Coromandel
That’s it for the best things to do in Tairua and Pauanui. Find more activities for your travels in the 51 Best Things to Do on the North Island.
Sources:
The information in this guide has been compiled from our extensive research, travel and experiences across New Zealand and the South Pacific, accumulated over more than a decade of numerous visits to each destination. Additional sources for this guide include the following:
- Tourism New Zealand (General travel advice - Updated [2024])
- Department of Conservation (Tracks, hikes, campsites and more - Updated [2024])
- AdventureSmart (Know before you go - Update [2024])
- Tiaki Promise (Care for people place and culture - Updated [2024])
- NZ Māori Tourism (Official Māori Tourism platform - Updated [2024])
- Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (Road and transport tips - Updated [2024])
- DriveSafe (Road safety - Updated [2024])
- Council websites and freedom camping maps (Local travel advice region by region - Updated [2024])
- Safe Travel (NZ travel advisories - Updated [2024])
- Tourism Export Council New Zealand (Tourism trade association - Updated [2024])
- TIA (Independent tourism association - Updated [2024])
- The Coromandel (Regional tourism website)
- Thames-Coromandel District Council (Local council website)
Our editorial standards: At NZ Pocket Guide, we uphold strict editorial standards to ensure accurate and quality content.
