The Budget & Backpacking Guide to the Coromandel

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The Top Free Activities in the Coromandel

There are so many free natural attractions to see around the Coromandel Peninsula that the only thing you need to save up for is fuel. Let’s dive into some of the top free attractions!

Cathedral Cove Walk

First, we know it’s on your list anyway, so let’s get to it and mention Cathedral Cove. The stunning white cliffs and coastal arches are a picture-perfect reason to visit. The free way to visit the cove is via the Cathedral Cove Walk, which starts at the end of Grange Road near Hahei. Note that parking is not permitted here, so you will need to park at the paid car park at Cathedral Cove Adventures (150 Lees Road).

Waiau Falls and Kauri Grove

Moving onto some free things to do in the Coromandel that you might not have heard of, we fully recommend a walk in some of the Coromandel’s amazing kauri forests. An excellent option are the walks to Waiau Falls and the Kauri Grove Lookout Walk. Both are situated on the 309 Road between Coromandel Town and Whitianga – an activity in itself. 7 km (4 mi) along the 309 Road is a super short walk to the picturesque swimming hole, Waiau Falls. A further 1 km (0.6 mi) up the road is the Kauri Grove Lookout Walk, which is a 30-minute return stroll to a magnificent stand of mature kauri trees, which are the largest types of trees in New Zealand.

Coromandel Beaches

Finally, a must on the Coromandel is some beach-hopping. There is no lack of beaches in the Coromandel so just take your pick from the 10 Coromandel Beaches You Can’t Miss.

For more ideas, head to the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in the Coromandel.

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The Top Cheap Activities in the Coromandel

Only costing you a little extra to visit, these cheap activities in the Coromandel are well worth adding to the itinerary.

Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre

On your way to the Coromandel from Auckland, don’t miss the Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre. At the Shorebird Centre, learn about the amazing wading and shorebirds that have their habitat here. Then head to the Robert Finlay Reserve to see the birds for yourself, particularly thousands of wrybills which are unique to New Zealand. Entry to the Shorebird Centre and Reserve is free but a donation is welcome to fund conservation efforts.

Hot Water Beach

Also on your bucket list has to be Hot Water Beach. While it’s free to visit the beach and dig your own hot pool in the sand at low tide, we recommend doing this activity with a spade. And while most of us don’t travel with a spade, you’ll need to hire one from either the local store or the Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park. Spade hire is around NZ$5. The main car park is along Pye Place, just south of Hahei. The digging spot is in front of the rocky outcrop on the beach, only accessible at low tide.

Mercury Bay Museum

And what budget road trip is not complete without an obligatory trip to the museum? Don’t worry; you’ll still get your fix of knowledge at the Mercury Bay Museum in Whitianga. Admission is only around NZ$13 for adults and free for children, where you can learn about the early Māori navigator, Kupe, see Māori artefacts, learn about kauri timber and gum and much more.

And there’s a lot more where that came from! Just check out the 10 Free & Cheap Things to Do in the Coromandel.

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Cheap Eats in the Coromandel

Complete your Coromandel experience with some classic Kiwi food. Being a coastal region, it’s one of the best places in New Zealand to try the Kiwi favourite, fish and chips. You’ll also find a good selection of bakeries selling more Kiwi icons, such as savoury pies and gourmet burgers.

A few favourites for fish and chips include Central Seafoods Fish and Chips (530 Pollen Street, Thames), Snapper Jack’s (26 Albert Street, Whitianga) and Coromandel Takeaway (124 Wharf Road, Coromandel Town). A word of warning: watch out for seagulls. They are cunning and will try really hard to steal your chips.

A popular little café with good food, great prices and an even greater waterfront view, The Wharf Coffee House and Bar (Queen Street Shortland Wharf) is well worth stopping for lunch or a coffee break in Thames.

If you want to taste a savoury pie, a couple of excellent options include the Bay Bakery (32 Monk Street, Whitianga) and Coro Pies (41 Wharf Road, Coromandel Town).

For more food recommendations, head to The Food Guide to the Coromandel.

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More About Thames

What was once a thriving town in the gold rush era, Thames is now the ideal base for backpackers wanting to explore the Kauaeranga Valley (see below), just 10 minutes outside of the town.

Along the Thames Coast are a number of safe swimming beaches lined with pohutukawa trees, the New Zealand Christmas tree, which blossoms red flowers during summer. Why not have a BBQ on the beach? Free gas BBQs are at Kuranui Bay and Waiomu Beach.

Educate yourself on the area by visiting the Thames Museum Te Whare Taonga o te Kauaeranga (Cochrane Street), Thames School of Mines (705 Queen Street), and the Society of Arts Gallery (Old North School 604 Tararu Road).

If you have a car while in Thames, cheese lovers will die with excitement at The Cheese Barn (4 Wainui Road, Matatoki) along the Thames-Paeroa Highway.

For more inspiration, see the 10 Best Things to Do in Thames.

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More About the Kauaeranga Valley

If you want to go out into the Coromandel wilderness, Kauaeranga Valley is a great place to start. There are heaps of walking tracks, from short walks to full-day hikes. The highlight for many is The Pinnacles. At 759 m (2,490 ft) high, this rock formation also has amazing views of the surrounding mountains, forests and coastline. To get there, start from the car park at Kauaeranga Road End. The hike takes about 3 hours to get to the Pinnacle Hut, and then another 40 minutes to get to The Pinnacles. Be aware that the road is gravel.

Alternatively, from Kauaeranga Road End you can take the Billygoat Circuit. Along this 4-5 hour hike, you will walk the same tracks as packhorses during the kauri logging days. The ascent gives some great views of the area, then you drop down into the basin to see rivers and Billygoat Falls.

For a short walk to see a model kauri dam nestled in native bush, start the Kahikatea Walk 20 minutes from the Kauaeranga Visitor Centre.

The most adventurous way to experience the heart of the Coromandel has to be canyoning in the Sleeping Gods Canyon with CanyoNZ. Check out more canyoning opportunities in the 10 Impressive Canyoning Locations in New Zealand.

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More About Coromandel Town

Apart from the main street covered in art galleries, other attractions of the Coromandel are walks the railway tour.

There is a ferry terminal in the town, meaning you can use the ferry to get to Auckland and back. But for those wishing to stick around in the Coromandel, take a ride on the Driving Creek Railway. This is a 1-hour mountain railway that treats you to views of the Hauraki Gulf while you go through a native kauri forest. The trip also includes access to a pottery and wildlife sanctuary.

From the Coromandel, take the 309 Road to see the Waiau Waterworks, for a crazy collection of water-powered inventions, and Waiau Kauri Grove and Waterfall. Just by the road are Waiau Falls a pretty sight and a swimming site.

See more activities in the 5 Fun Things to Do in Coromandel Town.

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More About Mercury Bay

A mix of land and sea activities can be enjoyed at Mercury Bay. The towns of Whitianga and Hahei make a good base while visiting Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach (see below).

From the towns, you can go on horse treks in amazing scenery, go on fishing charters, snorkel in the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve, dive at Mercury Islands, relax on Cooks Beach, and taste some fine beers at Hot Water Beach Brewing (1043 State Highway 25, Whitianga) and The Pour House (7 Grange Road, Hahei). Plus, check out the 10 Best Walks in Whitianga.

For a complete rundown of experiences in Mercury Bay, check out the 15 Best Things to Do in Whitianga & Hahei.

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The Must-Visit Beaches in the Coromandel

On the west side of the Coromandel peninsula is where you will find the beaches everyone talks about.

A 30-minute walk from Whangapoua will lead you to the stunning beach of New Chum. The long stretch of golden sand is lined by native forest and is often deserted, as it is not well known.

Make your next beach stop the famous Cathedral Cove featured in the Narnia trilogy. The dramatic arched rock is a token tourist photo every backpacker needs. You can swim at this beach or explore further by taking a kayaking tour. Again, parking is a little tricky here, so check out the description or the link above

When it is low tide, head to Hot Water Beach. As the name implies, you will find some hot water if you dig into the sand. Then relax in your very own natural hot pool. At night, you’re likely to see glowworms along the path to Hot Water Beach.

Whangamata not only has its own long-stretching beach, but it is the ideal base for some surfing, paddle-boarding and kayaking. Ask your paddle-board and kayaking operator about Whenuakura Donut Island – a must-visit on a low-swell day.

Find more beaches in the 10 Coromandel Beaches You Can’t Miss. For more awesome natural attractions, check out 10 Features That Make The Coromandel Unique.

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More About Karangahake Gorge and Waihi

On the way out of the Coromandel, if you are heading south, don’t miss Karangahake Gorge. The remains of gold mining railways and tunnels are situated in a beautiful gorge for you to explore. Make sure you bring a torch for the tunnels… or not if you want to challenge yourself.

On the border of the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty region is Waihi, the end of this gold-mining trail. The grand finale is a 200 m mining pit. Find out more in the 10 Wonderful Things to Do in Waihi.