The Foodie Guide to the Coromandel

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Food Experiences in the Coromandel

With wineries and artisans across the region, a self-guided foodie tour of the Coromandel is easy. Some noteworthy places to add to your itinerary include:

Omahu Valley Citrus (146 Omahu Valley Road, RD 4, Paeroa) – Pop into this artisan, producing citrus products from marmalades to chutneys and more. Visit by making an appointment.

Cheese Barn (4 Wainui Road, Matatoki) – Sample locally-made blue, mozzarella, camembert, Dutch gouda and more!

The Coromandel Oyster Co. (1611 Manaia Road, Manaia) – Try oysters fresh from the farm in half or whole shells.

Hereford ‘n’ A Pickle (2318 Colville Road, Colville) – Try homemade chutneys, jams, honey, sauces and sausages at this cafe, all produced on a local family farm.

Wilderland (RD1/2486 Tairua Whitianga Road, Kaimarama) – Buy home-made, home-grown, certified-organic products, including honey, jams, chutneys, and cider vinegar made from a self-sufficient community of people running an organic farm.

Cathedral Cove Macadamias (335 Lees Road, Hahei) – Go on a self-guided tour here to sample a range of products including macadamia oils, dukkah, crumb macadamias, chocolate macadamias, spreads and honey.

Mercury Bay Estate (761 Purangi Road, Cooks Beach) – A cellar door with wine tasting straight from the winery, as well as antipasto platters and wood-fired pizzas.

Purangi Estate (501 Purangi Road, Cooks Beach) – A relaxed and rustic winery experience producing a few other surprises, like their Feijoa Cider.

Hot Water Brewing Co. (1043 Tairua Whitianga Road, Whitianga) – Try their famous canned craft beers!

For more ways to experience these artisans, check out the 7 Things to Do in the Coromandel for Foodies.

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The Best Restaurants in the Coromandel

You won’t have too much trouble finding some awesome places to try the local cuisine in the Coromandel. The Coromandel is a place to indulge in local seafood year-round, as well as sip on local coffees and enjoy fine dining and more.

For cafe experiences, try The Wharf Coffee House (Shortland Wharf at Queen Street, Thames) for their fresh fish and chips and affordable lunches. The Castle Rock Cafe (Whangapoua Road, Whangapoua) is a country-style cafe where the bread is homemade and they also sell their own products made from New Zealand chillis. And in Tairua, don’t miss The Old Mill Cafe (1 The Esplanade) offering hearty breakfasts and a seasonal dinner menu with live music occasionally.

The Coromandel is the place to try fresh New Zealand seafood, particularly at eateries like The Pepper Tree Restaurant (31 Kapanga Road, Coromandel Town) focussing on oysters, mussels and organic local produce. In Whitianga, Blackbeard’s Smokehouse (18 Carina Way) also serves up mussels that are harvested, marinated and smoked in the Coromandel, while Salt Restaurant (Blacksmith Lane) serves the likes of Coromandel green-lipped mussels and oysters along with the Maori dish, Te Ika Mata (raw fish) and Tuna Ahi Poke.

A few others worth mentioning include TheLimeRoom (100 Augusta Drive, Pauanui), which is a 100% gluten-free restaurant. The Miha Restaurant (42 Mount Avenue) is a fine dining restaurant in Pauanui serving Pacific Rim cuisine with a European twist.

For more recommendations, check out more fine dining in The Luxury Guide to the Coromandel, romantic restaurants in The Honeymoon Guide to the Coromandel and cheap eats in The Guide to the Coromandel on a Budget.

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Alternative Things to Do

Believe it or not, there’s more to the Coromandel than food. There’s a whole array of adventures to be had along the stunning coasts and beaches to the inland bushwalks. A few ideas include:

• Hike to the top of The Pinnacles
• Walk, kayak or cruise to Cathedral Cove
• Dig a hot pool at Hot Water Beach
• Explore Karangahake Gorge
• See the wildlife at the Miranda Shorebird Centre
• Relax on New Chums Beach
• See the kauri trees at the Long Bay Reserve
• See the waterfall in the Wentworth Valley
• Ride the waves at Waihi Beach.

For elaboration on each activity and more, check out the 15 Coromandel Must-Dos.