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Coromandel

Explore pristine native bush and secluded beaches

The Coromandel’s dramatic and unspoiled coast, with native Pohutukawa trees on the western side and beautiful white sandy beaches on the east, offers endless opportunities for fishing, diving, boating, surfing and swimming.

Enjoy the unique experience of Hot Water Beach where, at low tide, you can dig in the sand, allowing the sulphur heated waters to rise to the top to create your very own thermal spa. Swim with dolphins, hire a kayak and explore the many off shore islands or simply let the azure water lap at your feet and marvel at the beauty of the Pacific Ocean.

The east coast has some of the North Island’s best white-sand beaches. When Auckland shuts up shop for Christmas and New Year, this is where it heads. The cutesy historic gold-mining towns on the western side escape the worst of the influx, their muddy wetlands and picturesque stony bays holding less appeal for the masses.

This coast has long been a refuge for alternative lifestylers. Down the middle, the mountains are crisscrossed with walking tracks, allowing trampers to explore large tracts of untamed bush where kauri trees once towered and are starting to do so again.