Coromandel - Itinerary - Walking Legends

A walk of untold beauty. Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Coromandel that most people never see.

DAY 1

Rotorua to Coromandel, via Matamata

We’ll collect you from your central Rotorua accommodation between 8.00am and 8:30am or from your central Matamata accommodation around 9:30am.

First we warm up with a 5km hike to the top of Wairere Falls, an old Māori pack trail leading to the North Island’s highest waterfall, where we can view the verdant Waikato Basin from two lookouts over-hanging 153 metres of thunderous waterfall.

As we continue north, enjoy views out over the mussel farms of the Hauraki Gulf from one of New Zealand’s classic coastal drives, the Coromandel West Coast. We arrive in Coromandel Town, a charming seaside settlement rich in pioneering history and a bustling wee village in the summer months. If time allows, we’ll call in at Long Bay Scenic Reserve – this little-known trail circuits a grove of magnificent 330 year old Kauri trees – New Zealand’s very own forest giants that grow up to 50 metres tall.

At last we reach our lovely, peaceful accommodation where we can watch the sunset from the verandah, graze over a platter of fresh fruits and cheese with a glass of wine or ice-cold brew.

DAY 2

The Legendary Coromandel Coastal Walkway

Enjoy a hearty breakfast in the alfresco dining area of the lodge, surrounded by native bush and birdsong.

We then head north to the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula to hike one of the best coastal walks in the country. We begin our hike at Fletcher Bay, a picture-perfect isolated beach flanked by green hills and white sand. This historic trail follows an old bridle path once used by gold miners who populated the Coromandel region in colonial times.

The views from the track of the Pacific Ocean, Great Barrier Island and Mt. Moehau are well worth the climb.

The track passes through farmland and native bush to reach the remote and beautiful Poley Bay – a fantastic beach for a picnic! This stretch of coastline offers all the dramatic views that encapsulate the Coromandel.

DAY 3

The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail: The 'Pinnacles'

This morning we head south and enter the hidden world of the Kauaeranga Valley, home to the majestic Pinnacles range. The entire length of the Coromandel Peninsula was once a chain of volcanic cones. This chain has since been eroded and weathered to form the spectacular series of outcrops you see today.

The Pinnacles trail climbs through re-generating kauri forest, passing one of NZ’s best-preserved kauri dams, eventually cresting the top of the range to reach the Pinnacles Hut. From the hut, a scramble to the top of the Pinnacles rock formation rewards you with 360° views of the entire Coromandel Peninsula and beyond.

If the Pinnacles isn’t your style and you would prefer a more relaxing day you have the option of staying in and exploring Coromandel Township. Highlights include the Driving Creek Railway, local artisan workshops, colourful cafes, and Kiwi culture.

Tonight we dine in an award-winning local restaurant, where we’ll have a chance to sample some of the region’s best local food and wine.

DAY 4

Epic East Coast

This morning we visit one of the top twenty beaches in the world, New Chums Beach. An unforgettable white sand, crescent moon-shaped beach, fringed by pohutukawa and nikau palms. Finding a secluded beach with no signs of man is an experience not to be missed! (Please note that this walk is dependent on tides)

After a restorative café pit-stop nearby, we’ll carry on around for a refreshing picnic lunch overlooking Buffalo Beach in sunny, vibrant Whitianga. Continuing around the east coast, we’ll visit the 309 Kauri walk, an easy 30 minute stroll to a beautiful grove of majestic kauri trees, then have you safely back to either Thames between 3 – 4pm, Matamata between 4 – 5pm or Rotorua between 5 – 6pm to meet your onward travel connections.