Coromandel
Coromandel is a small town on the western side of Coromandel Peninsula, within the Hauraki Gulf, in the North Island of New Zealand.
Understand
Get in
Drive 54 km (1 hour) north from Thames, or 28 km (half an hour) west from Kuaotunu.
An alternative route from Whitianga is the unsealed 309 Road, so named either because there are 309 bends in the road, or because horse-drawn coaches used to take 309 minutes to travel it. The two ends of the road are a few km south of the two towns. There are several attractions on the road, including the Waterworks.
360 Discovery ferry runs from Auckland to Coromandel town via Orapiu on Waiheke Island at weekends. It departs Pier 4, downtown Auckland, Sa, Su and public holidays (except 25 Dec) at 8:45AM. Return trips depart Hannafords Wharf, Coromandel Harbour, at 4:30PM.
Get around
See
- Coromandel Forest Park
- Coromandel Goldfield Centre and Stamper Battery, Buffalo Rd.
- Driving Creek Railway and Potteries, Kennedy Bay Rd. A tourist attraction that began as a back yard project for sculptor Barry Brickell, who initially created his narrow gauge railway to help extract sculpting clay from deposits on his land. Over the years it has grown into an elaborate mountain railway with spirals, tunnels, viaducts, reversing points, and a summit station called the "Eyefull Tower", with views above the forest canopy across the Coromandel Peninsula. $20 for one hour return trip.
- School of Mines Museum, 841 Rings Rd.
- The Waterworks, 471 The 309 Rd (7 km from Coromandel town). Daily Nov–Mar 10AM–6PM, Apr–Oct 10AM–4PM. A theme park of water-powered inventions. Adult $25, child $20.
Do
Buy
- 1 Four Square Supermarket, 50 Wharf Rd. Daily 7AM–7PM.
Eat
- 1 Peppertree Restaurant & Bar, 31 Kapanga Rd, ☏ +64 7 866 8211, dine@peppertreerestaurant.co.nz. Daily 10AM–9PM. All-day brunch and dinner.
Drink
Sleep
Connect
Go next
- Kuaotunu – a beach directly across the peninsula on the east coast