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Coromandel Regional Information

Lying to the east of Auckland, the Coromandel Peninsula is home to an impressive mountain range along its centre and is bordered by more than 400 kilometres of spectacular coastline. The region's beaches make the Coromandel a popular haven where holiday makers and locals can fish, dive, swim and walk.

The region's main centre is Thames, a township steeped in gold mining and Kauri logging history. Today, visitors base themselves at Thames to go tramping or canyoning in the nearby Kauaeranga Valley. The Coromandel township, on the western coast of the peninsula, was once a major port, serving the peninsula's gold mining and Kauri industries. Today the town's inhabitants work predominantly in the tourism and mussel farming industries.

Artists and craftspeople have also gravitated to the Coromandel region and open their galleries and studios to the public. Some also offer live-in tuition, courses or workshops in which you can learn their craft. Within the region, there are expert potters, carvers, jewellers, painters and sculptors. The Arts Coromandel site is a portal providing access to many of the region's art and craft practitioners. For a chance to view artists at work and purchase artwork, art enthusiasts can attend the Coromandel Festival of the Arts, an annual event celebrating the achievements of the region's artists and craftspeople.

For adventure lovers, there are a number of multisport and mountain biking events held in the region. The Colville Connection, a 70 kilometre mountain biking race, will take you over the Whangapoua hill, along the coastline of the Coromandel Peninsula and up 500 metres to catch magnificent views of the ocean and Great Barrier Island. Other races include the Moehau multisport races; the White Star Intrigue off road mountain biking race; and adventure races testing competitors' endurance for 12, 24 or 48 hours.

Whitianga and Whangamata beaches are popular summertime destinations, both located on the east coast of the peninsula. Whitianga offers many opportunities for water sports and swimming, while Whangamata is renowned for some of New Zealand's best surfing conditions. Whangamata also offers a great mix of cafe culture, shopping and galleries.

Navigate with our great Coromandel map to stay on the right track and find what you're looking for when traveling in the region. While you're on the road, be prepared for all seasons with weather forecasts, reports and current information on Coromandel weather.

For further information on the Coromandel, visit the region's official information site.