• If it's Saturday morning check out the Thames market on the main street – a crazy mix of quality local goods and some real weird crap.
• While your in Thames township buy each other a second hand shirt from the local RSA 'opportunity shop' (on the main drag) - we challenge you to wear your new (and preferably unsightly) shirt for the rest of the day (send us photos for a special gallery!).
• If you have time there are some good walks and camping possibilities up the Kauaeranga valley (just south of Thames). Hoffmans pool is also a sweet swimming hole. If you have time you could do the excellent overnight Pinnacles hike (see Adventures).
  

Continue up the Peninsula

• The drive along highway 25 follows is a pretty crazy coastal road so be careful! Along the way you will drive past Tapu and Te Mata Lodge.  
• Just before Coromandel Township is the famous 309 road. This windy dirt road is even more crazy so slow down. The 309 road crosses the peninsula and passes Waiau Falls (a small waterfall) and the Kauri grove (signposted on your left). There is a small carpark on the right. Jump out and do the short walk to the impressive Kauri trees – check out the Siamese Kauri on the way back.
• If you want to go to Coromandel town you will have to head back the way you came (down the 309 road). 

Coromandel 

• This funky town has some pretty groovy cafes and some interesting gold mining history.
• The Driving Creek Railway (trains run at 10am and 2pm) is a sweet little trip along a narrow gauge railway that a local potter built to get access to the clay on his property. Very unique. Very New Zealand.

From here you can drive across to the east coast or you can keep going north to the top of the peninsula (be warned, it is a long drive on a windy dirt road but it’s super remote and pretty cool).

To the Top

• The road north is sealed until you get to Colville – make sure you stop and check out the quaint local store.
• North of Colville the road gets pretty rough but it hugs the beautiful coastline so we are guessing you will get over it.
• The road quite fittingly ends at Fletcher Bay. Nice remote spot. 
• From here you can follow a coastal walking track to Stony Bay (3 hours one way). There are dramatic coastal views along this easy walk, but you will need to retrace your steps unless you can bribe someone to drive around and pick you up at Stony Bay (be warned it is also a long drive so the bribe better be good).
• There are DOC camping sites at Fletcher Bay, Waikawau Bay and Stony Bay so if you want to save some cash and hang out in a beautiful spot then this is a good option.
• If you do want to drive over to Stony Bay you must head back almost to Colville and then follow the road from there. If you do go that way then you might as well return to Coromandel via Kennedy Bay.
• The road heading south from Kennedy Bay (and back towards Coromandel) is rather steep and has caused our cars to overheat in the past. However the view from the top is pretty nice so it’s not a bad spot to hang out while your car takes a break.

• Whangapoua has a sweet beach but New Chums is even better. Park your wheels and walk north along the beach (that’s left if you are facing the sea). New Chums Beach is about 25 minutes walk away - isolated, beautiful and yours to enjoy. Now this is what New Zealand is all about!
• Further south is Matarangi. Despite having a nice beach this place is a little overdeveloped but there is a great gravel road from here along the coast to the right. Turn right when you arrive Matarangi and then right again. Follow the coast and you will come out at Kuaotunu Bay.
• Kuaotunu also has a great beach but if you can manage to stay in the car a little longer we have better plans for you. The coastal road now joins up with 25 again. Jump back on it briefly before turning left at the Opito Bay turnoff. Follow the metal road up the hill before dropping down to Otama Beach.
• Park up when the road first comes close to the beach. This is an awesome spot away from the development that dominates so much of the Coromandel. Hang out here for awhile and then continue round (in the car - it would be a long walk) to the next beach – Opito Bay.
• Although more developed it is also beautiful. At the extreme eastern end of Opito Bay there is a walk up onto the headland. The views from here are good and if you scramble down the other side, along a very rough track, you will find Crayfish Bay.
• Crayfish Bay is pretty stony but at the southern end there are some awesome rocks for jumping off into the sea. Check that there is nothing below before you jump as conditions may change.

Whitianga

• Whitianga is the biggest town on the peninsula so if you need supplies this is a good spot to stop and shop. 
• There is also a range of accommodation options here and in summer the nightlife can be pretty good.

• Drop into the classic Coroglen Tavern for a brew. Check out their Gig Guide to see who is playing while you are in the area.
  
• Not far from Coroglen is Rangihau Ranch - Horse Treks
• From Coroglen there is a road back to the west coast. This is a good way to get back to Te Mata Lodge if you are staying there. Stop on the way to check out the Square Kauri tree. Be warned this is a typical New Zealand dirt road – gnarly twisting and dangerous. Give the driver a beer when you arrive safely.
   

Hahei

• The next stop south is Hahei - another sweet beach if you can handle it (and a great place to swim).
• Just north of Hahei there is the impressive Cathedral Cove. Follow the signs and park your car in the car park. The walk down will take you about 20 minutes (one way) and is well worth it. Be warned however, Cathedral Cove is best at low tide when you can actually walk through the massive archway which gives the beach its name. This is a great place to chill out – don’t forget your camera.
• At the other end (south) of Hahei beach there is a neat little walk to an old Maori pa – where you can still see evidence of the terraced fortifications.
• Done Hahei? Okay head south on the road out of Hahei and turn left at the signpost to Hot Water beach. Allow some time to hang out here as it is a very cool spot. Grab a digging implement (anything will do) and head to the beach. If you are there two hours either side of low tide you will see a group of people sitting in pools on the beach – head over and claim your spot. There is thermal water just below the surface so with a little bit of digging you can create a luxurious hot pool. If the tide is too high you will have to wait for it to go out.
• There is nothing better than going for a refreshing dip in the surf and then running back to bathe in a hot water pool. Be super careful swimming here though – the rips are surprisingly strong (and have even claimed American students in the past!!).
   

Tairua & Pauanui

• At Tairua – turn left in the middle of the township and head towards the very obvious volcanic cone that rises above the beach. You can follow the road up to the top and then walk/climb the last past – the views are awesome. The town across the estuary mouth is Pauanui - which is where many wealthy Aucklander’s have their holiday homes. More importantly the hill you just climbed is an old Maori pa called Paku – which apparently means ‘women’s breast’.
• From Tairua you can drive back across to Thames on highway 25 (it becomes 25a).
   

This completes a nice loop of the Coromandel peninsula - if you want to keep going, keep reading.
 

Whangamata

• Whangamata is a well known surf town which is hugely popular among young people over new years. The beach is nice.
• Whangamata Traders on the main road out of town (heading south) is a phenomenal shop with its crazy array of secondhand goods. Definitely stop and buy something.

Waihi

• Waihi is a historic and once thriving gold mining town. Check out the Martha mine - it is pretty impressive.
• The beach here is nice.
  

Karangahake Gorge

• The drive through the Karangahake gorge is good and there are some excellent hiking tracks here. You could easily spend a few hours here walking through old mine shafts and tunnels. Take a torch and get exploring. The windows walk is particularly good. There is also a camping ground nearby.

Paeroa

• At Paeroa if you haven’t done so already you must try an L&P – this little town is the birth place of the ‘world famous in New Zealand’ soft drink. Be a tourist for a moment and get a photo of you drinking one in front of the giant L&P bottle.
  
• From here you can head northwards on highway 25 to Kopu and turn left to get to Auckland.