Paihia or coromandel
 

Hey! M plannig my 15 day trip to New Zealand . I'm very keen to relax at a beach for 2 3 days . I just wanted to know once I land at Auckland - should I go coromandel or drive to paihia and stay there 2 3 nights? Which is a better beach area among the two?

It depends on where you intend to go afterwards. There is not much of a circular route to Pahia from Auckland. You basically come back the way you went.

It is lovely up there and if you like Maori history there is plenty at Waitangi. There is also plenty to do. We spent a week there over Easter this year. Being further North the weather is likely to be better as well.

These tow trips are well worth doing.

http://tucker.co.nz/
http://kayakcruises.co.nz/site/sample-page/

In my opinion, the beaches in Paihia aren't the best. Haven't been to Coromandel. Beaches in Russell are better. Good luck.

For me there is more to do in Pahia, as mentioned there is Waitangi nearby, and I also did a swim with whales.

In Coromandel there are beaches, with one having a natural hot spring which is small so people try to find it by digging in a specific area after tide has gone out, then lying in the warm water