Places to Explore In Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty

Discover the best places to explore in Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty with curated recommendations from our travel experts.

Around Hahei

The beaches, coves, and seaside villages around Hahei make for a great day of exploring—or lounging. If you're craving a true beach vacation, consider basing...

  • 3 Restaurants
  • 3 Hotels
  • 5 Things To Do

Colville and Beyond

To reach land's end in the very north of the Coromandel Peninsula—with rugged coastline, delightful coves, and pastures—take the 30-minute drive from Coromandel up to...

  • 1 Restaurants
  • 2 Hotels
  • 2 Things To Do

Coromandel Town

Coromandel town became the site of New Zealand's first gold strike in 1852 when sawmill worker Charles Ring found gold-bearing quartz at Driving Creek, just...

  • 3 Restaurants
  • 4 Hotels
  • 3 Things To Do

Katikati

The small town of Katikati was built on land confiscated from local M?ori after the 1863 land wars and given to Irish Protestant settlers by...

  • 2 Restaurants
  • 1 Hotels
  • 2 Things To Do

Maketu

About halfway between Tauranga and Whakatane is the small seaside village of Maketu, one of the area's least-developed places and one of the first points...

  • 0 Restaurants
  • 0 Hotels
  • 0 Things To Do

Tairua

Tairua is one of the larger communities along the coast, and one of the prettiest, nestled beside an estuary, harbor, and hills, with an ocean...

  • 2 Restaurants
  • 3 Hotels
  • 2 Things To Do

Tapu–Coroglen Road

The 28-km-long (17-mile-long), intermittently paved Tapu–Coroglen Road turns off State Highway 25 in the hamlet of Tapu to wind into the mountains. It's a breathtaking...

  • 0 Restaurants
  • 0 Hotels
  • 1 Things To Do

Tauranga

The population center of the Bay of Plenty, Tauranga is one of New Zealand's fastest-growing cities. Along with neighboring town, Whakatane, this seaside city also...

  • 8 Restaurants
  • 5 Hotels
  • 5 Things To Do

Thames

The peninsula's oldest town, Thames has evolved from a gold-mining hotbed in the late 1800s to an agricultural center. Locals have a saying that when...

  • 4 Restaurants
  • 2 Hotels
  • 5 Things To Do

The 309 Road

Although named for a journey that used to (apparently) take 309 minutes, the 309 Road cuts right across the peninsula and is now the shortest...

  • 0 Restaurants
  • 0 Hotels
  • 0 Things To Do

Waihi to Paeroa

The southern Coromandel is bounded by the historic and scenic Karangahake Gorge and smaller, adjoining Waikino Gorge. State Highway 2 wends its way through the...

  • 4 Restaurants
  • 1 Hotels
  • 4 Things To Do

Whakaari (White) Island

With its billowing plumes of steam, the active volcano of Whakaari (White) Island makes for an awesome geothermal experience. The island is New Zealand's only...

  • 0 Restaurants
  • 0 Hotels
  • 0 Things To Do

Whakatane

For yet another chance to laze on the beach, Whakatane (fah-kah-tah-ne) is indisputably the North Island's sunniest town. The harbor here was a landfall site...

  • 4 Restaurants
  • 3 Hotels
  • 3 Things To Do

Whangamata

The Coromandel Ranges back Whangamata (fahng-a-ma-ta), another harborside town, with a population of around 3,500. Once a town of modest houses, it's been discovered by...

  • 2 Restaurants
  • 3 Hotels
  • 0 Things To Do

Whitianga

As you descend from the hills on the Coromandel's east coast, you'll enter Whitianga township. Here you'll find Buffalo Beach, named for the British ship...

  • 3 Restaurants
  • 3 Hotels
  • 1 Things To Do

Explore Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty

Sights 29

Shopping 4

Restaurants 36

Hotels 30
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