Coromandel Township - Coromandel Peninsula

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Your Complete Guide to New Zealand's Beautiful Coromandel Peninsula

COROMANDEL TOWNSHIP
Visited by H.M.S. Coromandel in 1820.
Coromandel Peninsula • New Zealand

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Mussel and oyster farms have been established in the Coromandel Harbour and outlying islands, supplying shellfish of superior quality for export and to the city markets. Fishing and boating in and around the many islands of the harbour is fairly lucrative for the holiday fisherman with kahawai, schnapper, and gurnard being the common fish caught. There are sheltered beaches, exposed sandy beaches, rock strewn coves, open and sheltered water for recreation.

An excellent golf course of nine holes is situated just west of the township. An airfield provides scenic and charter flights but there is not a daily service to Auckland, although Thames aero club and Waiheke Air Services will collect people from Coromandel, by arrangement. Coachlines and tour operators will take people to scenic attractions in buses and mini-buses, but once again, this needs to be pre-arranged.
One licensed hotel, one tavern, four motels, a motor camp and cabins situated in the town with a number of camping grounds and motels between Coromandel and Colville provide accommodation and refreshment.
The fishing boats, commercial and pleasure craft revel in the sheltered waters of the Hauraki Gulf with its abundance of fish. Beaches are numerous and holiday baches are seen along the pohutukawa lined shores. Travelling up and over the hill to Papa Aroha reveals splendid scenery of islands and blue seas.
Next is Colville, formerly known as Cabbage Bay and named by Captain James Cook who insisted that his crew and officers eat the leaves of the native cabbage tree to guard against scurvy.
At the top western tip, Port Jackson (Poihakene) is a long spacious beach which is popular for camping and fishing. It was once a bustling timber port.
Fletcher Bay situated at the north-east tip of the peninsula (where Captain Fletcher built a fine house) is rich with legends of shipwrecks and mariners tales, and gold and gum digging. The proud Moehau Range (Sleeping Wind) watches over the tip of the Peninsula as the road winds along the shoreline.
Cape Colville (58km north of Coromandel and named by Captain Cook after a Rear Admiral Colville in the British Navy) looks out on the Watchman, and Little and Great Barrier Islands. Little Barrier Island is mountainous, rising steeply out of the sea and is densely forested with pohutukawas, rata, kauri and tawa trees. The island is also a bird sanctuary with the only access by launch or amphibian aircraft, with landing by permit only.
Little Barrier was once the home of the Ngati-wai Maoris as can be seen in food pits, a burial ground and the fortification terraces. Captain Cook named both Great and Little Barrier Island due to the effective barrier that the two islands make across the Hauraki Gulf.
Cross the range to Waikauwau Bay and Port Charles or Kennedy Bay where great teams of horses hauled their coaches and carts up the steep inclines to the summit where a convenient hotel could be found. Although the pub is long gone, the spot affords a really great view of the area.
Down to Whangapoua, a surf beach with sparkling white sand and shady trees, and on to Kuaotunu, Otama or Opito, or through to Whitianga whichever route is taken, all offer brilliant beaches and get-away holidays.
The 309 Road, romantic in its history, winding and metalled in its present day form, twists and winds across the Coromandel Range to “the other side” near Whitianga. Along the 309 Road points of interest are: Castle Rock, Chiltern Scenic Reserve, Waiau Falls, Kauri Reserve, Egan Park. There is also a tea room which caters for family groups. The journey takes approximately 40 minutes on a good day!
The serenity and grandeur of this natural land offers a very unique experience for all ages and interests.
Castle Rock (1710), majestic, dominant and shrouded with Maori legend, guides the modern yachts of the day into Coromandel Harbour as it did to seafarers of the past.