Waihi Beach / Bowentown - Coromandel Peninsula

Waihi Beach, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand.

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Where you can

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Coromandel
Peninsula

For a full rundown on what to see and do, call in at the Information Centre

You can find it in the Waihi Beach township on Wilson Road, between Bowentown and Waihi Beach,

INFORMATION
CENTRE:
33 Wilson Road
Waihi Beach
PHONE:
(07) 863 4350

Welcome to
Waihi Beach & Bowentown
Coromandel Peninsula • New Zealand

Waihi Beach stretches from Orokawa Bay in the north to Bowentown and nearby Athenree. The coastal belt is most picturesque with walkways, parks and scenic sights all part of the Waihi Beach menu.
Tucked on the coast and connected to SH25 by looping roads, its first entrance is from Beach Road, about 2.5 km out of Waihi. Along the way is a Museum of Technology.

Once at Waihi Beach, a Department of Conservation walkway into the Orokawa Bay Scenic Reserve offers a dream walk amid native bush and cliff hugging pohutukawa trees. Starting at the western end of the beach, the easy track leads into Orokawa Bay (about 45 minutes each way). Further along, past a steeper 2 km track, nestles the equally picturesque Homunga Bay.
Waihi Beach is a favourite surf spot during summer and commands majestic views of Mayor (Tuhua) Island. At the far end of this coastal stretch is Bowentown Headland. Sited at the northern entrance to Tauranga Harbour, a 128 hectare reserve towers over the safe harbour waters of Anzac Bay and Shelly Bay. The Domain is ideal for picnics and offers safe swimming, boat access, fishing and fine walking tracks.
Bowentown Headland contains several Maori pa, the most famous being Te Kura a Maia. Te Hoe and Otawhiwhi pa sites are also easily reached via a series of walking tracks.
The loop route to the waterside village at Athenree first passes a unique landmark. Waihi Airport is hard to miss with its inviting bright hanger and once a fully restored Bristol Freighter sat permanently grounded and converted into a theme restaurant and cafe. An adjoining sports aviation workshop houses a Rans ultralite assembly plant and microlight flight training centre. The airport offers scenic flights for those wanting a bird's eye view of the Bay.
The Athenree turn-off is 6 km from the airport and leads to a quiet community which nestles on the edge of the calm waters of the inner Bowentown Harbour.
Travellers avoiding the Waihi Beach, Bowentown and Athenree loop will pass instead through the picturesque Athenree Gorge with its hideaway cafe where tame eels visit.
Onto the Pacific Coast Highway the Lindemann Lookout offers panoramic views over more than 50 km of the Western Bay of Plenty.

The Orokawa Scenic Reserve.

Orokawa Bay is among the most spectacular spots. The Orokawa Scenic Reserve comprises 145 hectares of native bush. But it's the walk to Orokawa Bay itself that provides a touch of paradise.
The dream walk starts at the western end of Waihi Beach with an easy 45 minute walk past Oukori Bay (Shark Bay) and down into Orokawa Bay itself. At the far end of Orokawa Bay a bush track heads inland to the William Wright Falls. Marker posts lead the way and while the going is rather tough, the 1.5 km walk into the bush is well worth it. The walk takes at least 1.5 hours and if you're thinking of having a days outing, it's a good idea to pack a lunch and some refreshments.
The falls themselves spill over a sheer rock face about 28 metres above a pool, dropping in two stages to the valley floor below. The metre deep pool at the bottom of the falls has been dammed up. The area is an ideal picnic spot, with facilities provided to make the outing quite relaxing. And if you're able to handle a moonlight walk, the track leading to the waterfall lights up at night with glow worms.

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Homunga Bay.

The walk to Orokawa Bay is delight enough, but a further track leads to yet another beautiful bay, Homunga Bay. Homunga and Orokawa are linked by a 2 km track. Homunga is also noted for its dense patches of pohutukawa, but the track is reasonably challenging and more suited to those who enjoy scrambling over rocky cliffs and steep hills.
The walk takes about 1.5 hours. There is an easier access, from the end of Ngatitangata Road. This is over private property and visitors are asked to keep strictly to the route, which is clearly marked.

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Bowentown.

The bays and inlets hugging the estuary shores around the Bowentown Headland make this spot a wonderful family spot for picnicking, fishing and swimming.
The Bowentown Headland guards one of only two channels into the Tauranga Harbour. Though much smaller than Mauao, the Bowentown Headland is as significant culturally and contains several Maori pa sites.

Bowentown Domain.

Anzac Bay 1999 � Bartley Internet and Graphics
Anzac Bay 1999

The 128 hectare reserve is a backdrop to Anzac Bay and Shelly Bay. You can drive straight to Anzac Bay from Waihi Beach, past Pio Shores into Bowentown Domain . Here you'll find an idyllic bay with picnic spots, a jetty for fishing and a safe swimming beach for boating, water skiing or wind surfing.
You have to walk to Shelly Bay, through a bush clad track, but at the right time of day, this bay is glorious. A boat ramp and jetty nearby at Bowentown boat and fishing club provides great access to the inner harbour. From here, you'll cast your eyes over the gentle shores of Athenree, Tanners Point and the mystical Kaimai Ranges.
Attractions abound here - a museum, a restored aircraft/restaurant, nationally acclaimed gardens, a pancake house and numerous pottery and crafts.

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Last updated 29 Aug 2008