Places To See in Whitianga

Make Whitianga your base to explore the Coromandel as we are the heart of the peninsula. Whitianga is a lively town well set up for the visitor, with excellent cafés, bars and restaurants. We have galleries, a museum, bone carving, mountain biking, fishing, scenic tours by bus or boat and all types of shopping.

Only a few minutes away is the Wharf, where you can take a passenger ferry across to Ferry Landing. A short walk up the hill from the ferry leads to Front Beach then on to Flaxmill Bay and Lonely Bay.

Nearby are the world-famous Hot Water Beach (best time to be there is at low tide) and stunning Cathedral Cove. The cove can be accessed by boat or a 90-minute walk from Hahei.

A further 18km north over a scenic winding sealed road is Kuaotunu, gateway to the pristine beaches of Otama and Opito. These beaches are worth the journey as uncrowded and spectacular white sand and blue water anytime of the year.

As you travel towards Coromandel you may visit the white, sandy beaches of Matarangi, Whangapoua and New Chums. The rich soils of the Coromandel promote lush growth and this is shown in the native bush that covers much of the Peninsula. Huge majestic trees, including Kauri that survived the intense milling of last century, have been protected and can be seen by the highways and walking tracks.

The famous 309 Road connecting Whitianga to Coromandel Town is a mostly gravel road, very scenic with lots to see and do along the way. An unusual square Kauri tree is located on the Tapu - Coroglen Road. In the spring the yellow flowers of the Kowhai tree break the green of the forest while the red blossoms of the Pohutukawa tree provide a flaming brilliance at Christmas time.