Coromandel, New Zealand

This rainforest-clad peninsula, just two hours from Auckland, is blessed with over 400km of glorious coastline, golden beaches and rugged landscapes. Once a hotspot for the kauri timber and gold mining industries, the Coromandel now attracts New Zealanders and visitors alike who embrace the laid-back lifestyle, a slower pace of life and glorious scenery.

Hike through ancient rainforests, kayak to sublime Cathedral Cove, discover hidden bays and head to Hot Water Beach, spade in hand, to dig a hole in the sand then wait for the warm waters to bubble through…a home-made spa bath takes some beating!  As night falls, the lack of light pollution makes stargazing a treat and, come morning time, the sun rising over the calm water is a spectacle to behold.

Dotted along the coastline, the Coromandel’s small towns and beachside communities offer relaxed bases from which to explore the peninsula’s highlights.  The west coast is home to Thames and Coromandel Town, with views across the Hauraki Gulf to Auckland on a clear day. On the east coast, a passenger ferry links pretty Cooks Beach with Whitianga, a town with deep roots in Māori history as one of the places discovered by ancient Polynesian explorer, Kupe, around 950AD, followed by Captain James Cook in 1769.