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coromandel
From Auckland, as you look across the Firth
of Thames, you see a dramatic skyline of extinct volcanoes on the
Coromandel Range. They’re worth a closer look.
The Coromandel Forest Park sprawls over these ancient eroded
landforms on the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula, only 1½ hours
drive from the ‘City of Sails’. Luxuriant rainforest
covers much of the Peninsula, which is fringed with a necklace of
golden sand beaches.
The park extends from the rugged heights of Mt Moehau, which
rises straight out of the sea, southwards to the deep cutting of
the Karangahake Gorge. Mt Moehau’s summit (892 metres) is a
3 hour climb from Stony Bay on the eastern coast. It offers the
most expansive views of the Hauraki Gulf, extending from the
Auckland Skytower to the Poor Knight’s Islands. The
highlight of this northern part of the Peninsula is a 3 hour walk
around the coast from Stony Bay to Fletcher’s Bay.
The greatest treasures of the Coromandel Forest Park are the
small colonies of original Kauri forest that survived the early
exploitation. You can find them on the ‘309 Road’, 12
km from Coromandel township and also in the Manaia Sanctuary
further south. The Sanctuary has 400 fine specimens including
‘Tane Nui’ the fifth largest kauri in New Zealand.
The most popular area in the park is the Kauaeranga Valley near
Thames. One of the best tramps in the park leads to some jagged
limestone outcrops called the Pinnacles, which has excellent
accommodation in a forest lodge.
Visit one of the Coromandel beaches during your stay. The golden
sands of Hahei and nearby Cathedral Cove are not to be missed. At
nearby Hot Water Beach you can experience the luxury of your own
thermal pool, once you create a sandy hollow to lie in.
The Coromandel is a world away from the bustle of Auckland, with
a host of easy walks and tramping tracks, as well as camping
sites in the forest and coastal farm parks.
Enjoy this popular peninsula and its spectacular landscapes.
Marvel at it’s history, which is written on the land in the
form of gold mine tunnels, kauri dams and Maori pa sites.
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