There aren't too many corner stores that stock five brands of tofu. Or three types of cashew nut butter for that matter.

But then Coromandel Town, an unashamedly alternative outcrop on New Zealand's east coast, is not like most other towns.

There's an undeniable undercurrent of rustic hippiness to the coastal village that makes it a fascinating place to visit.

The town sits deep in the heart of the Coromandel Peninsula, a region which sticks out like a kinky little finger off to the east of Auckland.

As a tourist destination, the area is loved for its isolation, its great local produce and its long, clear coastlines dotted with New Zealand's crimson-coloured Christmas tree, the Pohutukawa.

The hot spots most well known to tourists are magnificent Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach – where a bucket and a spade are all that is needed for a hot bath – but we thought it time to explore the peninsula's lesser known northern reaches to get even more away from it all.

The trip in is all you need to fall in love with it.

The low coast road is called the Pacific Coast Highway and hugs the water so tightly at times you feel like you're steering a boat, not a car.

And don't be surprised when the tarmac casually narrows to just one car width. We're told it's all part of the adventure of getting to Coromandel, and yes, it's certainly exciting on hairpin corners.

An overall relaxed three-hour drive will get you from Auckland to the thriving main street of Coromandel Town where its shopfronts, lined up like a frontier film set, tell the story of its mining past.

Inside though, there's a different story to be told, with organic produce, nature-inspired arts and crafts and earthy-style cafes accounting for most of the business.

Local produce alone is a reason to visit.

The Coromandel Smoking Company does a roaring trade in every type of seafood, including the region's own mussels and scallops, and a 5kg hand-smoke roasted salmon will only set you back $50.

Macadamias, coffee and cheese are among the other local delicacies, most adorning the menus of the town's yummiest eateries, the cafe Umu and the Peppertree restaurant.

It becomes quickly apparent there's also a real appreciation for the arts too.

From the signage, we're pretty sure there are more potters per square kilometre here than anywhere else Down Under.

The town's quirkiest tourist attraction, a miniature climb-on train that tours the native bush, was set up by potter and local character Barry Brickell, who like so many we meet around here, is an artist-cum-environmentalist keen to preserve Coromandel's laidback air, creative spirit and natural beauty.

Indigo Bush Studios, our home for a night, embodies all these qualities. Owner and potter Robyn Lewis designed two stylish self-contained apartments with glazed dirt floors and the ultimate hippy touch: hummus and rice crackers on arrival.

Coromandel Town, or "Coro" as the locals call it, is a great central hub from which to explore in several directions.

Travelling further north you hit the real hippy mecca, Colville, which is home to the best stocked general store in the world (everything from the Guardian Weekly to bike pumps and quartz dream catchers), a rugged old tennis court, a cafe selling good pies, and not much else.

Further up the coast we found endless rocky and sandy beaches nestled in sheltered bays, several relaxed, beach-front camping grounds and even a kiwi retreat, Tangiaro Lodge, for those looking for a close encounter with New Zealand's notoriously shy native bird.

Travelling east from Coromandel Town and we hit the white sands of Otama Beach and some deluxe digs which over look it.

An Otama Bach is a modern, award-winning reinterpretation that leaves the basic vacation home in the dust.

Its style is natural and minimal, lots of wood and open space in keeping with the essence of the peninsula itself.

But luxurious touches (the slide-away walls, the bath you can roll out on to the deck, that coffee machine at the ready to make you a latte) and the sweeping ocean views from the crest of the hill make you feel like a king.

From the deck, all you see can see is bush, beach and water and a couple of the homes dotted in the distance. If this isn't getting away from it all I don't know what is.

Three days here with just a fridge full of local goodies and the salty sea breeze for company and we've slowed to a Coromandel pace.

Even a stumble down to the beach for a dip seems a bit too much to ask – not to mention the drive back to Auckland along that twisting, turning coastal road, no matter how picturesque it is.

Source: TAMARA McLEAN - AAP