Walks of the Coromandel Region

In this article I will describe several walks in the beautiful Coromandel Region of New Zealand’s North Island.

Kauaeranga Kauri Trail
This eight hours roundtrip walk can be done in one day, but it can also be done as an overnight staying at the Pinnacles Hut. It is about three hour walk to the Pinnacles Hut then a two-hour return trip to the Pinnacles from the hut. Pinnacles Hut is a big 80-bunk hut.
Please take care at the summit, as you will have to scramble up the rocks a little.

How to get there

Take the signposted turn from State Highway 25 opposite the Toyota factory at the souther entrance to Thames. Kauaeranga Visitor Centre is 13 km up the valley and this is where hut tickets can be acquired. The start of the walk is at the Kauaeranga Valley road end, 9 km from the visitor center.

Waiomu Kauri Grove Walk

This short walk will take you through divers forest to one of the best remaining stands of Kauri in the Coromandel Peninsula. Here you will take a historic walk through past mining remnants. The whole walk takes 2.5 hours (return).
Keep in mind that you will have to cross a number of shallow fords and creeks. In some cases swing bridges will provide an alternative to wetting your feet.

How to get there
12.5 km north of Thames is the settlement of Waiomu. The track starts at the end of the Waiomu Valley Road.

Coromandel Coastal Walkway

The walkway is from Fletcher Bay to Stony Bay located at the very top of the Coromandel peninsula, and can be walked in both directions. It provides great views of the coastline and offshore islands such as Mercury Islands, Cuvier, Great Barrier Island, and others. You have the option to do the return walk, which will take you from 6 to 8 hours, or join organized tour, that will collect you from Coromandel town, drop at Fletcher Bay, and pick you up at Stony Bay to return back to Coromandel town. The walk is 7 km long and will take you about 3 to 4 hours one way.

How to get there
For starting at the Fletcher Bay. Fletcher Bay is located at the end of the road, 36 kilometers from Colville and 7 km past Port Jackson. Please note that the road from Colville is unsealed, and some rental car company’s insurance policies don’t cover this road.

You can read the second article, in which I describe additional walks in the Coromandel region in my next article titled Walks of the Coromandel Region part 2