
New Zealand has about 15,000km of coastline, making it the 9th longest in the world. A pretty impressive statistic for such a relatively small country. This incredible length of coast and the diversity of New Zealand's regions means there are some pretty special and spectacular beaches scattered around the entire country. For some of the finest beaches of New Zealand, the Coromandel Peninsula is a destination which should definitely be on your places to visit. This small but incredibly charming peninsula on the North Island just 2 hours south east from Auckland, offers exquisite pristine and calm beaches with turquoise colors, secluded bays and coves, with streams, surf, offshore islands, and all against the spectacular backdrop of the bush clad ranges of the Coromandel Forest Park. Together with the golden beaches of the Abel Tasman National Park and Northland's beaches, the beaches of the Coromandel Peninsula are New Zealand's best.
So make sure to check out at least some of the beaches listed here.
Waihi Beach
Waihi Beach lies in the most southern part of the Coromandel Peninsula, this is pretty much where the Coromandel starts really. The beach is a 9km long stretch of incredible white sandy beach, and is one of the safest swimming beaches in New Zealand. At the northern end of the beach, a 45-minute walk along the coastline takes you to another stunning little beach at Orokawa Bay.
Whangamata Beach
Whangamata not only is a great little town with an excellent vibe, it enjoys a beautiful beach as well. It is a good surf beach as well and has a reputation for its "Whanga Bar" surf break, which on a good day provides some of New Zealand's best barrel riding. The town offers a range of activities, and during summer many events take place.
Opoutere Beach
About 15minutes north of Whangamata by car, is turn off sign to Opoutere. For many visitors this place probably goes unnoticed, but how wrong could one be. The 6km long sweeping white sandy beach at Opoutere is an absolute peach and one of the Coromandel's best kept secrets, even though it's so near the tourist route. It is a popular beach with the locals, and the sand spit at the end of Opoutere Beach is nothing but spectacular. Opoutere Beach is also a haven for many native New Zealand birds, such as the tui, kereru, bellbird, piwakawakawa, wax eye, kaka, moreport and of course, the dotterel which you can spot easily from the beach. There is also a great coastal campground in Opoutere.
Hahei Beach
You'll probably see Hahei on the map as the town you'll have to heading towards for visit the famous Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, which is in fact the case, so yes you're heading in the right direction! However, many visitors forget to stop and have a look at Hahei Beach itself, and they miss out on a spectacular sight. The turquoise waters of Hahei Beach are among New Zealand's best and provides you that "tropical feeling", so make sure you check it out and hang out here for a while, or hire a kayak and paddle along the stunning coastline.
Hot Water Beach
Hot Water Beach together with Cathedral Cove must be the most visited in the Coromandel, and even New Zealand. This beautiful long beach offers the great feature where you can dig your own spa in the sand and soak in your own hot pool, if you can handle the crowds!
Cathedral Cove
Cathedral Cove is accessible from Hahei township and just a few kilometers from Hot Water Beach. Due to its popularity, a free shuttle bus now operates from Hahei town to the start of the 45-minute walk. There is a car park, but to save yourself some time and hassles trying to find a parking space, just hop on the bus for the 5 minute ride.
Even though it receives a lot of visitors and gets very busy, Cathedral Cove is a New Zealand must-do. It is a photographer's dream and the massive and impressive sand stone arch separates two gorgeous beaches. The 45-minute walk - one way - provides dramatic views and spectacular coastal scenery all the way down to Cathedral Cove.
The walk is easy and also suitable for children.
Cooks Beach
This long sandy beach in Mercury Bay is a place with some of New Zealand's oldest history and caught Capt Cook's eye whhen he sailed the HMS Endeavour into the Bay. It is is an ideal place to unwind and relax, and is secluded between Shakespeare Cliff and the picturesque Purangi Estuary.
New Chums Beach
Far away from the madding crowd nearby the township of Whangapoua Beach you can find New Chums Beach. It requires a ½ hour walk from the north end of Whangapoua Beach over the sandy stream and around the rocks, before a path takes you over the headland through spectacular nikau forest and huge Pohutukawa trees to this amazing gem of a beach.
It is regularly voted New Zealand's most beautiful beach, and even rated one of the best 10 beaches in the world. But though it receives this status, the beach itself is still very unspoilt and void from tourists.
Northern Coromandel Beaches
North of Coromandel Town starts almost another peninsula on the Coromandel Peninsula. This northern part of the Coromandel is well beyond the tourist trail, and to get to its beaches generally requires travel on some strechtes of gravel road, and some include traversing the ranges of the Coromandel Forest Park. The journey itself is the adventure here, and what awaits you at the end are some marvellous beaches with some fantastic DOC campgrounds.
Waikawau Bay
About 37km north east of Coromandel Town, mostly on gravel road and straight through the dense, fern lined Coromandel Forest Park, lies the pristine Waikawau Bay, and will reward the intrepid traveler for the journey. The stunning beach offers some of the clearest waters around New Zealand. Access to the beach is via the amazing DOC campground here.
Though very inconsistent, on a good day there can be some good surf here.
Stony Bay
The sound of the gentle waves on the rocks make this a very tranquil and relaxing place, and the backdrop of the highest mountain ranges in the Coromandel are pretty spectacular.
From here the beautiful Coromandel Coastal Walkway starts, providing stunning coastal views with dramatic cliffs, and which ends at Fletcher Bay.
Fletcher Bay
At the most northern point of the Coromandel, just a little further up the road from Port Jackson, is Fletcher Bay, and this is pretty much as far as you can go. There is a DOC campground right in front of the beach, and the Coromandel Coastal Walkway starts here in the direction of Stony Bay.