Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Whangamata
POP 3560
When Auckland's socially ambitious flock to Pauanui, the city's young and horny head to
Whangamata to surf, get stoned and hook up. It can be a raucous spot over New Year,
when the population swells to more than 40,000. It's a true summer-holiday town, but in
the off-season there may as well be tumbleweeds rolling down the main street.
Activities
Besides
fishing
(game-fishing runs from January to April),
snorkelling
near Hauturu (Clarke)
Island,
surfing
,
kayaking
,
orienteering
and
mountain biking
, there are excellent walks. A popular
destination for kayaking and paddle boarding is Whenuakura (Donut Island), around 1km
from the beach. Note that in an effort to boost the islands' status as wildlife sanctuaries,
it's not permitted to land on them. Boating around the islands is allowed.
The
Wentworth Falls walk
takes 2½ hours (return); it starts 3km south of the town and 4km
down the unsealed Wentworth Valley Rd. A further 3km south of Wentworth Valley Rd is
Parakiwai Quarry Rd, at the end of which is the
Wharekirauponga walk
, a sometimes muddy
10km return track (allow 3½ to four hours) to a mining camp, battery and waterfall that
passes unusual hexagonal lava columns and loquacious bird life.
SurfSup
( 07-865 8096;
www.pedalandpaddelnz.com
;
703 Port Rd)
Bike hire (half-/full day $15/30), kayak
hire (half-/full day from $30/50) and paddle-board hire (one/two hours $20/30). Paddle
boarding lessons ($99) and kayaking and paddle-boarding tours are also available.
BICYCLE RENTAL, PADDLE BOARDING
Kiwi Dundee Adventures
( 07-865 8809;
www.kiwidundee.co.nz
)
Styling himself as a local version of Crocodile Dun-
dee, Doug Johansen offers informative one- to 16-day wilderness walks and guided tours
in the Coromandel Peninsula and countrywide.
HIKING
Sleeping
Wentworth Valley Campsite
CAMPSITE
$
