Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
COROMANDEL FOREST PARK
More than 30 walks criss-cross the Coromandel Forest Park, spread over several
major blocks throughout the centre of the Coromandel Peninsula. The most popu-
lar hike is the challenging six- to eight-hour return journey up to the
Pinnacles
(759m) in the Kauaeranga Valley behind Thames. Other outstanding tramps in-
clude the
Coromandel Coastal Walkway
in Far North Coromandel, from Fletcher Bay
to Stony Bay, and the
Puketui Valley
walk to abandoned gold mines.
The
DOC Kauaeranga Visitor Centre
(Department of Conservation; 07-867 9080;
www.doc.govt.nz
;
Kauaeranga Valley Rd; 8.30am-4pm)
has maps, information and interest-
ing displays about the kauri forest and its history. The centre is 14km off SH25; it's
a further 9km along a gravel road to the start of the trails. Ask at Thames hostels
about shuttles.
The DOC
Pinnacles Hut
(adult/child $15/7)
has 80 beds, gas cookers, heating, toilets
and cold showers. The 10-bunk
Crosbies Hut
(adult/child $15/7.50)
is a four- to six-hour
tramp from Thames or the Kauaeranga Valley, and booking in advance is required.
There are also four basic
backcountry campsites
(adult/child $6/3)
in this part of the
park: one near each hut and others at Moss Creek and Billygoat Basin; expect only
a toilet. A further eight
conservation campsites
(adult/child $10/5)
are accessible from
Kauaeranga Valley Rd. Bookings must be made online for the huts and some of the
campsites.
TOP OF CHAPTER
Thames to
Coromandel Town
Narrow SH25 snakes along the coast past pretty little bays and rocky beaches. Sea birds
are plentiful, and you can fish, dig for shellfish and fossick for quartz, jasper and even
gold-bearing rocks. The landscape turns crimson when the pohutukawa (often referred to
as the 'New Zealand Christmas tree') blooms in December.
A handful of stores, motels, B&Bs and camping grounds are scattered around the pic-
turesque bays. For backpackers,
Wolfie's Lair
( 07-868 2777; 11 Firth View Rd, Te Puru; d &
tw $54)
, a tidy house in
Te Puru
, has three rooms to rent. Just north of Te Puru, stop at
the colourful
Waiomu Beach Cafe
(62 Thames Coast Rd, Waiomu Bay; mains $10-23;
7am-6pm)
for gourmet pizza, freshly squeezed juices and healthy salads.
At
Tapu
turn inland for a mainly sealed 6km drive to the
Rapaura Water Gardens
(
07-868 4821;
www.rapaurawatergardens.co.nz
; 586 Tapu-Coroglen Rd; adult/child $15/6;
