Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
strip. New owners have revitalised the place, and interesting menu options now include a
scallop tortilla and prawn naan pizza.
Information
Tairua Information Centre
(
07-864 7575;
www.tairua.inf
o
; 223 Main Rd;
9am-5pm)
Getting There & Around
InterCity, Tairua Bus Company and Go Kiwi all run bus services to Tairua.
Tairua and Pauanui are connected by a
passenger ferry
( 027-497 0316; one-way/re-
turn $3/5; daily Dec-Jan)
, which departs every two hours from 9am to 5pm (until 11pm
in January). In other months the ferry offers a water-taxi service.
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Puketui Valley
Located 12km south of Tairua is the turn-off to Puketui Valley and the historic
Broken
Hills gold-mine workings
, which are 8km from the main road along a mainly gravel
road. There are short walks up to the sites of stamper batteries, but the best hike is
through the 500m-long
Collins Drive mine tunnel
. After the tunnel, keep an eye out for
the short 'lookout' side trail which affords panoramic views. It takes about three hours
return; remember to take a torch and a jacket with you.
spot by the river. This is a wilderness area so take care and be properly prepared. Water
from the river should be boiled before drinking.
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Opoutere
File this one under Coromandel's best-kept secrets. Apart from a cluster of houses there's
nothing for miles around. Swimming can be dangerous, especially near Hikinui Islet,
which is close to the beach. On the sand spit is the
Wharekawa Wildlife Refuge
, a breed-
ing ground for the endangered New Zealand dotterel.
Sleeping
