Department of Conservation Reserve

At the southern end of Pauanui Beach was South End Reserve. With a walking trail leading to Flat Rock and Cave Beach, it was hard to resist. Another trail lead over and around the reserve, but I decided to stick close to the sea.

Tairua

Tairua was not far from Cathedral Cove or Hot Water Beach, but far enough away so I wouldn’t be swamped by tourists.

Pauanui Beach

While I stayed in Tairua, I decided to drive the twenty or so kilometres to Pauanui and take a walk along the sand dunes above the shoreline.

Kuaotunu Reserve

The Coromandel Coast’s Kuaotunu Reserve fringed the beach on the southern edge of Whangapoua. A grove of pohutukawa trees were bent and twisted from years of extreme weather conditions.

Coromandel Township

Someone told me they weren’t impressed with this country town, but I had to disagree. I thought its buildings had character.

Coromandel Beaches

Forget the region’s famous Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach choking with tourists. Just close your eyes and point your finger blindly at the coastline along the Coromandel Peninsula and you’re bound to land on a perfect beach.

Whitianga

Whitianga lay on the opposite side of the estuary from Ferry Landing. It was one of the bigger towns along the Coromandel Coast with a sizeable marina that appeared as if everyone in the town had a yacht.

Endangered Dotterel

Around the undulating sections of Hot Water Beach, areas were fenced off. There were even signs forbidding dogs during nesting season ending in March. These regions were spotted with grass that sometimes broke away and rolled along the beach.

Hot Water Beach

Hot Water Beach, not far north of Tairua on the Coromandel Coast, was where people took a spade to dig in the sand. Once they had a deep enough hole filled with thermal water, they sat and soaked up the warmth.

A Cliff Hike

I decided to take the trail from Hahei Village to Cathedral Cove. In the heat of summer, the first ten minutes was a mainly up hill climb, but the view off shore made it worthwhile.