Coromandel Life Spring/Holiday 2014

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The colourful pukeko bird.- Photo by Ian Patrick
07 866 6614
CAFE OPEN DAILY
Accommodations | Cafe, Bar & Restaurant
Wifi | Weddings & Functions | Massage Therapist
Natural Swimming Hole | Spa Pools
... & Kiwis!
1299 Port Charles Rd.
RD4, Coromandel
37
experience the real coromandel
CONFIRMED BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL
Web:
Email:
0800 GOCORO (Freephone)
We deliver the best of the Coromandel with a range
of flexible packages and affordable half or full day
tours. Join us on your Coromandel Adventure!
CapeColville
BUSES, SHUTTLES AND TOURS
THE WESTERN ROUTE NORTH
“Looking across the seaward end of Stony Bay and showing the first 2/3 of the Coastal Walkway. Increasingly, this 10km walk is being
ranked among the very best coastal walks in the world.” - Photo and comment by Willie Lochore,
Winding north from Kennedy Bay
The Kennedy Bay Road north leads to
Tuateawa, an elevated coastal development,
with expansive views across to Kuaotunu,
Matarangi and the Mercury Islands. The road
cuts inland through pleasant bush clad hills
until returning to the coast at Little Bay with its nestled cluster of houses.
The road then becomes Waikawau Road. Waikawau Bay offers a long
beach, ringed by rugged rocks for exploring, and one of NZ’s most
popular DOC campgrounds with 350 powered/unpowered sites, cold
showers and toilets. The bay features a typical awesome ‘white-sand-
east-coast’ Coromandel surf beach, popular with surfers.
Waikawau Beach Road leads to Port Charles Road which goes either
west to Colville or climbs north on to more of the lovely eastern bays.
And surprise – a chance to indulge yourself! Head north just a few km
and have a fine meal at the lovely Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat. Even spend
the night and enjoy a hot tub soak with a massage – Wifi? Yes!
About 1km NE of the retreat centre is Port Charles Bay. You can use
nearby Sandy Bay, one of the prettiest of the northern bays, for easy
boat launching. Next bay north is the stunning 132-site Stony Bay
Conservation Campsite, which is pictured on our cover. A bit ‘stoney’ for
sunbathing, but fun for swimming or snorkelling.
That’s the end of the road, literally. For bikers and hikers, Stony Bay does
connect to the peninsula’s northern most tip, Fletcher Bay, by the two-
segment Coromandel Walkway: the 3 hour, 10km coastal route, and the
more challenging inland track traversing both mountains and farmland.
To driveto the peninsula’s tip, return south to where the Port Charles
Road veers west to Colville, then drive north on Port Jackson Road.
Want to return to Coromandel town? Rather than backtrack through
Kennedy Bay, you may find the Colville route preferable. The village has a
store, petrol, and café – and part of your drive will be on sealed roads.
Coromandel Town to Colville (25 km)
Starting at Coromandel Town, the route north is along the west side’s
Colville Road. Rings Road turns into Colville Road just past Driving
Creek Road. Travelling north, you’ll find two fishing-centered facilities,
Anglers Lodge and Papa Aroha Park offering lodging options, launch
ramps, fishing charters, fuel, small stores, hot water, power ...
Drive north to Colville, which has the trendy Green Snapper Café ...
and the Colville General Store with petrol pumps. This is the only store
in the north! Well provisioned, you are ready to see the upper peninsula.
A bit north, Colville Road ends; follow the signs – east to Port Charles
or west onto the vista-rich, coast-hugging Port Jackson Road and the
spectacular northern region. Here you’ll find Otautu Bay Farm Camp
offering launch, powered spaces, apartment rental and backpacker lodge.
You will find campgrounds, some with limited facilities, and even some
holiday rentals further north, but plan your trip well.
Coromandel to Colville, 25km. Colville to Port Jackson, add another 28km of
narrow unsealed road, then another 6km to Fletcher Bay. (Double that...you
will need to drive back!)
Sunset from Big Bay in Colville
“Sunsets anywhere on Coromandel’s west coast are special! Here,
looking across the Hauraki Gulf and seeing from the Hunua Ranges
almost to Whangarei.” -Willie Lochore