Oct 18, 2025 Cathedral Cove
An hour’s drive from our B&B took us to the small village of Hahei on the leeward shore of Mercury Bay.
Scenes around town; a beautiful mural, a whimsical ‘fairy apartment’ on a huge fig tree trunk, and a fantastic view looking down on Hahei beach from a camper on the road going up the hill to the trail to Cathedral Cove.
After hiking into town from the remote parking lot (we didn’t want to pay the $ to take the shuttle!), walking to the beach trail, only to find out it is closed, walking back to the road and uphill to the seasonally closed parking lot at the top of the hill, we started the hike down to Cathedral Cove!
It was worth it! The pristine white sand beach, huge arch carved by the sea and fantastical eroded cliffs and sea rocks, bordered by the gentle, bright blue, but cold sea, are beautiful!
Robert, caught at a brief time when other tourists are out of view! I enjoyed a fresh water shower from the cliff top, to wash my feet after I walked in the surf.
The remnants of sandstone cliffs, eroded over eons to produce spires and seabird roosts!
Oct 17, 2025 End of the Road
We drove to the end of the road at the tip of the Coromandel peninsula today. A beautiful day for a (gravel) road trip!
Looking down at Port Jackson Bay from the road. A primitive campground lines the beach with very few amenities. Bring your own water and supplies and haul your garbage and recyclables out!
Fletcher Bay at the end of the road (or the beginning of the Coromandel Coastal Walkway). The sea water is crystal clear out around the rocks at the end of the bay.
Oct 16, 2025 Beaches
Sunrise at Kūaotunu Beach.
A 20 minute drive over a ridge to Opito Bay brought us to 2 more beaches.
The farthest beach is Opito Bay Beach, a wide sandy expanse at low tide.
Halfway back over the ridge you drop down to Otama Beach, with a rope and stick swing at one end, and a rocky headland at the other end.
Oct 15, 2025 Kuaotunu
We moved today to another B&B on the east side of the peninsula, in the tiny village of Kūaotunu (pronounced “koo-ow-t00-noo”). A real beachy town, with a sweeping walkable sand beach and short drives or long walks to neighboring beaches.
The colorfully painted bathroom at the east end of Kuaotunu beach.
The bluffs border the east end of the beach.
You can walk the beach, or up on the small bluff, along the paved sidewalk.
The west side of the beach ends with dramatic rocky outcrops.
Oct 11, 2025 Karaka Track
A hike in the woods, along a stream! With mining history.
The woods. Hiking under the huge tree ferns, using fallen fronds to cover the muddy areas of track. Enjoying the cool shade and gentle breeze.
The stream. Occasional waterfalls, some obscured by the dense vegetation. The gurgle and splash as the water wears down the hard rock.
The mines. Some at the beginning of the trail gated, others open, but water filled. The miners must have been short!
