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Simpsons Beach (Wharekaho)
About 6km North
of Whitianga is Wharekaho Bay which has a fine stand of Pohutakawa
trees.
 One of these is a gnarled old (protected) specimen that exactly
fits a description in the journal of explorer Captain
Cook written in 1769. The Pohutukawa is covered in red flowers at Christmas time and is an icon of New Zelands coastlines.
Whitianga
 Whitianga is the main town on Mercury Bay and
takes it's name from HMS Buffalo, wrecked there in 1840.
For many people coming to Whitianga, fishing is
the major draw. But there are also scenic cruises, kayak trips,
fishing, windsurfing, sailing, diving and safe swimming.Take the passenger ferry to
Ferry Landing and Flaxmill Bay and the shuttle to Cooks Beach,
Hahei and Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove
Cooks Beach
Is situated just south of Whitianga. Cooks
Beach is a 3km crescent of fine golden sand with safe waters flanked
by Shakespeare Cliff to the west and the picnic spot of the Purangi
River to the east and can be accessed via Highway 25 (taking the
Hot Water Beach turn off) or from Whitianga by passenger ferry
to Ferry Landing; from there it's a 5 minute drive by taxi.
Shakespeare Cliff
Located between Cooks Beach and Flaxmill Bay is
Shakespeare's Cliff, an interesting scenic reserve.
A very short track leads to a vantage point with memorable views
of Mercury Bay. At the site a cairn records the arrival in 1769
of the HMS Endeavour under the command of Lieutenant Captain Cook."No sea can hurt her..." The famous words of Captain
James Cook referring to the original H.M.S. Endeavour.
Hot Water Beach
Some volcanos develop huge underground reservoirs of superheated water. Over time, this water will escape to the surface — cooling on the way. There are two fissures at Hot Water Beach issuing water as hot as 64˚C (147˚F) at a rate as high as 15 litres/minute.
 This water contains large amounts of salt (NOT salt water), calcium, magnesium, potassium, fluorine, bromine and silica. There are other hot water springs nearby but the location of these two springs on the beach make them unique. The hot springs are only accessible at low tide, however more often than not two hours each side of low tide, will still provide you with an opportunity to dig your own spa. Spades are available for hire at a local store
Hahei / Cathedral Cove
Accessible only on foot or by boat, famous Cathedral Cove is one
of the "must visit" sites on the Coromandel Peninsula.
The track begins at the northern end of Hahei.
Kuaotunu
Once a thriving
gold mining town, this area offers a
good beach, fishing and access - via
the famous Black Jack Road - to the
picturesque white sand beaches of Otama
and Opito.
 Matarangi
A purpose-built,
resort town offering 4.5km of beautiful
beach and safe swimming.
Amenities include
a Bob Charles designed golf course, tennis, boat ramp, airfield
and dairy.
For more information visit the website: www.thecoromandel.com |
The
Mercury Bay area of the Coromandel is one of quite stunning beaches
and bays. Azure blue waters roll onto clean white sands, while protective
arms of bush clad hills shelter the bays and further enhance the
scenic spendour of the area. Mercury Bay is a very popular holiday
destination and during the summer months the population swells considerably.
For the rest of the year, a relaxed, away from it all atmosphere
prevails.
Famous Cathedral Cove
The warm climate and rich soils in The Coromandel promote
lush growth and this is shown by the native bush that
covers much of the peninsula. Huge majestic trees, including
Kauri that survived the intensive milling of last century,
and pristine bush have been protected and can be seen
by the highways or walking tracks. An unusual square
Kauri is located 3km inland from the Rapaura watergardens.
In the spring the yellow flowers of the kowhai tree
break the greenness of the forests while the red blossoms
of the Pohutakawa provide a flaming brillance at Christmas
time. Some ancient Kauri, still standing, date up to
1500 years old.
Kuaotunu Beach
Safe
swimming, fishing, sunbathing, boating,
horse riding, windsurfing and sightseeing.
Just a 5 minute drive into
the Whitianga township, waterfront cafes, restaurants,
the wharf, passenger ferry, cinemas and
shops.
Below
are some links to activities across the
Coromandel as well as information on local
artists, galleries, restaurants and activities.
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Simpson's Beach, Whitianga &