Coromandel Peninsula Loop
A short weekend getaway from Auckland, featuring the West Coast road, Cathedral Cove, and Hot Water Beach
Drive from Thames along the West Coast road to Coromandel Town, then cross the 309 Road to the East Coast beaches. The itinerary is compact but driving times are manageable, making it ideal for weekends and short summer holidays. Hot Water Beach must be timed with the low tide. The trade-off is skipping Fletcher Bay at the northernmost tip of the peninsula.
The Cathedral Cove track may close temporarily after heavy rain; check the DOC website on the day.
Day by day
Day 1 · Thames Coast to Coromandel Town
Coromandel Peninsula（Thames School of Mines、Coromandel Town、Driving Creek Railway）
Drive from Auckland to Thames in about 1.5 hours, then follow the coastal road for another hour to Coromandel Town.
Stay: Coromandel Town
Day 2 · 309 Road to Cathedral Cove
Coromandel Peninsula（Waiau Falls & Kauri Grove (309 Road)、Shakespeare Cliff Lookout & Lonely Bay、Cathedral Cove (Mautohe)）
Take the unsealed 309 Road for about 1 hour to the East Coast, then head to the Cook's Beach area and Hahei. Short drives throughout the day.
No parking is allowed on Grange Road; start from the Lees Road car park.
Stay: Hahei
Day 3 · Hot Water Beach & Karangahake Gorge to Auckland
Coromandel Peninsula（Hot Water Beach、Tairua & Mount Paku、Karangahake Gorge）
Drive about 10 minutes from Hahei to Hot Water Beach, head south through Tairua to Karangahake Gorge, and return to Auckland in about 1.5 hours.
You can only dig hot pools within two hours of low tide; check the tide tables first.