Cook’s Beach
Considered one of Coromandel’s best kept secrets, Cooks Beach is 3 km of crescent-shaped golden sand beach, flanked to the west by tree-covered Shakespeare’s Cliff and to the east by the Purangi Estuary. What makes Cooks Beach unique is its location. This is a quiet seaside haven that is unaffected by traffic noise, yet Cooks Beach is only a 10-minute drive from the thriving town of Whitianga, popular Hahei Beach, and two of Coromandel’s busiest tourist attractions, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.
One of the more sheltered beaches on the Coromandel East Coast, Cook’s Beach is a safe swimming beach and has two boat ramps, making it popular with families and boaters alike. You can also rent kayaks on the beach and explore the surrounding rocky outcroppings and crystal clear waters of the nearby Te Whanganui A Hei Marine Reserve, located between Cooks and Hahei Beach. Teeming with marine life, this reserve is also home to the world famous Cathedral Cove.
Cathedral Cove
Cathedral Cove is one of the most visited and photographed places on the Coromandel Peninsula and is only accessible on foot (via a slip road at the north end of Hahei Beach) or by water. Exploring Cathedral Cove by kayak is a sensational experience as you will reach beaches, caves, blowholes and islands that others cannot reach by boat or on foot. If you prefer to stay dry, head to Whitianga Marina and take a boat ride to Cathedral Cove on the Cathedral Cruise or one of the several glass-bottom boats.
hot water beach
Hot Water Beach is one of the best surf spots on the Coromandel Peninsula, but the real reason for its fame is what gives this beach its name. An underground river of hot water surfaces at the beach and two hours on either side of low tide, people flock there to dig and soak in their own natural geothermal hot pool in the sand. Winter or summer, this is a natural phenomenon that once experienced, you will never forget!
While you’re there, learn to surf with Hot Water Beach Surf School or have great coffee and delicious home-cooked food at Hot Waves Cafe; just steps from Hot Water Beach and right next to the Moko Artspace art gallery. Moko is packed with contemporary New Zealand and Pacific art, design and jewelery and is made to browse.
Hiking and Relaxed Walks
At the western end of Cooks Beach is Shakespeare Cliff Reserve, a massive rock edifice clad in natural vegetation. A walk to the top rewards tourists with stunning views of the ocean, Cooks Beach, and Lonely Bay. You can walk to Lonely Bay, a picturesque beach popular as a wedding venue, or continue to Flaxmill Bay and Ferry Landing.
Eggcentrics Cafe in Flaxmill Bay is a place that has everyone talking. It’s hard to pinpoint what makes this place so special, as it’s really a combination of factors; the name, the casual atmosphere, the art and sculpture lining the walls and floors, the impromptu singing, and the “you just can’t complain” food. House specialties at their best include crumbled mussels and luscious scallops in macadamia cream sauce.
Cut down on your meal with a short walk to Ferry Landing, where you can catch the Whitianga Ferry for the short ride across the harbor to Whitianga. Another way to see the sights is by ATV, which can be rented at Ferry Landing. They are a great way to get around and explore the sheltered north-facing beaches of Flaxmill Bay and Front Beach or, if you want to go a little further afield, you can also hire a scooter.
Local products and cafes
If you love macadamias, then you must visit Cathedral Cove Macadamias in Hahei. Organically grown and hand-selected, macadamia nuts are made into oil, ground into nut chips for salads, covered in chocolate for a chocolate lover’s treat, or made into spreads. You can taste the products before you buy and just sitting in the beautiful surroundings of macadamia and native trees makes it worth the visit.
Colenso Cafe is located in an old house on the main road into Whitianga, again just minutes from Cooks Beach. Surrounded by beautiful old plum trees and a huge herb garden, this place gives you that warm tingling feeling of cozy country comfort; you’ll just want to sit back and enjoy the peaceful surroundings and fresh local produce.
scenic flights
One way to see Cooks Beach and the rest of the Coromandel coastline is by helicopter. Coromandel Helicopters, based at Whitianga Airfield, fly scenic flights all over Coromandel, but for an absolute buzz that’s sure to get your heart racing, fly to the Pinnacles Ranges and mountain bike from 2,300ft. Adrenaline pumping verticals downhill.
There is so much available to you here at Cooks Beach. Close to all the popular tourist spots of Whitianga, Hahei Beach, Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, plus the lesser known but beautiful white sand beaches of Lonely Bay, Flaxmill Bay, Front Beach, Buffalo, Brophys and Simpsons Beach, Cooks Beach is the ideal location to base your Coromandel holiday. So come and visit Cooks Beach and see what makes this place so great. But be prepared to stay a while, as there is too much to do for a short stay.
