Cathedral Cove is only accessible only on foot, boat or kayak, Cathedral Cove is a “must visit” site.

There are several scenic tracks including the 2hr return walk to Cathedral Cove, which gives access to Gemstone Bay, Mares Leg and Cathedral Cove.

Cathedral Cove is located at Hahei, just 10minutes drive from Hot Water Beach. Foot access to the Cathedral Cove car park is at the western end of Hahei Beach and vehicle access is up Grange Road (turn left past shops and go all the way to end of Grange Road). It is here that you can also access Gemstone Bay and Mares Leg.

Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve, Te Whanganui- A-Hei, is off this coastline and covers 9 square kilometres. The best way to experience the marine reserve is by kayak, boat or by diving in the waters. There are a number of kayak and boat operations in Hahei.

Hahei has got some good little shops and a great brewery called the Pour House.

Visit this website for lots of info: www.hahei.co.nz

Castle Rock is the core of an old volcano that rises above the bush on the backbone of the peninsula. To climb it, you leave the 309 Road and drive about 2 km up through the pine forest. Leave your car and set off on foot up a clay road then a walking track in the native bush.

Waiau Falls are just below the road – an easy walk to view this beautiful spot. The falls cascade over the rocks and have formed a great swimming hole below.

Remembering that the Coromandel Peninsula was once covered by these magnificent kauri trees, it is well worth the walk along the old coach road, which is now a gravel path, and boardwalks to stand next to these few remaining giants — protected from before the turn of the century. The walk takes about 10 minutes but you need 15 – 45 minutes to appreciate the beauty. These trees are magnificent so don’t miss this stop!

The 309 Road is a 22-kilometre gravel road between the towns of Whitianga and Coromandel. There are two theories as to how it got its name: one is that there are 309 bends in the road, the other is that horse-drawn coaches used to take 309 minutes to travel it. Today this road offers a great day out with lots of things to see and do along the way.