Approximately 30% of the
Coromandel Peninsula's land is managed
by the Department of Conservation.
This provides great opportunities
for those visitors to the area who
want to get out and explore the area's
natural surroundings and to overnight
amongst some spectacular scenery.
The Coromandel offers
an array of:
There are still
some significant stands of the mighty Kauri trees,
which can be viewed from various locations
around the Coromandel. |
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The Coromandel is a walker's
dream with a centre dominated by a range of
jagged mountains and its fringes scattered
with picturesque coves and beaches.
The mountains are remnant
of the Coromandel's volcanic past and are
largely covered in regenerating native bush
recovering from the pioneering past. In the
later part of the 1800's gold was discovered
in the Coromandel area - between 1862 and
1952 it has been reported that 16 million
tones of ore were mined from Coromandel goldfields.
One of the more recent gold mining towns is Waihi. Waihi is still a rich gold mining town, producing most of New Zealand’s gold and silver bullion. Enjoy exploring Waihi and the Karangahake Gorge also rich in goldmining history.
Kauri logging was also a major industry in
early pioneering days of the Coromandel and
the hills filled with huge kauri tree all
but disappeared off the peninsula. As a result
of this past many of the walks in the area
are steeped in gold mining and kauri logging
history.
Evidence of some of the earliest Polynesian settlement in New Zealand exists on the Coromandel. Historical interest points exist around every corner, telling the stories of the two great navigators Kupe and Cook and those who followed in their footsteps. Centuries old Maori Village Sites dot the coast and wonderful remnants of our culture and pioneering past are waiting to be explored.
Check the Conditions
We recommend that prior to setting out on your walk; contact the local information centre or DOC office in the Kauaeranga Valley for the local track conditions
Thames Information Centre 07 868 7284
Coromandel Information Centre 07 866 8598
Whitianga Information Centre 07 866 5555
Tairua Information Centre 07 864 7575
Whangamata Information Centre 07 865 8340
DOC Information Centre 07 867 9080
Safety Watch:
To report damaged and/or unsafe visitor facilities telephone: 0800 999 005.
For all Fire and Search and rescue emergencies, call 111.
Find walks for the following regions:
