Whitianga

The palm-fringed esplanade is the hub of this busy town with cafes, restaurants and bars, all overlooking the marina and Whitianga Harbour. Sit back and enjoy your choice of culinary delights as you contemplate which of the endless activities you do next.

Incredible views of the marina from Salt Restaurant & Bar are combined with fabulous food and first-class service. This is a popular lunchtime spot to dine alfresco on the spacious terrace and sample fresh seafood and cuisine from the local farm.

The Fireplace Restaurant is another popular eatery that offers gourmet food, wood-fired pizzas, and fireplaces in a spacious, rustic setting that oozes old-world charm. Good food is worth the wait and at peak times; You can wait a long time for a table, but locals and visitors alike say it’s worth it for the great food, great location, and good times.

The Fireplace is very close to Whitianga Wharf where you can catch the Whitianga Ferry for a short trip across the harbor to Ferry Landing. From here, choose from the many safe and accessible swimming beaches, including Front Beach, Flaxmill Bay, Lonely Bay and Cooks Beach.

Hiking and Trekking Tours

Nestled between Flaxmill Bay and Cooks Beach is Shakespeare Cliff, a stunning scenic reserve and immense rock edifice clad in natural vegetation. A walk to the top rewards tourists with stunning views of the ocean, bay, and nearby Lonely Bay and Cooks Beach. You can walk to Lonely Bay, a picturesque beach popular as a wedding venue, or continue on to Cooks Beach.

Local Beaches

Cooks Beach is a 3km crescent-shaped beach of golden sand that overlooks Center Island, a popular spot for snorkeling and fishing. At the safe swimming beach, you can also rent beach kayaks and explore the beach, surrounding rock outcroppings, and the clear waters of the nearby Marine Reserve. Teeming with marine life, this reserve also boasts the world famous and magnificent cathedral-shaped cavern called Cathedral Cove.

Fishing and coastal cruises

Whitianga is the place to go out, in, on or under the water. If you prefer to stay dry, head to the Whitianga Marina and go sport fishing with Rod of R&R Charters. Whether you are experienced or new to fishing, Rod is a great value and will go the extra mile to help you catch those big fish. You can also take a boat ride to Cathedral Cove on the Cathedral Cruise or see the underwater world from one of several glass-bottom boats.

For something a little more adventurous, head to Dive HQ and learn to scuba dive or, if time is of the essence, take one of their organized snorkeling and diving trips. These guys can also take you kayaking and show you the delights of Whitianga Harbor and Cathedral Cove.

hot springs

For something luxurious, try Lost Springs. This is one of Coromandel’s main attractions and is a testament to determination, perseverance and never giving up on your dream.

Inspired by old stories of a lost hot spring in the Coromandel, Alan Hopping spent 20 years searching for the spring. His eventual success led to the creation of the Lost Spring Thermal Resort in Whitianga, a spectacular set of hot pools fed by crystal clear geothermal water nestled in beautiful native forests. Relax and unwind in the resort’s soothing waters, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or dine at 18sixtyfive, the resort’s restaurant and bar.

scenic flights

One way to see Whitianga and the Coromandel 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.

Whitianga Scollop Festival

At the end of August heralds Whitianga’s foodie event of the year, the Scallop Festival. This event sells out every year with over 100,000 shelled scallops, cooked, marinated and presented in every conceivable way to delight and tantalize the taste buds. A huge marquee houses more than 60 food and wine stalls serving a wonderful array of seafood delicacies, fresh produce, wines, and local beer. You have to try the scallops and macadamia fishcakes at Cathedral Cove Macadamias, the wood-fired scallops and seafood pizza at Fired’s, or the ‘Scally Pops’ at Meat at the Beaches. This is a twist on the classic New Zealand hotdog and features gourmet homemade sausage wrapped around scallops served on a stick.

There is so much to do in Mercury Bay and Whitianga that it is easy to see why this is a top tourist destination for Coromandel visitors. So come and visit Mercury Bay and Whitianga 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.