Coromandel Explorer Walk

A walk of untold beauty. Experience the breathtaking scenery of the Coromandel that most people never see.

DAYS

4

KM

35 - 45

MILES

21 - 27

DIFFICULTY

4/5

ACCOMMODATION

Lodge

PRICE

$1950

Under 15 yrs 1300 NZD

WALKING SEASON

Oct-Apr

WALKING TOUR SUMMARY

The Coromandel Explorer Walk is a unique combination of the best Coromandel hikes. Jagged mountain peaks, stunning coastal views, waterfalls, abandoned gold mines and glistening white sand beaches make this a uniquely Kiwi walking holiday. Hike ‘The Pinnacles’ in the Kauaeranga Valley and the Coastal Walkway with a small, fun group, staying in a boutique lodge.

  • 4 day / 3 night New Zealand guided walking tour
  • 4-7 hours hiking each day over varied terrain
  • Carry a day pack only
  • Enthusiastic and experienced guides
  • Complementary gear hire on request
  • Includes: cooked or continental breakfasts; generous packed trail lunches, snacks & hot drinks; delicious 2-course dinners with NZ wine or beer, including a meal at an award-winning local restaurant; return transfers from Rotorua or Matamata; 3-star boutique lodge accommodation with ensuites; Whitianga ferry-boat ride.

“I enjoyed the trip very much. The peace of the accommodation was wonderful.”

MAXINE, Coromandel Explorer

“A fantastic experience. Something I will remember and treasure for a lifetime.”

ALEX, Coromandel Explorer

A walk of untold beauty. Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Coromandel that most people never see.

DAY 1

Rotorua to Coromandel, via Matamata

We’ll collect you from your central Rotorua accommodation between 8.00am and 8:30am or from your central Matamata accommodation around 9:30am.

First we warm up with a 5km hike to the top of Wairere Falls, an old Māori pack trail leading to the North Island’s highest waterfall, where we can view the verdant Waikato Basin from two lookouts over-hanging 153 metres of thunderous waterfall.

As we continue north, enjoy views out over the mussel farms of the Hauraki Gulf from one of New Zealand’s classic coastal drives, the Coromandel West Coast. We arrive in Coromandel Town, a charming seaside settlement rich in pioneering history and a bustling wee village in the summer months. If time allows, we’ll call in at Long Bay Scenic Reserve – this little-known trail circuits a grove of magnificent 330 year old Kauri trees – New Zealand’s very own forest giants that grow up to 50 metres tall.

At last we reach our lovely, peaceful accommodation where we can watch the sunset from the verandah, graze over a platter of fresh fruits and cheese with a glass of wine or ice-cold brew.

DAY 2

The Legendary Coromandel Coastal Walkway

Enjoy a hearty breakfast in the alfresco dining area of the lodge, surrounded by native bush and birdsong.

We then head north to the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula to hike one of the best coastal walks in the country. We begin our hike at Fletcher Bay, a picture-perfect isolated beach flanked by green hills and white sand. This historic trail follows an old bridle path once used by gold miners who populated the Coromandel region in colonial times.

The views from the track of the Pacific Ocean, Great Barrier Island and Mt. Moehau are well worth the climb.

The track passes through farmland and native bush to reach the remote and beautiful Poley Bay – a fantastic beach for a picnic! This stretch of coastline offers all the dramatic views that encapsulate the Coromandel.

DAY 3

The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail: The ‘Pinnacles’

This morning we head south and enter the hidden world of the Kauaeranga Valley, home to the majestic Pinnacles range. The entire length of the Coromandel Peninsula was once a chain of volcanic cones. This chain has since been eroded and weathered to form the spectacular series of outcrops you see today.

The Pinnacles trail climbs through re-generating kauri forest, passing one of NZ’s best-preserved kauri dams, eventually cresting the top of the range to reach the Pinnacles Hut. From the hut, a scramble to the top of the Pinnacles rock formation rewards you with 360° views of the entire Coromandel Peninsula and beyond.

If the Pinnacles isn’t your style and you would prefer a more relaxing day you have the option of staying in and exploring Coromandel Township. Highlights include the Driving Creek Railway, local artisan workshops, colourful cafes, and Kiwi culture.

Tonight we dine in an award-winning local restaurant, where we’ll have a chance to sample some of the region’s best local food and wine.

DAY 4

Epic East Coast

This morning we visit one of the top twenty beaches in the world, New Chums Beach. An unforgettable white sand, crescent moon-shaped beach, fringed by pohutukawa and nikau palms. Finding a secluded beach with no signs of man is an experience not to be missed! (Please note that this walk is dependent on tides)

After a restorative café pit-stop nearby, we’ll carry on around for a refreshing picnic lunch overlooking Buffalo Beach in sunny, vibrant Whitianga. Continuing around the east coast, we’ll visit the 309 Kauri walk, an easy 30 minute stroll to a beautiful grove of majestic kauri trees, then have you safely back to either Thames between 3 – 4pm, Matamata between 4 – 5pm or Rotorua between 5 – 6pm to meet your onward travel connections.

We spend 3 nights in the same boutique, 3-star lodge set amongst lush, native bush on the outskirts of Coromandel Town. Rooms are private, standalone double, twin or single cabins each with their own ensuite bathroom.

For solo travellers, who’d rather not share a room, a private room upgrade or single supplement is available for $300 NZD, per person. Options for families are available as well, please enquire with our friendly team.

We share meals together in the covered, heated, alfresco dining area to ensure a closer connection with the peaceful, surrounding bush. We’ll make sure you’re well taken care of on this fully-catered, all inclusive package holiday. We supply 2-course evening meals,  delicious cooked or continental breakfasts, nutritious snacks, pre-dinner drinks and healthy nibbles. You certainly won’t go hungry! 

Specialty diets are easily accommodated, with advanced notice. You are also welcome to bring your own alcoholic beverages if you wish. 

We supply

  • Generous, nutritious meals full of fresh, local produce; packed picnic lunches with the best sandwiches you’ve ever eaten, trail snacks & chocolate; fresh fruit, hot & cold drinks
  • One complimentary glass of crisp Kiwi wine or craft beer per person, each evening. Non-alcoholic options are available
  • Return transport from Matamata or Rotorua.
  • On-trail hiking guides who facilitate, educate and entertain
  • Complimentary hiking gear hire on request
  • Bed linen, bath towels, pillows & blankets
  • Toilet paper, soap & hand sanitiser

What else do you need to know?

  • Transfers from Auckland can be arranged for groups of 8 or more, just give us a call to arrange
  • Non-walkers are more than welcome to join us! There are plenty of activities to be done that don’t involve walking, please enquire with our friendly reservations team for more information
  • There are no drying rooms available but plenty of wide, covered verandahs for drying wet gear
  • Your cabins have power outlets next to all beds so CPAP machines are easily accommodated
  • Sorry, the use of drones is not permitted
  • You are welcome to bring your own alcohol if you wish; we ask that you drink responsibly

FAQ

werewere kokako blue mushroom
Do I Need To Pay In Full Now?
There’s no need to pay in full at the…
fitness
Fitness
What fitness level do you need to join us…
accommodation
Accommodation
On the Coromandel Explorer guided walk we stay in…
Crackers and cheese spread
Meals
The Coromandel Explorer is a fully catered walk, we’ll…
specialty diets
Specialty Diets – Can You Cater For Me?
Absolutely. We are happy to accommodate guests with specialty…
serrated leaf bush
Should I Bring Something Nice To Wear In The Evenings?
You’re on holiday after all, so why not!? We…
Best Coromandel Hike Walking Legends
I suffer from terrible car sickness, what will the roads be like?
Good question! If you suffer from car-sickness, don’t worry….
single supplement
I’m Travelling Solo – Who Will I Be Sharing a Room With?
The accommodation on the Coromandel Explorer guided walk is…
how do I get here
How Do I Get Here?
The Coromandel Explorer Walk departs Rotorua and Matamata roughly…
non walkers coromandel
Can Non-Walkers Join This Trip?
If someone in your group is not a keen…
pinnacles coromandel
Do I Need To Bring Cash?
No, cash is not essential, but you’re welcome to…

DAYS

4

KM

35 – 45

MILES

21 – 27

DIFFICULTY

4/5

ACCOMMODATION

Lodge

PRICE

$1950

Under 15 yrs 1300 NZD

WALKING SEASON

Oct-Apr

WALKING TOUR SUMMARY

The Coromandel Explorer Walk is a unique combination of the best Coromandel hikes. Jagged mountain peaks, stunning coastal views, waterfalls, abandoned gold mines and glistening white sand beaches make this a uniquely Kiwi walking holiday. Hike ‘The Pinnacles’ in the Kauaeranga Valley and the Coastal Walkway with a small, fun group, staying in a boutique lodge.

  • 4 day / 3 night New Zealand guided walking tour
  • 4-7 hours hiking each day over varied terrain
  • Carry a day pack only
  • Enthusiastic and experienced guides
  • Complementary gear hire on request
  • Includes: cooked or continental breakfasts; generous packed trail lunches, snacks & hot drinks; delicious 2-course dinners with NZ wine or beer, including a meal at an award-winning local restaurant; return transfers from Rotorua or Matamata; 3-star boutique lodge accommodation with ensuites; Whitianga ferry-boat ride.

“I enjoyed the trip very much. The peace of the accommodation was wonderful.”

MAXINE, Coromandel Explorer

“A fantastic experience. Something I will remember and treasure for a lifetime.”

ALEX, Coromandel Explorer

A walk of untold beauty. Experience the breathtaking beauty of the Coromandel that most people never see.

DAY 1

Rotorua to Coromandel, via Matamata

We’ll collect you from your central Rotorua accommodation between 8.00am and 8:30am or from your central Matamata accommodation around 9:30am.

First we warm up with a 5km hike to the top of Wairere Falls, an old Māori pack trail leading to the North Island’s highest waterfall, where we can view the verdant Waikato Basin from two lookouts over-hanging 153 metres of thunderous waterfall.

As we continue north, enjoy views out over the mussel farms of the Hauraki Gulf from one of New Zealand’s classic coastal drives, the Coromandel West Coast. We arrive in Coromandel Town, a charming seaside settlement rich in pioneering history and a bustling wee village in the summer months. If time allows, we’ll call in at Long Bay Scenic Reserve – this little-known trail circuits a grove of magnificent 330 year old Kauri trees – New Zealand’s very own forest giants that grow up to 50 metres tall.

At last we reach our lovely, peaceful accommodation where we can watch the sunset from the verandah, graze over a platter of fresh fruits and cheese with a glass of wine or ice-cold brew.

DAY 2

The Legendary Coromandel Coastal Walkway

Enjoy a hearty breakfast in the alfresco dining area of the lodge, surrounded by native bush and birdsong.

We then head north to the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula to hike one of the best coastal walks in the country. We begin our hike at Fletcher Bay, a picture-perfect isolated beach flanked by green hills and white sand. This historic trail follows an old bridle path once used by gold miners who populated the Coromandel region in colonial times.

The views from the track of the Pacific Ocean, Great Barrier Island and Mt. Moehau are well worth the climb.

The track passes through farmland and native bush to reach the remote and beautiful Poley Bay – a fantastic beach for a picnic! This stretch of coastline offers all the dramatic views that encapsulate the Coromandel.

DAY 3

The Kauaeranga Kauri Trail: The ‘Pinnacles’

This morning we head south and enter the hidden world of the Kauaeranga Valley, home to the majestic Pinnacles range. The entire length of the Coromandel Peninsula was once a chain of volcanic cones. This chain has since been eroded and weathered to form the spectacular series of outcrops you see today.

The Pinnacles trail climbs through re-generating kauri forest, passing one of NZ’s best-preserved kauri dams, eventually cresting the top of the range to reach the Pinnacles Hut. From the hut, a scramble to the top of the Pinnacles rock formation rewards you with 360° views of the entire Coromandel Peninsula and beyond.

If the Pinnacles isn’t your style and you would prefer a more relaxing day you have the option of staying in and exploring Coromandel Township. Highlights include the Driving Creek Railway, local artisan workshops, colourful cafes, and Kiwi culture.

Tonight we dine in an award-winning local restaurant, where we’ll have a chance to sample some of the region’s best local food and wine.

DAY 4

Epic East Coast

This morning we visit one of the top twenty beaches in the world, New Chums Beach. An unforgettable white sand, crescent moon-shaped beach, fringed by pohutukawa and nikau palms. Finding a secluded beach with no signs of man is an experience not to be missed! (Please note that this walk is dependent on tides)

After a restorative café pit-stop nearby, we’ll carry on around for a refreshing picnic lunch overlooking Buffalo Beach in sunny, vibrant Whitianga. Continuing around the east coast, we’ll visit the 309 Kauri walk, an easy 30 minute stroll to a beautiful grove of majestic kauri trees, then have you safely back to either Thames between 3 – 4pm, Matamata between 4 – 5pm or Rotorua between 5 – 6pm to meet your onward travel connections.

We spend 3 nights in the same boutique, 3-star lodge set amongst lush, native bush on the outskirts of Coromandel Town. Rooms are private, standalone double, twin or single cabins each with their own ensuite bathroom.

For solo travellers, who’d rather not share a room, a private room upgrade or single supplement is available for $300 NZD, per person. Options for families are available as well, please enquire with our friendly team.

We share meals together in the covered, heated, alfresco dining area to ensure a closer connection with the peaceful, surrounding bush. We’ll make sure you’re well taken care of on this fully-catered, all inclusive package holiday. We supply 2-course evening meals,  delicious cooked or continental breakfasts, nutritious snacks, pre-dinner drinks and healthy nibbles. You certainly won’t go hungry! 

Specialty diets are easily accommodated, with advanced notice. You are also welcome to bring your own alcoholic beverages if you wish. 

We supply

  • Generous, nutritious meals full of fresh, local produce; packed picnic lunches with the best sandwiches you’ve ever eaten, trail snacks & chocolate; fresh fruit, hot & cold drinks
  • One complimentary glass of crisp Kiwi wine or craft beer per person, each evening. Non-alcoholic options are available
  • Return transport from Matamata or Rotorua.
  • On-trail hiking guides who facilitate, educate and entertain
  • Complimentary hiking gear hire on request
  • Bed linen, bath towels, pillows & blankets
  • Toilet paper, soap & hand sanitiser

What else do you need to know?

  • Transfers from Auckland can be arranged for groups of 8 or more, just give us a call to arrange
  • Non-walkers are more than welcome to join us! There are plenty of activities to be done that don’t involve walking, please enquire with our friendly reservations team for more information
  • There are no drying rooms available but plenty of wide, covered verandahs for drying wet gear
  • Your cabins have power outlets next to all beds so CPAP machines are easily accommodated
  • Sorry, the use of drones is not permitted
  • You are welcome to bring your own alcohol if you wish; we ask that you drink responsibly

FAQ

werewere kokako blue mushroom
Do I Need To Pay In Full Now?
There’s no need to pay in full at the…
fitness
Fitness
What fitness level do you need to join us…
accommodation
Accommodation
On the Coromandel Explorer guided walk we stay in…
Crackers and cheese spread
Meals
The Coromandel Explorer is a fully catered walk, we’ll…
specialty diets
Specialty Diets – Can You Cater For Me?
Absolutely. We are happy to accommodate guests with specialty…
serrated leaf bush
Should I Bring Something Nice To Wear In The Evenings?
You’re on holiday after all, so why not!? We…
Best Coromandel Hike Walking Legends
I suffer from terrible car sickness, what will the roads be like?
Good question! If you suffer from car-sickness, don’t worry….
single supplement
I’m Travelling Solo – Who Will I Be Sharing a Room With?
The accommodation on the Coromandel Explorer guided walk is…
how do I get here
How Do I Get Here?
The Coromandel Explorer Walk departs Rotorua and Matamata roughly…
non walkers coromandel
Can Non-Walkers Join This Trip?
If someone in your group is not a keen…
pinnacles coromandel
Do I Need To Bring Cash?
No, cash is not essential, but you’re welcome to…

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