5 Best Sights in Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand
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We’ve compiled the best of the best in Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Colville General Store
Colville's classic counterculture General Store is run by a local co-operative. It sells foodstuffs (there's a well-stocked organic section), wine, beer, and gasoline. It's kind of like the general store that used to be in all country areas. It's also the northernmost supplier on the peninsula, so don't forget to fill your tank.
Mataatua Māori Marae
Mataatua, one of the most beautiful carved wharenui (meetinghouses) in Māoridom, endured a 130-year-long indignity: it was dismantled; carted to museums around New Zealand, Australia, and England; and rebuilt in various forms. In 2011, the house was returned home to the local Ngāti Awa people and restored. For a truly enriching cultural experience, let these people host you, explain their protocols, and share their history (including song, chants, and an outstanding light show). They’ll also take you for a short coastal walk, tell the story of their ancestors, and show you where they first landed in Aotearoa (New Zealand).
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Mauao (Mt. Maunganui)
This dormant volcano is the region's visual icon; its rocky cone stands sentinel, 761 feet high at the end of the peninsula that boasts one of New Zealand's best swimming and surfing areas. White-sand beaches with rolling surf stretch for miles away from Mauao. Trails on Mauao include an easy walk around its base and the more strenuous summit climb. To get to Mauao, head toward it along any road running parallel to the beach. The Mount Maunganui area gets crowded around Christmas and New Year's Eve, so consider early or late summer (or even winter) for your visit. Beach walks or exploring Mauao is a delight at any time, and the sidewalk cafés are always open.
Ōhope Beach
The region’s most popular and safest swimming beach is the 11-km (7-mile) laid-back Ōhope, just a 10-minute drive east of Whakatane. Pohutukawa Avenue, Ōhope's main road, runs parallel to the beach, flanked by native pohutukawa trees, private homes, and grazing cows. You can stay in the Top 10 Holiday Park or choose from a range of holiday homes, motels, apartments and B&Bs. There's lots to do here: fishing off the beach, surfing, and walking the Nga Tapuwae o Toi trail are just a few options. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); toilets. Best for: surfing; swimming; walking.