Local Attractions

Tairua grew as a holiday resort where many New Zealanders have their holiday homes (baches). It's where they come for weekends and main holidays to relax, fish, sail, walk, cycle, play golf and entertain friends and family. But in recent years these towns have become touring centres for visitors from all over the world wanting to explore the whole of the Coromandel. All of the main sites are easy to get to for the day, with some of the most famous less than 30 minutes away. Two of these 'must-see' spots, Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove are just 25km drive. The Coromandel east and north coasts have countless fabulous beaches with gorgeous sand, each with their own character – some wild and isolated, some gentle with settlements, some on main routes, some requiring a hike through native bush to get there and almost all with some amazing wildlife – shore birds and sea mammals. Running down the spine of the peninsula is the Coromandel mountain range, high peaks formed by ancient volcanos, covered in forest. And the region's many historic towns, such as Coromandel, Thames and Waihi are all well worth a visit.