Coromandel Coastal Walkway
Hiker’s Options
Full Day Experience
Departs Colville or Coromandel Town
The Coromandel Cure
The Coromandel Cure
Spending a day hiking the Coastal Walkway has got to be good for your soul. So good in fact, you won’t want to leave!
The day starts in either Coromandel Town at 8.30 a.m. or Colville at 9.15 a.m. (30 minutes north of Coromandel Town on a tarsealed road) where you join our very comfortable, air-conditioned shuttle. We travel a well worn, back-country, gravel road to the remote and rugged location of Fletcher Bay, the start of the Coromandel Walkway. Our driver is experienced at negotiating the tricky, narrow road and will point out the local sights along the way while you sit back and enjoy the scenery.
Around 10.30 a.m. we arrive at the start of the Coromandel Coastal Walk. This self-guided trail is well marked and gives you the following options to hike out-and-back for up to four hours or ten kilometres.
Destination No 1: The Olde Shepherd’s Hutt - a nice easy stride out, a great place to sit under the elderly pohutukawa trees and enjoy your lunch as you savour the outstanding views.
Total 4kms, 1.5- 2hrs easy walk through open farmland.
Destination No 2: Poley Bay: Explore to the depths of Poley Bay, a knarly, isolated spot that conjurs up memories from jurassic times with volcanic rocks scarred from continual wind and relentless seas. This section can also prove a bit of a challenge, but take your time, rest as you go and before you know it, you will be through.
Total 6kms, 2-3 hrs, some easy walking through farmland and native bush with a steady climb down and out of Poley Bay.
Destination 3: The Heritage Seat. A fantastic place to sit with stunning views from Sugarloaf to Great Barrier and Beyond before returning to Fletcher Bay. Sit and soak up the scenery or cast a little further and venture to the Lookout. Either point provides the breathless sea vistas that the Walkway is famous for.
Total 8kms, 3-4 hrs, moderate fitness required as Poley Bay must be traversed twice.
Destination 4: The Lookout Point. For most this will be a step too far but great for those keen on extra mileage.
Total 10kms, 4hrs return moderate fitness required as Poley Bay must be traversed twice.
Turn around at any point you choose, we will be back in Fletcher Bay waiting for you with a warm welcome and a some yummy afternoon tea. There is always time to take a dip in the ocean and enjoy even more time in this remote location.
For those that cannot get enough of their Northern Coromandel Experience, there is the option to hike oneway through the very popular Muriwai Walk. This is an optional short walk of 3 kilometres along the dramatic, windswept clifftops beside the busy Colville Channel and down along the beach at Port Jackson. Many acclaim this walk as equal to the beauty of the Coastal Walk itself.
Tip of the Day: This beach is a great place to finish your day with a dip in the ocean.
#1 How will I know where to go while on the trail?
Your driver is here to help support you throughout the day and will provide you with a pocket map to guide you through the trail. The trail is also well signposted.
#2 Why would I take a tour?
We know the best view points, we know the roads, the history, the local knowledge. All things easily missed when travelling independently.
#3 Can I drive there myself?
If hiring a vehicle it pays to check the Agreement you have signed. Some hire companies prohibit their vehicles from being driven on the roads north of Colville. If you do bring a vehicle up this way, please remember the road is narrow in many places and care is required.
#4 Do you know of somewhere we can stay in Colville?
Yes, right across the road from the departure point is Susannah’s, a delightful villa perfectly set up for our travellers.
How to get to The Coromandel Peninsula……..
Follow the SH 25 signage around the Coromandel Peninsula taking the Loop route. If coming from Auckland consider tackling it clockwise from Thames.
If coming from Tauranga, look at taking the anticlockwise version through Waihi and onto Whangamata.
Transport Options from Whitianga
Are you staying in Whitianga and unable to get to Coromandel Township to join our tour? The super helpful people at Whitianga Tours and Taxi have put together a service that will have you dropped at our base ready to connect to our Coastal Walkway Tour. Not only that but they will collect you from your Whitianga accommodation and point out some of the stunning scenery along the way! If required they will also meet you at the end of the day for the return trip back to Whitianga. To make arrangements please click the link below. You will need to make two separate bookings, one with us for our Coastal Walkway Tour and the other with Whitianga Tours and Taxi for their Connection Service.
“One of the best Coastal Walks in New Zealand”.
Additional Info:
Colville Departure:- Adults: $150.00pp, Groups 4-7 $125.00pp, 8-11 $100.00pp. Under 16 years $100 pp.
Coromandel Town Departure:- Adults: $225.00pp, Groups 4-7 $175.00pp, 8-11 $150.00pp. Under 16 years $150pp.
Please contact us for bookings. It is recommended you book in advance.
Payment can be made on the day of departure in cash or credit/debit card.
Children must travel with two adults otherwise adult fare applies.
Closed Tuesdays.
Minimum of two passengers required to confirm a tour. If you are travelling alone, please get in touch and we may be able to assist.
Colville Departure Point: This is from our home in Colville at 76 Wharf Road, Colville. First road on the left just as you leave Colville. Departs once daily at 9.15 a.m. returns 5.00pm approx. Check-in 10 minutes prior. Free Parking available on site.
Coromandel Departure Point: Coromandel Town Carpark, 68 Woollams Avenue, Coromandel Town or your local Coromandel Town accommodation by prior arrangement. Departs at once daily 8.30 a.m. returns 6.00 p.m. approx.
Please Note: Many rental car companies have insurance exclusions in place if their hire vehicles are driven on our backcountry roads. If you are in a bigger vehicle e.g. a campervan or towing a caravan, some parts of the road are very narrow with very little room to get around oncoming traffic without maneouvering. Taking a tour with us means you leave the stresses and strains of driving, back in the carpark.
Please bring sturdy walking shoes, lunch, snacks, water, sun protection, insect repellent, swimsuit and towel. Our weather can be changeable so it is also advisable to carry a warm layer and a rain jacket. Free water supplies available in the van. Oh and don't forget your camera. Trainers are OK to wear in summer but must have good grip on the soles.
We advise our travellers to stay in either Colville or Coromandel the night before and after the tour. This is a full day and can be tiring if additional travel is booked in further away. It may be helpful with your planning to know Whitianga and Thames are approximately an hour's drive away from Coromandel Town.
The steeper section totalling approximately one kilometre, down and out of Poley Bay is a challenge for some of our hikers. We can discuss this with you if you would like further clarification. Walking Poles may be of assistance as well as good grip on shoes.
Please advise in advance if you have any food allergies or food requirements.
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Credit: Sam Ritterman
