Louise’s guidebook
Food scene
Lukes is a Bar and licensed restaurant, it is a bit of kiwiana, situated across the road from the beach. Check facebook/website for upcoming gigs. Often it has open mic nights, where locals and visitors can play instruments or sing. Menu is wood fired pizzas, seafood meals, childrens meals, daily specials and many more. Dog friendly all year round.
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Lukes Kitchen
20 Black Jack RdLukes is a Bar and licensed restaurant, it is a bit of kiwiana, situated across the road from the beach. Check facebook/website for upcoming gigs. Often it has open mic nights, where locals and visitors can play instruments or sing. Menu is wood fired pizzas, seafood meals, childrens meals, daily specials and many more. Dog friendly all year round.
A Hidden Tresure in the heart of Whitianga. Geo Thermal Pools/Day Spa/Restaurant. Ideal for couples or girls weekends away. Children under 14 not allowed in pool area, but are allowed in restaurant.
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The Lost Spring
121A Cook DrA Hidden Tresure in the heart of Whitianga. Geo Thermal Pools/Day Spa/Restaurant. Ideal for couples or girls weekends away. Children under 14 not allowed in pool area, but are allowed in restaurant.
Coromandel Mussel Kitchen
20 309 RdFamous for its mussel delicacies
Superb food, lovely setting where you can sit outside and watch the boats
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Salt Restaurant & Bar
1 Blacksmith LnSuperb food, lovely setting where you can sit outside and watch the boats
A favourite place of ours with Polynesian/Asian/Thai and Vietnamese infused flavours (not licensed)
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Blue Ginger
10 Blacksmith LnA favourite place of ours with Polynesian/Asian/Thai and Vietnamese infused flavours (not licensed)
A great place for breakfast/lunch with fabulous cooked/cabinet food. Large outside area when you can sit and look out at the ocean
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The harbour house cafe
11 EsplanadeA great place for breakfast/lunch with fabulous cooked/cabinet food. Large outside area when you can sit and look out at the ocean
Another fabulous cafe/restaurant across the road from the beach. I highly recommend the seafood chowder.
Kufe Bar Eatery
20 The EsplanadeAnother fabulous cafe/restaurant across the road from the beach. I highly recommend the seafood chowder.
A great place for breakfast/lunch with fabulous cooked/cabinet food. Large outside area when you can sit and look out at the ocean.
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The Espy Cafe
10 The Esplanade
A great place for breakfast/lunch with fabulous cooked/cabinet food. Large outside area when you can sit and look out at the ocean.
Eggsentric is a quirky cafe, with great outdoor seating. There are sculptures and art dotted around, and the food is great. Get on the ferry at Whitianga Wharf ($7 return for adults), only takes a couple of minutes to get to Ferry Landing. Walk 1 km to Eggsentric Cafe and admire beautiful Cooks Beach.
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Eggsentric Cafe And Restaurant
1049 Purangi RdEggsentric is a quirky cafe, with great outdoor seating. There are sculptures and art dotted around, and the food is great. Get on the ferry at Whitianga Wharf ($7 return for adults), only takes a couple of minutes to get to Ferry Landing. Walk 1 km to Eggsentric Cafe and admire beautiful Cooks Beach.
Supermarket
Whitianga Countdown
24 Joan Gaskell Dr15 ks away
New World Whitianga
1 Joan Gaskell DrWell stocked licensed store with outside seating and famous for its ice creams. Takeaways in summer season.
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Kuaotunu Store
16 Black Jack RdWell stocked licensed store with outside seating and famous for its ice creams. Takeaways in summer season.
Walks
Voted one of the top 10 beaches in the world, New Chums Beach is definitely worth a look and a swim. 1.5 ks each way, best to do at low tide. You do have to cross a stream. Wear walking shoes as some of the walk is over rocks. There is a bill board at the start of the walk with directions.
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New Chums Beach
Voted one of the top 10 beaches in the world, New Chums Beach is definitely worth a look and a swim. 1.5 ks each way, best to do at low tide. You do have to cross a stream. Wear walking shoes as some of the walk is over rocks. There is a bill board at the start of the walk with directions.
Opito Point Pa. Drive to end of Opito Beach and walk 10 minutes to end of beach. Climb up the 196 steps to the pa site where you get sensational views across Mercury Bay. You can carry on back down to the beach and around to Crayfish Bay, a small horseshoe-shaped bay.
The Crayfish Bay walk is not dog friendly as it goes across private farm land.
Opito Bay Road
Opito Bay RoadOpito Point Pa. Drive to end of Opito Beach and walk 10 minutes to end of beach. Climb up the 196 steps to the pa site where you get sensational views across Mercury Bay. You can carry on back down to the beach and around to Crayfish Bay, a small horseshoe-shaped bay.
The Crayfish Bay walk is not dog friendly as it goes across private farm land.
From Matarangi, the track takes you up a set of stairs to the saddle between Matarangi and Rings Beach. It passes a cellphone tower and then drops down to Rings Beach. There are views of the Coromandel Peninsula from the top.
It takes 15–20 minutes to walk from Matarangi to Rings Beach. You can walk back to Matarangi following the old Bluff Road that is now closed to vehicle traffic due to erosion (add an extra 15–20 minutes for the walk back to Matarangi).
The track is suited to walkers of all levels with easy gradients and only a small steep section with steps. You can also do the walk from Rings Beach to Matarangi. Drive up Bluff Road, park at Rings Beach on the reserve and you will see the track directly opposite. Dogs allowed on lead.
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Matarangi Beach
From Matarangi, the track takes you up a set of stairs to the saddle between Matarangi and Rings Beach. It passes a cellphone tower and then drops down to Rings Beach. There are views of the Coromandel Peninsula from the top.
It takes 15–20 minutes to walk from Matarangi to Rings Beach. You can walk back to Matarangi following the old Bluff Road that is now closed to vehicle traffic due to erosion (add an extra 15–20 minutes for the walk back to Matarangi).
The track is suited to walkers of all levels with easy gradients and only a small steep section with steps. You can also do the walk from Rings Beach to Matarangi. Drive up Bluff Road, park at Rings Beach on the reserve and you will see the track directly opposite. Dogs allowed on lead.
Rings Beach Wetlands Loop Track - 4.7 ks
From the Matarangi side, the Rings Beach Loop Track begins at the saddle between Matarangi and Rings Beach. Follow the Matarangi Bluff Track and then turn to head uphill to the south – the turnoff is signposted.
The track ends at the eastern end of Rings Beach. You can complete the loop by following the old Bluff Road back to the start of the track.
The 2.5–3 hour walk will take you through regenerating bush and wetlands with great lookouts on the way.
The track is marked with orange triangles. It is well defined and passes through regenerating native forest, pine forest, and wetlands. It has some stair sections and narrow crossings through the wetlands.
About half way through the walk, you can choose to walk on wide wooden planks and cut across the wetland or take the wetland loop to go around it (20 minutes). The wetland loop is a small detour but gives you a chance to spot fernbirds.
Rings Beach
Rings Beach Wetlands Loop Track - 4.7 ks
From the Matarangi side, the Rings Beach Loop Track begins at the saddle between Matarangi and Rings Beach. Follow the Matarangi Bluff Track and then turn to head uphill to the south – the turnoff is signposted.
The track ends at the eastern end of Rings Beach. You can complete the loop by following the old Bluff Road back to the start of the track.
The 2.5–3 hour walk will take you through regenerating bush and wetlands with great lookouts on the way.
The track is marked with orange triangles. It is well defined and passes through regenerating native forest, pine forest, and wetlands. It has some stair sections and narrow crossings through the wetlands.
About half way through the walk, you can choose to walk on wide wooden planks and cut across the wetland or take the wetland loop to go around it (20 minutes). The wetland loop is a small detour but gives you a chance to spot fernbirds.
Sightseeing
Displays on the history of fishing & other regional industries, plus a gift shop
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Museum Building
11 The EsplanadeDisplays on the history of fishing & other regional industries, plus a gift shop
A great day out for the family. The Waterworks is set on 5 acres and is a theme park with a difference. There are 70+ water driven attractions and activities that are mostly made from recycled and reused materials, that will provide Fun & Excitement for all. Cafe on site.
Just 1k past (heading towards Coromandel), it is famous for dozens of pigs of all sizes, meandering across the road.
THE WATERWORKS IS DOG FRIENDLY SO YOU CAN TAKE YOUR POOCH WITH YOU!
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The Waterworks
471 The 309 RoadA great day out for the family. The Waterworks is set on 5 acres and is a theme park with a difference. There are 70+ water driven attractions and activities that are mostly made from recycled and reused materials, that will provide Fun & Excitement for all. Cafe on site.
Just 1k past (heading towards Coromandel), it is famous for dozens of pigs of all sizes, meandering across the road.
THE WATERWORKS IS DOG FRIENDLY SO YOU CAN TAKE YOUR POOCH WITH YOU!
Local Beaches
Otama is our favourite beach (3.5 ks away). Beautiful white sand, unspoilt. Takes about an hour to walk end to end. Both ends have beautiful pohutakawa trees for shade. Far end is dog friendly all year, off lead but under control.
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Otama Beach
Otama is our favourite beach (3.5 ks away). Beautiful white sand, unspoilt. Takes about an hour to walk end to end. Both ends have beautiful pohutakawa trees for shade. Far end is dog friendly all year, off lead but under control.
Another beautiful white sandy beach (9.7 ks away). Road mostly unsealed.
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Opito Bay Beach
Opito Bay RoadAnother beautiful white sandy beach (9.7 ks away). Road mostly unsealed.
Long sandy beach with boat ramp. Couple of places where the river comes out for young kids to swim in shallow water.
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Kūaotunu Beach
Long sandy beach with boat ramp. Couple of places where the river comes out for young kids to swim in shallow water.