| Whitianga | | | | the Cathedral Cruiser or view the undersea world |
| The palm-lined Esplanade is the hub of this busy town | | | | from one of several glass bottom boats. |
| featuring cafes, restaurants and bars all overlooking | | | | For something a little more adventurous, head to |
| the Whitianga marina and harbour. Sit back and enjoy | | | | Dive HQ and learn to dive or if time is of the |
| your choice of culinary delights while contemplating | | | | essence, take one of their organised snorkelling |
| which of the endless activities you'll do next. | | | | & diving trips. These guys can also take you |
| The amazing marina views from Salt Restaurant | | | | kayaking and show you the delights of Whitianga |
| & Bar are more then matched by the fabulous | | | | Harbour and Cathedral Cove. |
| food and first class service. This is a popular | | | | Hot Water Springs |
| lunchtime place to dine alfresco on the expansive | | | | For something luxurious, try the Lost Springs. This is |
| deck sampling the fresh seafood and local farm | | | | one of the Coromandel's top attractions and is a |
| cuisine. | | | | testimony to determination, perseverance and never |
| The Fireplace restaurant is another popular dining | | | | giving up on your dream. |
| place featuring gourmet food wood fired pizzas and | | | | Inspired by old stories of a lost thermal water spring |
| open fires in a spacious, rustic setting oozing with old | | | | on the Coromandel, Alan Hopping spent 20 years |
| world charm. Good food is worth the wait and in | | | | searching for the spring. His eventual success led to |
| peak times; you can wait a long time for a table but | | | | the creation of the Lost Spring Thermal Resort in |
| locals and visitors alike all say it's worth it for the | | | | Whitianga, a spectacular suite of hot pools fed by |
| great food, great location and great times. | | | | crystal clear geothermal water set in beautiful native |
| The Fireplace is very close to Whitianga Wharf | | | | forests. Relax and unwind in the resort's soothing |
| where you can catch the Whitianga Ferry and take | | | | waters, spoil yourself with a spa treatment or dine |
| the short trip across the harbour to Ferry Landing. | | | | out at 18sixtyfive, the resort restaurant and bar. |
| From here, take your pick of the many safe and | | | | Scenic Flights |
| accessible swimming beaches including Front Beach, | | | | One way to see Whitianga and the Coromandel is by |
| Flaxmill Bay, Lonely Bay and Cooks Beach. | | | | helicopter. Coromandel Helicopters based at Whitianga |
| Hiking and Trekking Walks | | | | Airfield takes scenic flights all over the Coromandel |
| Located between Flaxmill Bay and Cooks Beach is | | | | but for an absolute buzz sure to get your heart |
| Shakespeare Cliff, an impressive scenic reserve and | | | | racing, fly in to the Pinnacles range and mountain bike |
| immense edifice of rock clad in natural bush. A walk | | | | out starting with 2300 vertical feet of adrenalin |
| to the top rewards sightseers with breathtaking | | | | pumping downhill. |
| views of the ocean, bay and nearby Lonely Bay and | | | | Whitianga Scollop Festival |
| Cooks Beach. You can walk down into Lonely Bay, a | | | | Late August heralds Whitianga's gastronomic event |
| picturesque beach popular as a venue for weddings | | | | of the year, the Scallop Festival. This event is a |
| or continue on to Cooks Beach. | | | | sell-out every year with more than 100,000 scallops |
| Local Beaches | | | | shucked, cooked, marinated and presented in every |
| Cooks Beach is 3 km of crescent shaped golden sand | | | | possible way imaginable to delight and tantalise the |
| beach looking out to Centre Island, a popular location | | | | taste buds. A huge marquee village houses over 60 |
| for diving and fishing. A safe swimming beach, you | | | | food and wine stands serving a wonderful array of |
| can also hire kayaks off the beach and explore the | | | | seafood delights, fresh produce , wines and locally |
| beach, the surrounding rocky outcrops and the | | | | brewed beer. You must try the scallop and |
| pristine waters of the nearby Marine Reserve. | | | | macadamia fish cakes from Cathedral Cove |
| Teeming with marine life, this reserve also features | | | | Macadamias, Fired's scallop and seafood wood fired |
| the world famous, magnificent cathedral shaped | | | | pizza or the Meat at the Beaches 'Scally Pops'. This is |
| cavern called Cathedral Cove. | | | | a spin on the New Zealand classic hot dog and |
| Fishing & Coastal Cruises | | | | features a gourmet homemade sausage wrapped |
| Whitianga is the place to get out, in, on or under the | | | | around scallops served on a stick. |
| water. If you prefer to stay dry, head to Whitianga | | | | There's so much to do in Mercury Bay and Whitianga |
| marina and go big game fishing with Rod of | | | | it's easy to see why this is a top tourist destination |
| R&R Charters. Whether you are experienced or | | | | for visitors to the Coromandel. So come and visit |
| new to fishing, Rod is great value and will go the | | | | Mercury Bay and Whitianga and see what makes this |
| extra mile to help you catch those big fish. You can | | | | such a great place. But be prepared to stay awhile as |
| also take a leisurely boat ride to Cathedral Cove on | | | | there is just too much to do for a short stay. |