Coromandel Peninsula Day Trip From Auckland

• Ecperience the Coromandel Peninsula with a small guided tour! 
• Visit Driving Creek Railway
• See Kauri trees
• Lunch at a local cafe
• Visit Hot Water Beach to see naturally geothermal heated freshwater (tide dependent)
• Visit the white cliffs of Cathedral Cove
• Pick up and drop off at inner-city Auckland accommodation

Explore the Coromandel Peninsula — a favourite holiday destination for many New Zealanders. This tour from Auckland includes the famous Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove. You'll also have the chance to see amazing ancient native kauri trees, stunning white sand beaches on the east, and sheltered bays on the west. An experienced guide will show you all that the Coromandel Peninsula has to offer!

A 90-minute drive from Auckland will take you to the historic township of Thames. From there, the spectacular western coast road leads you to Coromandel township where the famous New Zealand potter, Barry Brickell, had his studio. Visit Driving Creek Railway and ride his personally designed and built mountain railway through the rugged landscape and regenerating native forest. The views across the forest and harbour from the top are stunning!

Your next stop is a quiet stroll in the lush forest. Here you can view some of the magnificent kauri trees, which once covered the Coromandel Peninsula. The tour continues across the centre of the peninsula and descends towards the east coast beaches where you stop for a delicious lunch at a local cafe. You'll visit Hot Water Beach where you can dig your own hot tub right beside the lapping waves. This is one of the only places in the world where naturally geothermal heated freshwater bubbles up onto a beach!

A short drive away is Cathedral Cove, where the Pacific Ocean washes through a natural arch onto a white sandy beach backed by white cliffs. This stunning location was used during the filming of The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian. There is a half-hour downhill walk to the beach, which means the walk back is uphill — moderate walking ability is required.