Cathedral Cove, New Zealand

One of my favourite walks in New Zealand is on the Coromandel Peninsula, Cathedral Cove.

If you are arriving from Auckland, it's about a 2.5-hour drive that is well worth a weekend away.

Get your timing right, and also in the area is Hot Water Beach. Only 10 minutes from Hahei, at low tide, at a specific spot on the beach, you can dig your own hot water bath in the sand. A must-do if you're in the area.

The walk to Cathedral Cove is only one of two ways to get to this beach, the other being by boat.

You can park your car at Hahei Beach, then take the 2.5 km easy coastal path for a walk along the picturesque coast. Click here to check for more information on the track.

The views along the track to Cathedral Cove.

It will take about an hour to walk along this easy undulating pathway. With views across the countryside and sea, you'll have plenty of opportunities to photograph this beautiful area.

Views across the bays along the track.

Are you planning to spend the whole day here? Then take the trails off the main track down to other coves to explore.

To get down to Cathedral Cove and the other bays, you need to walk down a few flights of wooden stairs. Reasonable fitness is required, although this is an easy walk with only stairs and a hilly climb in the middle.

Down to the beach at Cathedral Cove.

Once you are down on the beach, you can see why this spot is so popular with tourists and locals alike.

The rock formations make great backdrops for your photography, and the cave/tunnel through to the northern beach.

Through the cave to the other side of the beach.

Remember to bring food and drinks to make a day of it. Also, don't forget the sunscreen as the New Zealand sun is very harsh and it's easy to get burnt.
If you'd like to read more on my travels around the North Island of New Zealand, you can find them all here.