Coromandel Peninsula:
Local tips from your Windborne sailing crew

The Coromandel Peninsula is a place of rare and rugged beauty – home to dramatic coastlines, golden beaches, dense native bush, and a rich Māori and maritime history. Avon and Mihaela know this coastline intimately, having explored it extensively both on land and by sea. Sailing here is not just a scenic journey, but also a way to connect with the true essence of the region – far from the crowds and close to nature.

The Coromandel Peninsula is steep and hilly and largely covered in native bush. The Coromandel Range forms the spine for most of the peninsula, with the Moehau Range at the northern end providing the highest point at nearly 900 metres (3,000 feet). Beyond, the large island of Great Barrier, which lies beyond the northern tip, can be thought of as an extension of the ranges. Great Barrier Island is separated from Cape Colville on the peninsula’s northern coast by the Colville Channel.

Although the peninsula is close to large centres of population such as Auckland to the west and Tauranga to the southeast, its rugged nature means that much of it is relatively isolated, and the interior and northern tip are both largely undeveloped and sparsely inhabited. The Coromandel Forest Park covers much of the peninsula’s interior.

Numerous small islands and island groups lie offshore, such as the Motukawao Islands to the northwest, the Aldermen Islands and Slipper Island to the southeast, and the Mercury Islands to the northeast.

The Coromandel Peninsula shows considerable signs of past volcanism. It comprises the eroded remnants of the Coromandel Volcanic Zone, which was highly active during the Miocene and Pliocene periods. Volcanic activity has since primarily shifted southeast to the Taupo Volcanic Zone, although Mayor Island was recently active some 25 km to the east. Geothermal activity is still present on the Peninsula, with hot springs in several places, notably at Hot Water Beach, on the central east coast between Whitianga and Tairua.

The Coromandel Peninsula is a popular place to live for people who have chosen an alternative lifestyle, especially those who have left Auckland. The 1970s saw thousands of hippies relocate from large cities around New Zealand to the Coromandel in search of an environmentally friendly lifestyle associated with the counterculture back-to-the-land movement. As of 2010, increasing numbers of affluent Aucklanders have started moving to the Coromandel.

Population density decreases with both distances from the coast and distance north. Of the main population centres, only Coromandel, Colville, Matarangi, and Whitianga lie in the north of the peninsula, and much of the interior remains virtually uninhabited.

A forest park occupies much of the centre of the peninsula, and the coasts are dotted with numerous beaches and scenic views. Evidence of the region’s geothermal origins can be found in hot springs, notably at Hot Water Beach on the peninsula’s east coast. The town of Whangamatā is a popular holiday retreat, and Whitianga on Mercury Bay is renowned for its yachting. The peninsula’s waters are also a popular destination for scuba divers. Cathedral Cove, named for its cathedral-like arch through the limestone cliff, is a popular destination, only accessible by boat or on foot. In recent years, dolphins and more coast-loving whales are appearing along the coasts as their numbers began to recover, such as southern right whale, Bryde’s whale and humpback whale.

But for all the well-known spots, what makes a Coromandel sailing charter so memorable are the secret places: the quiet anchorages Avon and Mihaela know from experience, where you can watch the sunset in complete stillness or hear the call of ruru echoing from the hills. Their deep local knowledge ensures you get to see the best of the Coromandel – not just the highlights, but also the heart of it.

From rugged cliffs to lush green forest, from walking tracks to waterfalls, the Coromandel Peninsula is an explorer’s dream. And with Avon and Mihaela as your guides aboard their classic Coromandel yacht, it becomes more than a destination – it becomes a journey.