Whitianga & Mercury Bay
The Mercury Bay area of the Coromandel Peninsula is an area of stunning beaches and bays. Azure blue waters roll onto clean white sands, while bush clad hills shelter the bays and further enhance the scenic splendour of the area.
Whitianga
Whether you want to relax, enjoy the beautiful coastline or go shopping, Blue Marlin Apartments' is the perfect location to stay. Only a short stroll to the main street of Whitianga, where there is an abundance of cafes, restaurants and pubs to choose from, along with a great range of shops and art galleries. Mercury Bay is a very popular holiday destination and during the summer months the population swells considerably. For the rest of the year a relaxed, away from it all, atmosphere prevails.
Cathedral Cove
Famous Cathedral Cove is one of the "must visit" sites on the Coromandel Peninsula. There are several scenic walking tracks including the 2hour return trek to Cathedral Cove. You'll enjoy views over Gemstone Bay, Mares Leg and Cathedral Cove itself. Foot access to the Cathedral Cove car park is at the western end of Hahei Beach, while vehicle access is located along Grange Road. The Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve, Coromandel's first marine reserve, is in walking distance from Hahei beach and can be combined with a visit to Cathedral Cove.
Hot Water Beach
Enjoy the unique experience of digging your own natural hot pool! In this particular area, naturally occurring hot water bubbles up to from 2km below ground where it is heated by hot molten rock. There are two fissures at Hot Water Beach, issuing water as hot as 64°C (147°F) – and at a rate of up to 15 litres per minute. The best time to visit Hot Water Beach is within two hours on either side of low tide, during normal sea conditions.
For golfers there is an 18-hole golf course 3.2km south of Whitianga, a 9-hole course at Purangi near Cooks Beach, and an 18-hole course at Matarangi, 26km north of Whitianga.
A short distance north of Whitianga is Wharekaho Beach where there is a fine stand of Pohutukawa trees. One of these is a gnarled old specimen that exactly fits a description in the journal of explorer Captain Cook written in 1769.
A further 18km north over a scenic winding sealed road is Kuaotunu, gateway to the pristine beaches of Otama and Opito. These beaches are worth the journey but are accessed only by travelling over a steep, winding, narrow, unsealed road.
As you travel towards Coromandel you may visit the white, sandy beaches of Matarangi and Whangapoua. The warm climate and rich soils of the Coromandel promote lush growth and this is shown in the native bush that covers much of the Peninsula. Huge majestic trees, including Kauri that survived the intense milling of last century, have been protected and can be seen by the highways and walking tracks.
The famous 309 Road connecting Whitianga to Coromandel Town is a mostly gravel road, very scenic with lots to see and do along the way. An unusual square Kauri tree is located on the Tapu – Coroglen Road. In the spring the yellow flowers of the Kowhai tree break the green of the forest while the red blossoms of the Pohutukawa tree provide a flaming brilliance at Christmas time.