Coromandel: Hot Water Beach, Hobbiton & Glowworms
- Barbara
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Day three of our epic New Zealand road trip we visited the Coromandel Peninsula, a place where you can dig your own spa pool in the morning, find stunning coastal arches by afternoon, and cap it all off with a drink at the Green Dragon Pub in Hobbiton. A jam-packed tour of pure Kiwi adventure!
We stayed in Whitianga overnight. This pretty town, nestled right on the water, makes for the perfect launchpad for exploring the peninsula. If you're looking for a comfortable stay, I highly recommend the Oceans 88 Boutique Waterfront Suite. It's beautifully located right on the water, the rooms are lovely, and best of all, you get free use of the hotel’s kayaks! They also have a pool and a hot tub for relaxing after a long day of sightseeing.
Table of Contents:
Stop 1: Dig your own spa at Hot Water Beach
We kicked off our busy day bright and early at Hot Water Beach. This spot is hugely popular because it sits right over an underground geothermal spring. The trick? You need to dig a hole in the sand near the water’s edge to let the super-heated spring water bubble up, creating your own personal, temporary spa right on the beach!
Timing is everything here. You must arrive two hours before or two hours after low tide as it is the best time to find the hot spring (The spring will be underwater during high tide). I used this handy site to check the tides: surf-forecast.com. The sweet spot for digging is usually right in front of the rocks as you walk down from the main car park, closest to the ocean.
You can rent a spade at the Hot Water Beach Store (next to the main car park), or just shuffling your feet in the sand will let you feel the heat, be careful though, it can be scorching hot! (P.S. The ocean water is not hot, you really need to excavate that hole to hit the spring.)
Stop 2: The Stunning Cathedral Cove
Just a quick 10-minute drive from the hot sands is the majestic Te Whanganui-A-Hei (better known as Cathedral Cove). It’s famous for its giant, naturally carved archway and pristine white sands.
Heads up! The main Grange Road Car Park is currently closed (as of October 2025), so plan your approach wisely.
Getting to Cathedral Cove (Your Options as of November 2025)
Option | Cost & Time | Details |
Walk from Lees Road | $15 for all-day parking, 30-40 min walk | The car park at 150 Lees Road is ample. You pay via QR code, transfer, or cash. The path is well-marked and winds through beautiful hills and farms, say hello to the sheep! (We chose this option). |
Park & Ride Shuttle | $7 return per person, 30-40 min walk after drop-off | Park for free here and grab the shuttle, which runs every 10 minutes (9 am to 5/6 pm daily). It takes you to the top of the walking track, saving you the walk along the road. https://www.cathedralcoveparkandride.co.nz/ |
Water Taxi | $40 one-way, 10 min ride | Prefer to skip the walk and enjoy the view from the sea? Taxis leave from Hahei Beach to Cathedral Cove Beach every 30 minutes (10 am to 5 pm, weather dependent). Check the schedule: cathedralcovewatertaxi.co.nz |
Guided Kayak | Varies | For a more active approach, join a guided kayak tour from Hahei Beach: kayaktours.co.nz |
Important Note: There are no toilets or bins on Cathedral Cove beach itself. Restrooms are available at both car parks and near a small coffee shop about 10 minutes before you reach the beach—perfect for grabbing an ice cream or cold drinks on the walk back!
Stop 3: Karangahake Gorge
We stumbled upon the Karangahake Gorge purely by chance while driving, and we were so glad we did! This place is breathtaking, featuring a dramatic gorge, a suspension bridge, and a beautiful river to relax by.
It’s also a historic gold mining site, which is why you can explore incredible tunnels and even an old railway line. There are different walking tracks like the Window Walk Loop (2.5 km, 1 hour return) or the Rail Tunnel Loop (also 2.5 km). The Rail tunnel loop takes you through a long, dark tunnel where you can spot glow worms! Parking is available but can fill up quickly.
Stop 4: Entering Middle-earth at Hobbiton
Whether you’re a die-hard Lord of the Rings fan or just looking for a whimsical escape, Hobbiton is an absolute must-see. Located amidst green, rolling hills, this film set truly transports you into the Shire.
There are 44 hobbit holes to walk past, and your guide will let you enter a couple of the larger ones to explore! We got to walk into the painter’s house (a small one) and then chose between the Green or Red Door house, which are much bigger with about 10 rooms to explore, you can even sit on the furniture!
The tour takes about 2.5 hours, and I highly recommend booking your tickets in advance as they sell out fast. Plan to arrive 30 minutes early for check-in. Once you’ve checked in, you can browse the gift shop or grab a coffee at the Shire Rest before the bus takes you to the village.
The whole experience is led by a knowledgeable guide. The best part? The well-deserved drink waiting for you at the end! You get one free drink at the Green Dragon Pub (choose between a stout, pale ale, or non-alcoholic ginger beer), plus complimentary tea and coffee. The pub is stunning, nestled right in front of a lake at the bottom of the village. It was a fantastic experience, and I seriously wished I could move into one of those cozy hobbit holes!
The Magic of Waitomo Glowworm Caves
We saved this for the following day. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves are truly otherworldly.
The guided tour takes you through the cave, showcasing impressive stalactites and stalagmites (we saw "the cathedral," "the elephant," and even "a kiwi doing bungee jumping"!). The climax is the boat ride. As your boat drifts silently through the total darkness at the bottom of the cave, thousands of glow worms light up the ceiling like stars in the night sky. It is pure, unadulterated magic!
The only downside is that no pictures are allowed inside the cave, as the site is considered sacred by the Maori people and is part of the company’s lease agreement. However, you can take pictures as you leave the cave and there is a photographer ready to take a green screen photo of you before the tour so you can still grab a memory of your time inside. However, if you want to visit a cave where you can take picture you may consider to visit Ruakuri Cave (which you can buy a bundle ticket with Waitomo) or Spellbound Glowworm Cave.
New Zealand never ceases to amaze, and this leg of the trip was a perfect example of why, every moment felt like stepping into a different world.
If you're planning your own North Island adventure, my biggest piece of advice is to take your time as these are the memories that stay with you long after the flight home. Kia ora, and happy travels!
You can also read the Top 10 Must-Visit Attractions in Auckland by clicking here.
If you enjoyed reading about this, be sure to subscribe!
All recommendations in this article are 100% based on my personal experience and are currently unpaid. I aim to keep my content genuine, but please note that I am open to future collaborations, and any paid partnerships will always be clearly disclosed.
I routinely check my articles. If you spot any outdated information, please contact me so I can update it immediately!
Comments