Mercury Bay Walks

Whitianga & Mercury Bay offer a huge variety of conservation destinations for visitors and locals alike to explore and enjoy. Majestic kauri, unspoiled beaches, relics of the logging and mining era, exciting tramping tracks, easy walks, clear rivers and protected marine environments are all easily accessible and an essential part of the Coromandel Peninsula experience.

So - put on your walking shoes...

New Chums Beach
Accessible only from Whangapoua
Walk is 60 minutes return
Good footwear recommended
Medium fitness required

Opera Point
Walk through historic reserve
around edge of Whangapoua Estuary
Easy walking /1 hour easy walking

Matarangi Spit
Accessible from Matarangi Drive

Respect fragile sand dunes & Dottrels
Easy walking / 1 hour one way

Otama Beach
Respect fragile sand dunes
Easy walking / 40 minutes one way

Opito Pa
Accessible from the far end of Optio Bay
Take care, very steep drops to rocks below
Good fitness required

Waitaia
Attractive bush walk - One and half hours return
Keep to track to avoid dangerous mine shafts

Whitianga Rock to Pa Site
Across the ferry to Ferrylanding
Follow the shore up to Whitianga Rock

Gradual climb 15 - 20 minutes return

Maramaratotara Track
From Ferry Landing 50 60 minutes round trip
From Ferry landing walk 10 minutes along Purangi Road
Track starts off Purangi Road on the right
Bush walk with great views. Slippery if wet.

Whitianga- South
Visit the historic Church, St Andrews By The Sea and Stone Store / Lovers Rock
One and half hours return to i-SITE Whitianga - Easy walking

Whitianga-North
View Marina, Museum, Wharf
Walk the length of Buffalo Beach
Two hours return, easy walking

Bike Park
Various tracks from easy to moderate fitness
Situated on Moewai Road
Mostly bush, views of the golf course

Island View Walks
Guided Short Walk Tour

Traversing Mt Maungatawhiri with views

over Whitianga, Cooks Beach & the Hahei Islands

taking in the historical stories of Whitianga

Shakespeare Cliff
A scenic reserve, above Flaxmill Bay
Walk from ferry along roadside
Easy walking / two hours return to Ferry Landing

Cathedral Cove
Excellent picnic spot
Reasonable fitness required / Walk is 90 minutes return

Te Pare Point Historic Reserve
Magnificent headland and ancient Pa site
Moderate fitness required

Black Jack Track
Accessible from Kuaotunu Reserve
30 minutes return bush walk with spectacular views

309 Kauris
30 minute return easy walking through lush forest
Along the 309 Road, starts opposite side of the road to the carpark
Features 13 massive specimens and Siamese Kauri

Castle Rock
Core of an old volcano that rises above the bush of the Coromandel Peninsula Ranges
90 minutes return
Good fitness, appropriate footwear required
Amazing panoramic views if you get to the summit
Turn off the 309 Road onto Castle Rock Road, cross the ford and drive further 2 km

Stella Evered Memorial Park
Lees Road Hahei 30 minutes to 1 hour
Stunning views over Mercury Bay
Ancient pohutukawas, sandy beach and stream