Before officially going on a road trip I wanted to see Coromandel and particularly Cathedral Cove one last time!

• Journey

The Coromandel and its mythical Cathedral Cove are not really on the way to another destination. That’s why I preferred to make an express round trip from Auckland. I probably would not have time to come back after … After the escape room organized by my collegues on the occasion of my leaving I drove directly to Whitianga. Well, almost, because the traffic south of Auckland on a Friday evening is quite congested, I preferred to leave around 18h.

I arrived in Whitianga in the evening. The spot on the beach where I stayed for Christmas it was taken so I went on another parking lot in the city. After checking the tide time, I planned my day of the next day: first New Chum Beach that I missed at Christmas and then Cathedral Cove.

• New Chum Beach

It is a beach accessible only at low tide! When you arrive at the car park (at the end of Mangakahia drive) a sign tells you how to reach this beach. First you have to go to a first beach. Then start walking on the rocks and then take a path on the left that runs along the rocks. Even close to low tide it will be necessary to wet your feet 😉. This path is not very visible so walk very close to the bush to find it. You will arrive then on this magnificent beach!

On the way you can also find another path (just before the beach) that allows you to climb to the top of the summit. You will have a superb view of the beach. Beware sometimes this path requires climbing 😉

• Cathedral Cove

I then went back to Hahei. Be aware that the car park at the end of the path for Cathedral Cove is no longer one and you now have to park at Hahei Beach. And so start the path from the beach. You can also have a superb view of the beach :

After about 1 hour of walking (I took my time) you will finally arrive at Cathedral Cove! Know that there too you have to go at low tide otherwise you can not go under the rock to access the second beach. Even in low season, on a good weather day, not easy to find a photo moment without too many tourists! Some adventurers were bathing but even for my feet it was too cold 😅

I then returned to Auckland to enjoy a last lie-lin on Sunday 😊