The east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, as far north as Waikawau Bay, is made up of a series of lovely sandy beaches. While some of the beaches are busy holiday centres, like Whangamata, Pauanui and Whitianga, others take a bit more effort to get to and remain relatively remote. These include Whiritoa, Onemana, Wharekawa and Opoutere. Be mindful that the roads are winding and often unsealed – and that the sand dunes at these beaches are restricted to protect dotterel nesting sites.
Whiritoa
First up is Whiritoa, a small beach and holiday community to the north east of Waihi and a few kilometres off Whangamata Road (SH 25). Whiritoa is a pretty, relaxed beach with a store and cafe, and it remains quiet as there’s no camping and limited accommodation.
Whangamata Harbour
Further up the coast on the main highway is the far busier Whangamata, with its large harbour and beach. The town is a real hub, with various accommodation options, cafes and restaurants.
The harbour is extensive, with easy walking and safe swimming. The small wharf is a popular place to jump off, and it’s the starting point for boat tours around the bay.
Whangamata Beach
Whangamata Beach is a long, wide, undulating beach. There are two separate crescents in the bay with a flat sandy area in between, and at low tide when the surf is flat you can wade out into the ocean quite a long way.
There are several islands opposite the sandy point, one which is locally known as Donut Island: it has a hole in the centre which you can drive a boat through. Although Whangamata is busy during holiday periods, the large beach does dissipate the crowds, and you can visit outside of peak times.
Onemana
Onemana is a small beach community on the Whangamata Peninsula, which has Whangamata Harbour on its southwest end and Wharekawa harbour on the northwest end. The beach is somewhat similar to Whitiroa – it’s beautiful and reasonably remote, with a modest holiday community and no substantial services.
To get to Onemana, follow the access road from the main highway.
Onemana Walkway
The Onemana Walkway allows you to explore a bit further. You can either follow a moderately steep track from the south end of the beach to a car park on the top of the south point, then walk along the cliff edge to Pakahakaha Bay, colloquially called Octopus Bay. This is quite spectacular, but take care near the cliff edge.
If you get down to Pakahakaha Bay and beyond, you’re at one of the lesser known local gems. You can also drive to the top of the point and walk along the cliff track from there, or use the forestry roads on the south end of the peninsula to explore further remote locations.
Thanks to @travelsfromedensor for the first and last of these Onemana Walkway photos!
Wharekawa Harbour
Wharekawa Harbour is popular for boating, and plenty of people come to jump off the bridge on the walkway and see its large pohutukawas, heavy with epiphytes. There’s some freedom camping at the northeast end of Wharekwa Harbour, and a larger commercial campground a little further north.
To get to Wharekawa Harbour, follow the road sign to Opoutere. Opoutere is both the small hamlet on the northern edge of the harbour, and the beach reached from a walkway from the northeast end of the harbour.
Opoutere Beach
Opoutere Beach has been largely protected from development over the past decades. Much of the beach is fringed by a small number of private properties, restricting public access to a fifteen minute walk from the modest car park on the harbour, or a short walk from the commercial campground.
Most people congregate in the section of the beach nearest the campground, leaving about 5 kms of white and golden sand beach relatively untouched to the north, and 1 km to the south. You can also walk further around the stony coast beyond the beach all the way to Pauanui.
Want more Coromandel trip ideas?
Check out our post on the beaches around Waihi!