Te Whanganui-A-Hei (Cathedral Cove) Marine Reserve

This magnificent marine reserve runs from the northern end of Hahei Beach to Cook Bluff Scenic Reserve. While there is no vehicle access, a highly scenic walking track follows the coast from Hahei to Cathedral Cove. You can stop off at Gemstone Bay, Stingray Bay and Mares Leg on the way.

Gemstone Bay is the site of an excellent snorkelling trail. Snorkellers can swim to a series of marker buoys that carry information about the species you can expect to encounter. For example, at buoy three snorkellers can hope to see marblefish, butterfish and red moki hiding in a seaweed city. The position of each buoy coincides with different habitats within the bay.

Scuba divers enjoy the reserve for its wonderful sponge gardens and reef systems. Crayfish and black angel fish hide in the cracks and crevices of reefs around Mahurangi Island. In the large boulder fields near Motueka Island, curious schools of sweep may follow divers.

Delicate corals, usually found at depth, are close to the surface in Poikeke Island cave. Closer to shore, brittle starfish might be found on rocky platforms and red moki graze amid forests of seaweed. Predators, like the leather-jacket, pick their food from a range of smaller animals.

Beautiful Cathedral Cove beach is an idyllic destination for picnics and swimming.

Hahei and Cathedral Cove

Hahei is an attractive beach fringed with pohutukawa trees and drifts of pink shells at the northern end. Offshore islands provide something of a breakwater, making this beach ideal for swimming, boating and fishing.

The coastline to the north and the offshore islands form the boundaries of a marine reserve, making this a popular destination for diving and kayaking. Reefs, caves, archways and soft sediments provide the ideal habitat for a variety of plants, fish, molluscs and crustaceans.

At the southern end of Hahei beach, the Te Pare historic reserve is the site of an ancient Maori pa (fortified village).

>From the north end of the beach, a one hour walking track leads along the cliff top and then descends to the stunningly beautiful Cathedral Cove. Here a gigantic arched cavern passes through a white rock headland to join two secluded coves. The cathedral-like arch gives whole area an air of grandeur. The beach is sandy with shady pohutukawa trees along the foreshore - a perfect place for a picnic and a swim.

A little way off the beach at Cathedral Cove is a large pinnacle of pumice breccia rock known as 'Te Hoho'. Over centuries this has been sculpted by wind and water - it now looks like the prow of a large ship steaming into the beach.

Cook's Coast beaches

From the seaside town of Whitianga you can catch a ferry across the harbour mouth to the Stone Steps Wharf - the start of Cook's Coast. Alternatively, you can drive about 35 kilometres around the harbour.

The Stone Steps wharf was built in 1837 by unskilled labour using large stone blocks. From here you can walk or catch a shuttle to Front Beach, Flaxmill Bay, Shakespeare Cliff, Lonely Bay and Cooks Beach.

Front Beach and Flaxmill Bay are sheltered, north-facing beaches that are ideal for swimming and rock pool explorations. Flaxmill or Homestead Bay is at the base of Shakespeare Cliff. In 1769, the famous explorer Captain Cook beached his ship the Endeavour here to carry out maintenance on the hull.

A short walk out onto the top of Shakespeare Cliff reveals sweeping views across the wide Mercury Bay. South of Shakespeare Cliff are Lonely Bay and Cooks Beach. Isolated from other beaches by steep cliffs, the beautiful Lonely Bay can only be reached via a short, steep walking track from the Cook Memorial.

Cooks Beach offers a three-kilometre, gently curving white sand beach - ideal for swimming, walking and sunbathing. This is a popular holiday destination for locals and a pleasant seaside settlement of holiday homes has established itself here over the years.

Kauaeranga Valley

This beautiful area of the Coromandel Forest Park includes 21 walking tracks ranging from 20 minute strolls to rewarding overnight trails. Administered by the Department of Conservation, Kauaeranga Valley is an ideal playground for hikers, mountain bikers and nature lovers.

The rugged hills, which include Table Mountain (846 metres) and the Pinnacles (759 metres), provide a spectacular backdrop. Clear streams run through the valleys and at Sleeping Gods Canyon there's a magnificent 300-metre waterfall.

The Kauaeranga River was once named Waiwhakauaeranga, which means ""waters of the stacked-up jaw bones"". Historians from the Ngati Maru Maori tribe claim the name originated from a famous battle - members of Ngati Maru stacked up the jaw bones of their defeated enemies in rows on the banks of the river.

In the early 1900s logging took place in the valley, but the forest has been regenerating for the last eighty years and there are fine specimens of kauri, rimu, totara, kahikatea and kowhai trees, as well as a wide range of ferns. Several native bird species are commonly seen and heard throughout the valley.

Remote camping and hut accommodation is available for overnight stays. The Pinnacles Walk, which requires an overnight stay in the Department of Conservation Hut, is particularly rewarding.

There is a Department of Conservation visitor centre at the entrance to the park. Call in for advice before you start hiking.