Auckland and the surrounding areas is full of little day trips that you can take to get away from the pace of city life, and truly unwind and relax. Whether you are travelling with a partner, with your family, or even by yourself, a trip to the Coromandel peninsula throws up endless rewards. So put down your guide book and venture out into a slower pace of life that allows those daily stresses and responsibilities to slide right off your shoulders.

Your first stop has to be The Brew Café and Restaurant Bar where you can take a load off and spend some time eating a leisurely lunch in Thames Coromandel. This is the only licensed café in Thames so it is a great place to eat something while also treating yourself to one of their specialty craft beers. In the summertime, you can experience an al fresco lunch on the beautiful grounds of the café, while in the winter you can warm your hands by the fire on the premises.

Once you arrive at the small coastal town of Tairua, why not work off that lunch by getting your walking shoes and climbing Mount Paku? Mount Paku is a twin peaked volcano that can be climbed from Paku Drive in a brisk 15 minutes. It is well worth putting in the effort to do so because the view of the harbour entrance that goes right out to sea is nothing short of breath taking. And at the nearby HaHei beach, you can reward yourself by treating yourself to an ice cream break on the beach. This area is particularly beautiful in December when you can see pohutukawa trees in full bloom. Their flowers are unmistakable in their vibrant red colour that dominate the coastline — a must see for all nature lovers.

And then it’s time to move on to the main attraction — Cathedral Cove. No matter which direction you turn at Cathedral Cove, you are presented with picture perfect beauty. Paddle in the cove and look for the small sea creatures that will swim around your feet in the crystal clear water. And then head on to Hot Water beach for a relaxing swim. As you might have guessed, this beach produces beautifully warm water. This is because the nearby volcano has created an underground reservoir of hot water that makes paddling a beautiful and unique experience. Before you arrive at Hot Water beach, be sure to check out the tide times as the optimum time for visiting is one hour either side of low tide.

As your day draws to a close, why not finish the day with a delicious outdoor barbecue dinner on the banks of the river in Tairua? Relax with a freshly cooked bite to eat as you take in this beautiful part of the world as the sun sets. And when you are feeling completely relaxed, you can head back to Auckland feeling newly invigorated and ready for the next day.

Written by David Miah for

Wooree Outdoors — www.wooree.co.nz