2 Best Sights in Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Beyond Colville, a twisty, gravel road will take you to Fletcher Bay, the northernmost end of the peninsula. (It's impossible to fully circumnavigate the peninsula by road.) To reach Fletcher Bay, turn left at a T-junction about 5 km (3 miles) north of Colville. This road follows the west coast to a stunning sandy beach at Port Jackson, then continues along the cliff-top and down to Fletcher Bay, a smaller, sandy cove banked by green pasture rolling down to the beach. It's 60 km (38 miles) from Coromandel—a drive of close to two hours. There's a camping ground here, tracks and beaches to explore, and a great kayaking spot. From Fletcher Bay, hikers can follow the signposted Coromandel Coastal Walkway, an old bridle trail along the very northeastern tip of Coromandel Peninsula, down to Stony Bay. It's a charming three- to four-hour walk, partly along clifftops with grand views across to the Mercury Islands, and at times dipping down to secluded, forest-fringed beaches.

Take a detour to the dazzling, white-sand Opoutere Beach and Wharekawa Harbour, reached by a five-minute drive off State Highway 25, turning left 24 km (15 miles) south of Tairua on the road to Whangamata. The road follows the Wharekawa Estuary to a parking lot. From here cross a wooden footbridge and follow the trail for 10 minutes through the forest to the long white beach. Much of the estuary and headland area here is a wildlife refuge, a breeding ground for shorebirds, including the endangered New Zealand dotterel. Take care not to enter fenced areas as these protect the barely visible eggs that lie in shallow nests in the sand.