Hahei

Hahei is a seaside town in Mercury Bay on the east side of the Coromandel Peninsula in northern New Zealand. Cruising boats depart for trips to Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve and its abundant sea-life. Hahei is a popular holiday destination, with a white sandy beach and sheltered aspect, resulting in safe sheltered swimming waters. The famous Hot Water Beach, where geothermal springs come up through the sand around low tide, is 6 km away.

Understand
Coromandel Peninsula is on the north-eastern coast of the North Island, due east from Auckland. Hahei's resident population is around 300, but in peak holiday periods the population swells nine times. The town centre has a gift shop, a general store with a petrol station and a takeaways bar, and a dive shop. Holiday-related businesses include kayaking, snorkelling and boat trips to Cathedral Cove and the Marine Reserve.

Get in
Turn off the main road between Tairua and Whitianga at Whenuakite. About half way from there to Hahei, a road turns off to Hot Water Beach. Hahei is a 40-minute drive from Whitianga, and a 15-minute drive from Ferry Landing, which is a short passenger ferry trip from Whitianga.

By bus
Go Kiwi runs a once per day shuttle from Auckland via Auckland Airport.

See
As of October 2023 this track was closed and potentially not re-opening due to heavy rain causing land slip and the track therefore not being safe.

The only access to Cathedral Cove now is by boat.

Drink

 * The Pour House. See 'Eat' section above.

Sleep
There are numerous accommodation providers not listed here.

Go next

 * Tairua – very scenic location to the south
 * Whitianga