How to Get to Cathedral Cove (in 2026)
Cathedral Cove is one of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand, which is saying a lot in a country surrounded by stunning coastline.
If you’ve seen photos of Cathedral Cove (or saw it in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian) and are wondering how to get to this magical spot, I’m here to help.
Getting to Cathedral Cove isn’t necessarily hard, but it does require a bit of planning. You can’t simply drive up to Cathedral Cove—you either have to walk there, or get there by kayak or boat.
I’ve been to Cathedral Cove many times over the years and it never fails to impress. Believe me when I say it’s worth the effort to get there!
In this guide, I’m going over all of your options for getting to Cathedral Cove, whether you’d prefer to access the beach via land or water.
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Where is Cathedral Cove?
Cathedral Cove is located on the Coromandel Peninsula on the east coast of New Zealand’s North Island.
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How to get to Cathedral Cove from Auckland
If you’re visiting from overseas, you’ll likely start your trip in Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.
The easiest way to get from Auckland to Cathedral Cove is to drive yourself (although there are options for Coromandel tours from Auckland).
From Auckland, it’s a 175 km drive (2.5 hours without traffic) to Hahei, the gateway to Cathedral Cove.
Personally, I think it’s too far to drive yourself from Auckland to Cathedral Cove as a day trip.
Instead, it’s best to stay on the Coromandel Peninsula for a night or two (or more!) and visit Cathedral Cove from there.
The closest town to Cathedral Cove is Hahei, a cute little beach town with some good (albeit limited) accommodation options.
Alternatively, you could stay in Whitianga, a larger town on the Coromandel Peninsula located a 35-minute drive from Hahei. There are also options for boat tours of Cathedral Cove from Whitianga.
Below, I’ll go over your options for getting to Cathedral Cove from both Hahei and Whitianga.
How to get to Cathedral Cove from Hahei
Hahei is the closest town to Cathedral Cove. From Hahei, you can either walk, kayak, or take a boat to Cathedral Cove.
I’ll go over all of your options for getting from Hahei to Cathedral Cove below!
Walking to Cathedral Cove
To get to Cathedral Cove by land, you’ll need to walk there.
Luckily, the Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track is one of the best hikes in the North Island and it’s well worth the effort!
You cannot park at the trailhead for the Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track. To access the trailhead, you can either walk there from Hahei Village via Grange Road (for free) or take a shuttle from Hahei (parking is free, but the shuttle requires a small fee).
Alternatively, you can pay to park at the Lees Road Carpark and walk to Cathedral Cove via the Cathedral Cove Gateway Trail.
I’ll go over all of your walking options in more detail below.
Cathedral Cove Park & Ride
The easiest and most popular way to access the Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track is to park at the Cathedral Cove Park & Ride, and take a shuttle to the trailhead.
The shuttle leaves every 10-15 minutes during operating hours and drops you off right at the start of the track.
From the trailhead at the top of Grange Road, the Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track is 5 km return and takes about 1.5 hours (not including time spent at the beach!).
The track is mostly unshaded and has some uphill sections, so it’s definitely a bit of a workout, especially on a hot day. The trail is paved until you reach a steep staircase that leads you down to the beach.
Wear a hat and sunscreen, and pack plenty of drinking water. I also recommend bringing along a picnic lunch to enjoy at the beach (and your swimwear if it’s a nice day!).
Walking to Cathedral Cove from Hahei Village
If you’d like to walk to Cathedral Cove and don’t want to pay for a shuttle from Hahei or parking at Lees Road, you can park for free in Hahei and walk to the trailhead via Grange Road. Walking up Grange Road takes about 30 minutes (one way).
Personally, I’d just pay for the shuttle; Grange Road is all uphill on the way to the trailhead, so it might tire you out before you even start the hike.
I’d allow at least 2.5 hours return if you plan to walk all the way from Hahei village and back.
Note: you used to be able to walk from Hahei Beach to the Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track via a cliffside trail, so you may see mention of this online. However, that trail is now closed due to landslides, unfortunately, and it isn’t safe to attempt.
The Cathedral Cove Gateway Trail via Lees Road Carpark
A shorter option for walking to Cathedral Cove is via the Cathedral Cove Gateway Trail.
I think this is a really nice option and it’s one I’ve done several times now over the past few years.
To start the Cathedral Cove Gateway Trail, you’ll park at the Lees Road Carpark, which charges a fee for parking. Last time I visited, it was $15 to park, and you can pay via cash or card.
The trail leads you across rolling farmland before connecting with the end of the Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track. While it doesn’t offer the same sweeping views as the whole Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track, it’s still really gorgeous and it’s also an easier walk overall.
It usually takes me about 30 minutes one way to walk from the Lees Road Carpark to Cathedral Cove.
If you have the energy, I also recommend tacking on the side track to the McHands Bay Lookout, which will give you a beautiful panoramic ocean view.
Cathedral Cove Water Taxi
If you don’t want to walk all the way to Cathedral Cove, a great option is to take the Cathedral Cove Water Taxi from Hahei Beach.
The water taxi departs from Hahei Beach about every 30 minutes during opening hours, weather dependent. It’ll whisk you away to Cathedral Cove and drop you off right on the sand.
You can opt for a return water taxi, or consider doing a one-way journey and then walking the Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track and footpath along Grange Road to return to Hahei.
There’s no need to pre-book the water taxi—you can simply go to their location on Hahei Beach and pay them on arrival. That said, I recommend checking their website beforehand to ensure they’re operating on the day you plan to visit.
Cathedral Cove Kayak Tours
A fun and adventurous way to visit Cathedral Cove is to take a guided kayak tour.
Kayak tours leave from Hahei Beach and take you across the Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve to reach Cathedral Cove Beach.
On a calm, clear day, this is undoubtedly one of the best places to go kayaking in New Zealand!
You’ll glide across crystal-clear turquoise water and view the stunning coastline from the sea.
Once you arrive at Cathedral Cove, you’ll park up on the sand and get cappuccinos, hot chocolate, and cookies at the beach. Talk about a dreamy way to experience Cathedral Cove!
🛶 Check prices & availability for Cathedral Cove Kayak Tours ➡️
Hahei Explorer Boat Tour
The Hahei Explorer is a fantastic way to see Cathedral Cove from the water.
While this boat tour doesn’t land on Cathedral Cove Beach, it gives you a great vantage point from the water.
The tour is one hour and takes you across the marine reserve, where you’ll get up close to secret coves and caves (and sometimes a blowhole!) that are only accessible by boat.
Seeing Cathedral Cove and the surrounding coastline from this perspective is really special, and the commentary from the local guide will give you unique insights into the volcanic history of the area.
🛥️ Check prices & availability for the Hahei Explorer ➡️
How to get to Cathedral Cove from Whitianga
Whitianga is located 35 km (a 35-minute drive) from Hahei.
If you don’t feel like driving to Cathedral Cove from Whitianga, you can choose from several boat tours to see Cathedral Cove.
That said, it’s important to note that these boat tours do not land on the beach—you’ll view Cathedral Cove from the water (which is also a nice way to see it!).
Here are a couple of Cathedral Cove tours from Whitianga that I like, both departing from the Whitianga Wharf.
Glass Bottom Boat Tour
The Glass Bottom Boat tour lasts for 2 hours and is a cool way to see the Te Whanganui-o-Hei/Cathedral Cove Marine Reserve from the water.
Since the bottom of the boat has clear glass panels, you’ll get to see marine life beneath your feet, all from the comfort of a boat.
While you can definitely choose to stay dry up on the boat, you’ll also have the option to go snorkelling if you’d prefer to get in the water.
⛴️ Check prices & availability for the Glass Bottom Boat ➡️
Ocean Leopard
The Ocean Leopard takes you on a scenic 2-hour cruise of Mercury Bay to reach Cathedral Cove.
Along the way, you’ll pass by some other gorgeous spots, including sea caves and one of my all-time favourite Coromandel beaches, Lonely Bay.
The boat has comfortable forward-facing seats with backrests, and a canvas roof to give you some shade (but don’t forget to wear some sunscreen, too!).
🚤 Check prices & availability for the Ocean Leopard ➡️
Where to stay near Cathedral Cove
Hahei is my favourite place to stay near Cathedral Cove, but accommodation is quite limited, so you’ll want to book in advance.
Alternatively, you could stay in Whitianga, which is further from Cathedral Cove but has more accommodation options. From Whitianga, you can either drive to Hahei as a day trip, or hop on one of the Cathedral Cove cruises mentioned above.
Where to stay around Hahei
- The Church Accommodation for cosy chalets set in lush gardens.
- Tasman Holiday Parks – Hahei Beach for beachfront campsites, cabins, and holiday homes. You can walk to Hahei Beach in just minutes from this gorgeous property.
- Hot Water Beach TOP 10 Holiday Park (10 minutes from Hahei) for campsites, cabins, and close access to Hot Water Beach. It’s one of the best campgrounds in the Coromandel, and the cabins are awesome, too!
Where to stay around Whitianga
- Crows Nest Apartments for spacious, comfortable apartments close to Buffalo Beach.
- Near Cooks Beach, Flaxmill Accommodation is a gorgeous property with camping and holiday homes available. You can drive from here to Hahei or Whitianga, or take the passenger ferry from Ferry Landing to Whitianga.
A few things to know before you visit Cathedral Cove
- Cathedral Cove is one of the most popular places to visit in the North Island, which means it will likely be busy when you visit, especially in summer. If you visit around low tide, there’s more of the beach to access, and this helps spread out the crowds.
- Landslides and rockfalls have damaged Cathedral Cove in the past, and will likely occur again in the future. DOC may periodically close access to the beach if it’s unsafe to visit, especially during or after a big storm.
- For your safety, DOC advises you not to visit during or after heavy rain; to not stop or sit beneath the cliffs; and to move quickly under the rock archway instead of lingering under it.
- If you plan to swim at Cathedral Cove, be aware that there are no lifeguards on duty and there can be rip currents, waves, and boat traffic.
- There are no rubbish bins at Cathedral Cove. If you pack anything in, remember to pack it out with you.
- There are no toilets at Cathedral Cove. Toilets are located at the trailhead and further along the Mautohe Cathedral Cove Track, about 10 minutes before the trail descends to the beach.
Thanks for reading my guide on how to get to Cathedral Cove!
I hope this has helped you plan your visit to Cathedral Cove.
As always, please leave a comment if you have any questions or feedback for me. I really love hearing from you!
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