Where to stay in the Coromandel Peninsula: best areas & hotels

ByJac Michael Last Updated on
A view over Hahei Beach and the Hahei Pa framed through pine trees.

Planning to visit the Coromandel Peninsula, but don’t know where to stay?

I’m here to help. I absolutely love the Coromandel and visit this region several times each year. It’s one of my favourite beachy destinations in New Zealand and a place I never tire of.

The Coromandel is actually a lot bigger than it might look on a map, and where you stay will make a difference in what you’ll see and do.

For first-time visitors, I recommend staying in or around Hahei, which is close to the Coromandel’s top two attractions: Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach.

That said, Hahei is far from the only place to stay, not to mention that accommodation is quite limited there. 

So, in this guide, I’m sharing the top areas to stay in the Coromandel, including my favourite accommodation, plus what to do near each location.

A heads-up: this blog is reader-supported, and this post may contain affiliate links. If you make a booking through one of my links, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for helping me continue to write, take photos, and share my favourite places in New Zealand!

Map and overview of where to stay in the Coromandel

  • 🏝️ Hahei (purple) – Best base for first-time visitors
  • ♨️ Hot Water Beach (red) – Best for…you guessed it…staying right near Hot Water Beach!
  • ☀️ Whitianga (orange) – Best for supermarkets, restaurants and a convenient town base
  • 🚂 Coromandel Town (yellow) – Best for character, charm, and a bit of history
  • 🌊 Whangamata (green) – Best for surfers and beach town vibes 

Where to stay in the Coromandel Peninsula

1. Hahei

A view over Hahei Beach and Hahei town from the Te Pare Pa Reserve walking track.
Looking through the rock archway at Cathedral Cove Beach, with the ocean and a sea stack rock formation in the background.
From top: a view over Hahei; Cathedral Cove

Hahei is a small beach town on the east side of the Coromandel. 

It has a gorgeous white sand beach right at its doorstep, but the main draw for staying in Hahei is its proximity to Cathedral Cove, one of the Coromandel’s top attractions.

Close by, you’ll also find Hot Water Beach, another one of the most popular places to visit in the Coromandel.

Hahei has a limited number of accommodation options, but everywhere I’ve stayed here has been lovely. 

It’s worth noting that there isn’t a supermarket in Hahei—just a small dairy selling basics—so you should stock up on groceries before arriving if you’re planning to self-cater.

For dining out in Hahei, I always love the Pour House for woodfired pizzas, craft beer, and cider. Little Blue Kitchen is a great spot to grab a takeaway bagel or burrito, and the Hahei Beach Cafe makes delicious cooked breakfasts and cabinet items.

From Hahei, you can easily get to the Cathedral Cove Track trailhead by using the shuttle option from town, or book a cruise tour or kayak tour to get to Cathedral Cove right from Hahei Beach.

Where to stay in Hahei

The top of a pointed wooden cabin surrounded by a palm tree and native bush at the Church accommodation in Hahei on the Coromandel Peninsula.
A cabin at the Tasman Holiday Park in Hahei, with a picnic table on the lawn in front of the cabin.
From top: the Church Accommodation; a cabin at the Tasman Holiday Park Hahei Beach
  • The Church: such a charming place to stay, with cottages set amongst lush subtropical gardens and a peaceful atmosphere.
  • Tasman Holiday Park Hahei Beach: a bustling holiday park with an awesome beachfront location and a variety of accommodation options, including cabins and villas.
  • Tatahi Lodge Beach Resort: log cabin-style studios, cottages and apartments surrounded by beautiful gardens right in the centre of Hahei.

2. Hot Water Beach

People digging hot pools in the sand at Hot Water Beach in the Coromandel Peninsula.
Ty from Weekend Path soaking in a hot pool at Hot Water Beach at sunrise.

Hot Water Beach is a must-see place for many visitors to the Coromandel, so if that’s you, consider staying right here.

There’s only one major accommodation option at Hot Water Beach, but it’s a great spot and one I’ve stayed in many times over the years!

Where to stay in Hot Water Beach

A teardrop-shaped timber camping cabin with a deck with wooden chairs at the Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park .
A timber cabin at the Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park
  • The Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park: a spacious holiday park with loads of accommodation options in a beautiful, park-like setting, just a 10-minute walk from Hot Water Beach. Their timber cabins are very cosy, and they have spades for hire to dig your own hot pool at the beach.

3. Whitianga

A turquoise hot pool surrounded by man-made rocks and lush greenery at the Lost Spring in Whitianga.
A birds-eye view over the white sand beach, turquoise ocean, and green native bush at New Chums Beach in the Coromandel.
From top: the Lost Spring in Whitianga; New Chums Beach north of Whitianga

Whitianga is the largest town on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula. 

While it doesn’t have quite the same level of small beach town charm as Hahei, Whitianga is a practical Coromandel base. This is a good place to stay if you’d like to be near supermarkets, restaurants, and shops.

From Whitianga, you can take off on a number of day trips. It’ll take about 30 minutes to drive to Hot Water Beach, and 35 minutes to drive to Hahei. 

You could also head north of Whitianga to Kauotunu, Otama Bay, and/or New Chums Beach, which are easily some of the best beaches in the Coromandel (stop by Luke’s Kitchen for lunch if you head up this way!).

In Whitianga itself, you’ll find plenty to do. 

You can hop on a Cathedral Cove cruise, soak in the Lost Spring hot pools, or enjoy a meal at one of the eateries around town. 

For food in Whitianga, I recommend Hula for breakfast, Cooked for Mexican food and margaritas, and Blue Ginger for fresh Asian-fusion food.

Where to stay in Whitianga

The Crow's Nest Apartments in Whitianga, with balconies off the units with tables and chairs on them and two palm trees in front of the building.
The Crow’s Nest Apartments in Whitianga are a great place to stay if you want apartment-style accommodation.

4. Coromandel Town

The front of the Star and Garter pub in Coromandel Town.
A tunnel along the Driving Creek Railway with unique artwork that looks like a face above the tunnel.
From top: the Star & Garter Pub in Coromandel Town; a tunnel at the Driving Creek Railway

Located on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula, Coromandel Town offers something a bit different from the other locations in this guide.

While Coromandel Town has beaches close by, they’re more tidal and sheltered than the classic white-sand beaches of the east coast. That said, this is a fantastic area for fishing and kayaking!

My favourite thing about Coromandel Town is its character and charm. 

Coromandel Town is about a 1.5 hour drive from both Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, so it’d make for a decently long day trip if you’re keen on visiting those spots. That said, there’s plenty to do in this part of the Coromandel, too.

The top attraction in Coromandel Town is the Driving Creek Railway, a hand-built mountain railway created by the potter Harry Brickell in the ‘70s. You can hop on a train ride here and be whisked away into the surrounding forest. 

There are also some lovely walks around Coromandel Town, including the Long Bay Kauri Walk and Kauri Block Walk. 

For food, head to the Star and Garter pub, or get fish and chips from Coromandel Takeaways & Fresh Fish.

Where to stay around Coromandel Town

A cabin in the bush at Hush Boutique Studios in Coromandel Town.
Three Glamping pods at the Shelley Beach Top 10 Holiday Park.
From top: Hush Boutique Accommodation; glamping pods at Shelly Beach Top 10 Holiday Park

5. Whangamata

Golden sand and Norfolk pine trees at Whangamata Beach, with Donut Island in the ocean in the near distance.
A close-up of a pytti panna breakfast plate at Port Road Project cafe in Whangamata, with an egg atop a potato and meat hash with pickled beetroot on the side.
From top: Whangamata Beach; breakfast at Port Road Project in Whangamata

Whangamata is a beachside town known for its world-class surf. 

With a gorgeous sandy beach and great eateries to enjoy, it’s a lovely place to visit if you’re a surfer or beach lover. 

If you’re keen for an active holiday, you can hire kayaks to paddle to Whenuakura (Donut Island), a wildlife sanctuary that feels magical to see from the water. Or head out on a bush walk like Wentworth Falls.

For food, you can’t go past Port Road Project for a fantastic brunch. Soul Burger makes awesome burgers and kumara fries, and for a special dinner, head to Camina.

While Whangamata has a lot going for it, it still retains its small town charm. Accommodation options are a bit limited and tend to have more of a casual beachy feel.

The main downside is that Whangamata isn’t as convenient for Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, so I’d choose it more for a relaxed beach holiday than a first-time Coromandel highlights trip.

Where to stay in Whangamata

A made-up bed with white and blue linens in a room at the South Pacific Motel in Whangamata.
The pool at Breakers Motel in Whangamata, with a mosaic of an octopus at the bottom of the pool and lounge chairs surrounding the pool.
From top: a room at the Southpacific Motel; the pool at Breakers Motel in Whangamata
  • Southpacific Motel: a family-run motel with a laidback atmosphere, lovely garden courtyard, and spa tub.
  • Breakers Motel: located close to the marina, stay here for the great pool and consider booking a room with a private balcony spa tub.

And a couple more places worth staying at in the Coromandel

A holiday house at Flaxmill Bay Accommodation in the Coromandel, with a picnic table on the lawn in front of the house and bush surrounding the property.
A holiday house at Flaxmill Accommodation, such a good spot to stay at!

In addition to the areas I’ve mentioned above, there are some special places in the Coromandel that are worth staying at even if they’re not in a main centre.

  • Flaxmill Accommodation: Near Cooks Beach, this property has the most gorgeous manicured garden setting (it feels like a lovely park!) and awesome holiday homes equipped with everything you’d need for a relaxing stay.
  • Wairua Lodge: Located 12 km from Whitianga, this is the place to stay if you want something really special. This property is a stunning rainforest retreat with your choice of a double room or apartment. Onsite amenities include the treetop bathhouse, night sky spa pool, and discovery trails (talk about dreamy!).

Thanks for reading my guide to where to stay in the Coromandel!

Tyson from Weekend Path standing on bright green grass at the top of the Hahei Pa walk in the Coromandel Peninsula, looking out at the turquoise ocean dotted with little islands.

I truly hope this has helped you plan your visit to the Coromandel.

To sum things up: for a first visit, I’d stay in Hahei or Hot Water Beach if you can find accommodation that suits your budget. If Hahei and Hot Water Beach are booked out or too expensive, Whitianga is the easiest alternative.

Planning a visit to the Coromandel? 

Views over the ocean and islands from the Cathedral Cove Track near Hahei.

Here are some blog posts you might find handy as you plan your visit to this wonderful part of New Zealand.

Hi! I’m Jac. I love the outdoors (& good food!) and use every opportunity to explore New Zealand from my home base in Queenstown. If you’d like to get ideas for road-tripping, camping, and hiking around NZ, you’ve come to the right place!

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