On the eastern side of Hauraki Coromandel, the coastline isn’t just scenery, it’s the backdrop to everyday life, summer traditions, community identity, and the kind of salty storytelling that only comes from growing up by the sea. From Whangamatā’s rolling bar to the safe, deep waters of Mercury Bay, this stretch of coast has shaped generations of families who swim, surf, fish, paddle, and launch into its waters year after year. Ask any local and they’ll tell you: this is a place where the ocean gets into your bones.
The journey north along the eastern seaboard technically begins at Whiritoa, a quiet coastal gem where golden sands meet the first surfable waves of Hauraki Coromandel’s eastern coastline. From here, the coast flows north to Whangamatā, a town that hums with boating and surf culture. In Whangamatā, the harbour is where many kids bomb from the wharf, fish from the wharf, and swim in the shallows, while the main beach is a training ground for surfers and lifeguards.
On a calm summer morning, you’ll see paddleboarders gliding across glassy water, kayakers heading for the offshore islands. For many visitors, the drawcard is Whenuakura (Donut Island), a collapsed volcanic blowhole accessible only by water and protected by a community-led code of care. Its emerald water and echoing crater feel mythical, and locals are proud stewards of its fragile ecosystem. Adventures with local guides are the best way to explore.
Heading north, the coast opens into long, white-sand arcs, Onemana and Opoutere beaches that feel like postcards but are very much part of daily life for those who live here. These are favourite spots for a quiet anchor-up, a swim off the stern, or a beach picnic that rolls into the golden evening hours.
Further north, Tairua and Pāuanui sit on opposite sides of a shared harbour, twin towns connected by a river system that’s become a training ground for young boaties. The harbour is one of the safest spots on the east coast to learn jet skiing, kayaking or towing a biscuit behind the family boat.
Out beyond the bar (crossed only with caution and local knowledge), the world opens up to Slipper Island, Shoe Island and the Aldermen Islands, favourite destinations for fishing adventures, diving trips and summer expeditions. Sitting off the coast like ancient guardians, the Aldermens offer breathtaking visibility, dramatic cliffs and rich marine habitats that experienced divers talk about for years afterwards.
The boating heartbeat of the eastern coast lies further north in Mercury Bay and Whitianga. With a sheltered and accessible marina, Whitianga draws trailer-boaters, yachties, charter operators and offshore adventurers. From here, it’s an easy cruise to Cooks Beach, Hahei, or the dramatic volcanic formations of Mautohe Cathedral Cove, one of the most beautiful sights to approach from the water. Locals treat Mercury Bay like their backyard: easy to navigate, rich in sea life, and dotted with anchorages that suit every kind of day on the water. For many who grew up here, these waters are more than recreational spaces; they’re memory keepers.
Summer holidays are marked by fishing competitions, launching the dinghy at first light, or long swims across sheltered bays. Neighbours gather for beach BBQs, kids race each other through the estuary channels, and families return each year to the same rented bach, the same boat ramp, and the same familiar rhythm of tide and time.
The ocean stitches these communities together in a way that feels distinctly Coromandel. Of course, locals know that enjoying this coastline comes with responsibility. Shifting bars at Whangamatā and Tairua requires respect and preparation. Marine reserves and protected islands need care and compliance. Dune systems are fragile and always under pressure in the summer months.
But stewardship here runs deep. From volunteer dune-planting groups to pest-free island projects and rāhui that protect vulnerable areas. Many of these initiatives are community-led, evidence of a region that loves its places enough to fight for them. It’s all part of the GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL – Kaitiaki spirit that guides life in Hauraki Coromandel. Travelling slowly near marine wildlife, anchoring with care, keeping to marked tracks, and leaving each stretch of beach or water better than you found it. Small actions, multiplied by thousands of visitors and locals, help ensure the area remains a place where the ocean thrives, and where people feel deeply connected to it.
Spend a day, or a lifetime, on this side of Hauaki Coromandel, and you start to understand why locals speak of the ocean as if it’s family. It shapes the seasons. It shapes the community. And for anyone lucky enough to launch into these waters, it shapes memories that last long after the sand’s been rinsed from the floor of the boat.
Thanks to the team at Destination Hauraki Coromandel | thecoromandel.nz for this article.
High Res Images: https://thecoromandel.brandkitapp.com/transfers/01KBGXKRHF7PJ26QE614VKMB7D
