Emma Evangeline Gustafson shares her favourite Coromandel walks
In a world plagued by screens, it’s so important that we make time to connect with nature and appreciate our epic surroundings. Scenic tracks not only provide heaps of inspiration for my work as a landscape painter, but they also have so many benefits for my physical and mental health. If you’re visiting Coromandel with friends and whānau or you’re a local looking for a change of scene, it’s worth exploring these beautiful tracks. Here are my favourite five on the Coromandel Peninsula.
1.Waiomu Valley track,
This is one of my all-time favourite tracks in Coromandel; it’s not too intensive but long enough to make you feel completely immersed in nature. Set in the lush valley of Waiomu, this 2.5 hour track takes you up to a stunning kauri grove. The deeper in you go, the more your surroundings start to feel like a rainforest. Along this track, you will find the overgrown ruins of what once was a stamper battery and a number of mines, as well as heaps of quartz crystals littered through the creeks. Not only does this track connect you with nature, it also provides a little taste of Coromandel’s mining history.
2. Waitaia Track, Kūaotunu
This hour-long loop track winds alongside beautiful creeks and takes you through to a stunning nīkau grove. Keep your eyes peeled for koura (freshwater crayfish) in the creeks and the diverse range of fungi which are dotted along the path. Be sure to wear decent footwear, as this track can get a bit gnarly, particularly in the wetter months!
3. Crayfish Bay and beyond
To find this spectacular hidden spot, park up at the far end of Ōpito Bay Road – the walk starts 10 minutes along the beach, in the sand dunes, before you reach the Ōpito Pa track. This short walk takes you through farmland, leading you over the hill to Crayfish Bay. In summer it’s an exquisite swimming spot, with a clear aquamarine lagoon, surrounded by surreal pink cliffs. If you’re feeling brave, it’s worth climbing up the rocks on the right-hand side. A ridge will take you around the spacey rock formations that will make you feel as if you’ve just landed on Mars!
4. Coromandel Coastal Walkway
If you’re looking for sublime coastal views, you’ve come to the right place. The expansive outlooks over Aotea (Great Barrier Island), Repanga (Cuvier Island) and Mt Moehau will leave you in a complete state of awe. The Coromandel Coastal Walkway stretches from Stony Bay over to Fletcher Bay, taking 3.5 hours each way. You can begin from either end. It’s considered ‘one of the best coastal walkways in New Zealand’, set in one of the more remote areas of the peninsula. It winds around the shoreline, over farmland and through pristine bush, giving you the best of both worlds.
5. Opera Point Walk, Whangapoua
This 40-minute track is best walked at low tide and is ideal if you’re looking for a bit more adventure, as there’s some climbing involved. This end of Whangapoua has a really special energy and I would actually recommend it more than the popular New Chum track at the other end of the beach. The Opera Point Walk leads you from the picturesque harbour side around to the main beach, via the coast. It’s home to Whangapoua’s iconic hole in the rock and a couple of stunning, untouched beaches. Opera Point is known to have the occasional special visitors – orcas and seals have been sighted close by – so it’s worth keeping an eye out!
Words by Emma Evangeline Gustafson
