The Coromandel Peninsula is in north-eastern New Zealand, jutting into the Hauraki Gulf opposite Auckland. The closest Coromandel town to Auckland is Thames, 70 miles (114 kms) away. The Coromandel Peninsula is easy to get to from Auckland, especially by road.
By Car
Duration: 1.5 hours+
The town of Thames, in the south-west of the Coromandel Peninsula, is just an hour-and-a-half's drive from central Auckland. Follow State Highway (SH) 1 south out of the city, then turn onto SH 2 at Pokeno, and onto SH 25 at Mangatarata. Other towns on the peninsula, such as Coromandel, Whitianga, and Whangamata, are a bit further. In the middle of the peninsula is the Coromandel Forest Park, so you have to drive around the coast of the peninsula rather than cut through the center.
By Bus
Duration: 2 hours to Thames
A bus service leaves Auckland three times a day (morning, afternoon, and evening) for the Coromandel Peninsula. It first stops in Thames, and continues around the peninsula in a clockwise direction, stopping in Coromandel town and Whitianga. It takes a bit longer than driving independently, but you can enjoy the views without having to worry about watching the road.
By Ferry
Duration: 2 hours
A ferry between downtown Auckland and Te Kouma, on the north-west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula, runs twice a week. This is a good option if you want to avoid overland travel. The Hauraki Gulf that separates Auckland and the Coromandel is very pretty, dotted with many volcanic islands.
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