Marios Gavalas
Old hut on the Coromandel Walkway
Marios Gavalas
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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10 km return | 7 hours return
This is a stretch of coastline offering all the dramatic views that encapsulate the Coromandel. The track is the only way to complete a ‘loop’ of the Peninsula.
Predator control has allowed the birdlife to repopulate the regenerating bush. Consequently there is a flourishing chorus of birdsong.
Stony Bay is at the roadend, 27km from Colville and 9km past Port Charles. From Colville the road is unsealed. The track starts from the carpark/kiosk next to the concrete ford at the Stony Bay campground and is signposted.
There are toilet facilities at the campground.
Fletcher Bay is at the roadend, 36km from Colville and 7km past Port Jackson. The road from Colville is unsealed. The track starts from the carpark/kiosk in the middle of the campground and is signposted.
There are toilet facilities at the campground.
From Stony Bay to Fletcher Bay, The track is well-formed for its entire length and frequently signposted. For the first 1-1½ hours the gradient is gentle. It then drops into and climbs steeply out of Poley Bay. The final stretch to Fletcher Bay traverses farmland. Follow the timber bollards.
From Fletcher Bay to Stony Bay, the track follows the timber bollards over farmland for the first 45 minutes. It then drops down into Poley Bay. After a steep climb out, the track is of a gentle gradient down to Stony Bay.
Approximately half way along the track there is a worthwhile 5-minute detour to a lookout.
The focus of volcainc activity on the Coromandel Peninsula would have been centred near Fletcher Bay around 18 million years ago. An andesitic volcanic cone once dominated the area, the remnants of which now form Sugar Loaf Rock and the Pinnacles.
Dense areas of manuka and kanuka are providing nursery conditions for pohuehue and ponga to recolonise. In the gullies the vegetation becomes lusher with abundant nikau palms.
The Old Fencer’s Hut is an interesting relic from the days when the first settlers farmed the area.
Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC CoromandelCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Coromandel ▷ Coromandel Town |
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Categories |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Feature | Value | Info |
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Track Length |
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Track LengthWhat is the physical length of this track? 3km to 10km 10km return |
Track Duration |
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Track DurationHow long does it take to walk this track on average? 4 to 8 hours 7 hours return |
Track Difficulty |
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Track DifficultyConsidering the track's terrain, safety, facilities - how hard is this walk to complete? Moderate walk |
Payment Requirement |
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Payment RequirementIs there a cost for this experience or is it free? Free access/participation The experience costs no money to access or take part in. |
Large Vehicle Access |
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Large Vehicle AccessCan large vehicles such as motorhomes, housebuses and caravans gain access? No large vehicles The site is not accessible for large vehicles such as motorhomes and 5th wheelers. |
DOC Track Category |
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DOC Track CategoryWhat type of category does this walking track fall into (as defined by the NZ Department of Conservation)? Walking track Easy to moderate walking from a few minutes to a day. Track is mostly well formed, some sections may be steep, rough or muddy. Suitable for people with low to moderate fitness and abilities. Clearly signposted. Stream and river crossings are bridged. Walking shoes or light tramping/hiking boots required. |
Track Accommodation |
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Track AccommodationWhat type of accommodation is available on this walking track? Hut & Campsite At least one campsite and building is available on this track to stay at overnight. |
Disabled Access |
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Disabled AccessDoes this location provide disabled access? No disabled access This location does not provide access for wheelchairs. |
Crowd Factor |
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Crowd FactorHow crowded is this place usually? Lesser Known Usually has less people visiting |
Track Managing Organisation |
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Track Managing OrganisationWhat type of organisation operates this walking track? DOC Managed This track is managed by the Department of Conservation. DOC is a New Zealand government organisation. |
Amazing views.
Short five hour walk along Coromandel's shore.
Very nice walk with beautiful spots, easy to go.
This was the first track we did in New Zealand.
One of my favourite spots in New Zealand.
Rating | Count | Percentage | |
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10/10 | 6 |
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18% |
9/10 | 11 |
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32% |
8/10 | 14 |
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41% |
7/10 | 2 |
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6% |
6/10 | 0 |
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0% |
5/10 | 1 |
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3% |
4/10 | 0 |
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0% |
3/10 | 0 |
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0% |
2/10 | 0 |
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0% |
1/10 | 0 |
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0% |
4.0/5
A beautiful day walk with amazing scenery and plenty of good picnic locations.
10km one way, so if you want to start and finish at the same place you need to walk the same track back.
Reviewed about 7 years ago
4.5/5
Very nice walk with beautiful spots, easy to go.
It is a little complicated to get to the start point at Fletchers Bay.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.5/5
Well maintained, easy walk, signposting okay, a little hard to reach due to a long gravel road (which is a plus as the walk is not so crowded).
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.0/5
Long gravel road to access the track but worth it.
Lovely track along cliffs through the bush and some headland. Brilliant views all along the way. Very peaceful up there.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016
4.0/5
Even if the weather is bad, the walk is awesome.
The area is beautiful but the coastal walk is the best part. The DOC campsite is absolutely lovely.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
3.5/5
Very nice walkway!
Stunning views. Friendly people at the campsites and a gorgeous beach.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.5/5
Incredibly beautiful, but be prepared as it is not an easy walk especially in hot weather.
Fletcher Bay DOC campsite provided us with a map and lots of information about the walk (track options, time etc).
Reviewed over 8 years ago
4.0/5
Nice walkway with so many little bays and an awesome view from the lookout.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
5.0/5
Walking the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula from Fletcher Bay to Stony Bay.
Truly spectacular vistas from the first to last step. Awe inspiring.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
2.5/5
Very lovely walk, but if you don't have a car, you need a shuttle for $100 which is way too much though the landscape is very beautiful up there.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
4.0/5
A beautiful day walk with amazing scenery and plenty of good picnic locations.
10km one way, so if you want to start and finish at the same place you need to walk the same track back.
Reviewed about 7 years ago
4.5/5
Very nice walk with beautiful spots, easy to go.
It is a little complicated to get to the start point at Fletchers Bay.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.5/5
Well maintained, easy walk, signposting okay, a little hard to reach due to a long gravel road (which is a plus as the walk is not so crowded).
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in December 2016
4.0/5
Long gravel road to access the track but worth it.
Lovely track along cliffs through the bush and some headland. Brilliant views all along the way. Very peaceful up there.
Reviewed over 7 years ago and experienced in March 2016
3.5/5
Very nice walkway!
Stunning views. Friendly people at the campsites and a gorgeous beach.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.0/5
Even if the weather is bad, the walk is awesome.
The area is beautiful but the coastal walk is the best part. The DOC campsite is absolutely lovely.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in February 2016
5.0/5
Walking the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula from Fletcher Bay to Stony Bay.
Truly spectacular vistas from the first to last step. Awe inspiring.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.0/5
Nice walkway with so many little bays and an awesome view from the lookout.
Reviewed over 8 years ago and experienced in January 2016
4.5/5
Incredibly beautiful, but be prepared as it is not an easy walk especially in hot weather.
Fletcher Bay DOC campsite provided us with a map and lots of information about the walk (track options, time etc).
Reviewed over 8 years ago
5.0/5
One of my favourite spots in New Zealand.
Spectacular!
Reviewed almost 9 years ago and experienced in December 2015
4.5/5
This was the first track we did in New Zealand.
Amazing nature, great views and cool places to relax.
Reviewed almost 9 years ago
4.0/5
Highly recommended coastal walk, not that hard, goes a bit up and down, nice views, but no loop track.
Reviewed about 10 years ago
4.0/5
Awesome views of the Coromandel.
Reviewed about 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
3.5/5
Amazing views.
The hills are hard going.
Reviewed over 10 years ago and experienced in March 2014
4.5/5
A relaxing experience, with beautiful landscape.
A bit chilly during October and some rain from time to time.
Reviewed almost 11 years ago and experienced in December 2013
5.0/5
Nice track and wide open landscape.
Reviewed over 11 years ago and experienced in March 2013
4.0/5
Stunning views along Pinnacle coast line, walk through farmland & regenerating native bush.
Quite strenuous with lots of hill climbs especially from the Fletcher Bay end. Walking through the manuka forest at the Stony Bay end is amazing.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
4.5/5
Amazing day walk with great views.
The path is good but sometimes really steep sections.
Reviewed over 11 years ago
5.0/5
Friendly, informative local guide, experienced driver on gravel roads.
Home baking catering. Top coastal walk suitable all ages
Reviewed over 12 years ago
2.5/5
Very lovely walk, but if you don't have a car, you need a shuttle for $100 which is way too much though the landscape is very beautiful up there.
Reviewed over 12 years ago and experienced in February 2012
4.5/5
Beach walk, easy access, careful of tides - 21/2 - 3 hours with swim in isolated cove.
Reviewed over 12 years ago
4.0/5
North of Coromandel Peninsula Lookout - Walk from Fletcher Bay to Lookout
Reviewed almost 15 years ago and experienced in November 2009