One of the most iconic beaches in the Coromandel Peninsula. Accessible only by foot or boat, Cathedral Cove is a must see. Renowned for its dramatic limestone arch, crystal-clear waters and pristine surroundings.
About
Located on Coromandel Peninsula's east coast, near the township of Hahei, Cathedral Cove is part of Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve.
The beach itself is free, but you may need to pay for a parking, a shuttle or boat to access the beach.
Surrounded by white sandstone cliffs that have been eroded away by the sea, creating a series of arches and caves, it truly is a natural wonder and kids always love exploring here.
Low tide is the best time of day to visit if you want to easily walk through the rock formation that forms the Cathedral. You can go when the tide is higher, but you might get wet! Check the tides before you go at Tides Chart.
If you want to experience Cathedral Cove completely free, you can park at the Hahei Visitor Carpark and the walk will take you around 2 hours. Although this does depend on your fitness level and how fast your kids like to walk.
If you’re parking at the main Carpark on Grange Road, the walk will take around 60-90 minutes round trip, depending on how long you spend on the beach.
Access
Parking - There is no parking at Cathedral Cove itself. You need to walk to the beach and there are 2 options for where to leave your car:
The cheaper and less crowded option for parking is at 150 Lees Road. The cost is $15 per car and will take you for a scenic walk through relatively flat private farmland which then connects about half way to the Cathedral Cove track. It’s a lovely gentle walk and we always park here.
You can also park your car for free at the Hahei Visitors Carpark. From there you can walk or catch the shuttle. If you decide to walk allow an extra 30 minutes to walk up the hill to the track entrance.
Shuttle - Park for free at the Hahei Visitor Carpark and wait for the shuttle which runs October - April.
Over Summer (December - February) the shuttle works on a continuous loop from 9am-6pm. Departing every 10-15 minutes, the shuttle will drop you off and pick you up at the Grange Road track entrance.
The cost is $8 per adult for a return trip and children under 14 are free. The ride takes about 10-15 minutes.
You can pre-book the shuttle at Cathedral Cove Park & Ride, but only for the day of travel.
Boat - Cathedral Cove Water Taxi is the only boat that drives you directly onto the beach so you don’t need to get wet. It is $40 each way for adults and $20 for children. It departs every 30 minutes from Hahei and Cathedral Cove, just look for the yellow flags on the beach. A great option if you don’t feel like doing the big walk back.
Experiencing Cathedral Cove by boat is an unforgettable experience that offers a completely different perspective. To explore more of the coastline.
The Hahei Explorer is $125 for Adults and $75 for Children. They also have group and family packages available.
Cathedral Cove Senic Cruises are $120 for adults and $70 for Children. They also have group and family packages available.
Another way to experience it by water is with Cathedral Cove Kayak Tours with prices starting from $165.
Swimming
You can swim at Cathedral Cove, however the beach is known for its strong swell so be mindful when swimming.
The cave itself was carved out by the powerful sea waves so be careful if you want to go swimming, and try to choose a calm day to swim.
You can swim out to jump off the nearby rock and explore the other caves and formations on either side of the beach.
The waters are the most beautiful jewel tone and crystal clear. In my opinion is one of the best beaches in New Zealand!
Toilets
There are no toilets available on the beach. However there are toilets at the start of the track on Grange Road and portaloos half way down the track where it connects with the track to Lees Road parking .
Conservation
There are no rubbish bins at Cathedral Cove. It is a protected area as part of the Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine Reserve.
In an effort to maintain the pristine condition of the Cove and encourage responsible behaviour any rubbish must be taken with you.
Where to Eat
Nowhere! Cathedral Cove is part of a conservation area and there in no food shops on the beach itself.
On the track - Soft serve ice creams, slushies and cold drinks are available half way down the track at the turn off point for the Lees Road carpark.
If you’re looking for a meal, Hahei is the closest township to Cathedral Cove and where to eat will be covered in a separate Hahei guide.
Hahei - A Hahei Guide is coming soon, but until that’s available I can recommend The Pour House as a kid friendly restaurant. They have a great outdoor area. They brew their own craft beer and our kids loved their pizzas and chips!
You can get Ice creams at Hahei General Store. I haven’t been there yet, but The Church Bistro also looks delicious and also has accomodation.
Extra Info
Cathedral Cove is a unique and geologically interesting. It truly is a natural wonder and the kids always love exploring here.
Surrounded by white sandstone cliffs that have been eroded away by the sea, creating a series of arches and caves. There is a little waterfall and tiny pool at the other end of the beach for the littler kids too.
Where to Stay
Again, there is nowhere to stay at Cathedral Cove itself. This is a conservation area and the closest township is 5-10 minutes away in Hahei (guide coming soon).
Hot Water Beach - Located approximately 10 minutes drive from Cathedral Cove, there is a great Top 10 Holiday Park at Hot Water Beach. if you’re in the area I would highly recommend visiting the beach, and we love the campground there too.
Don’t forget to visit at low tide so you can dig a hole in the sand and enjoy the natural hot springs. Guide coming soon.
Cooks Beach - Approximately 15-20 minutes drive from Cathedral Cove, this beach is a family favourite!
We especially love Purangi Reserve for the kids as there are no waves for the little ones and the bigger kids can enjoy swimming across the inlet to the beach on the other side.
There is also a playground right on the beach too. Guide coming soon.
Download your Free Cathedral Cove Beach Guide Here.
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