Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach Small-Group Tour with Lunch
Description
Discover the Coromandel Peninsula your way with two unique small-group tour options. Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach Tour – Operates only when tide times allow, giving you the chance to dig your own spa at the world-famous Hot Water Beach (bring a towel & swimwear!). Coastal Adventure Tour – Runs on alternate days, following the same stunning coastal journey and highlights—including Cathedral Cove—without Hot Water Beach. Tours operate daily, with itineraries based on tidal conditions. If your preferred tour is unavailable, check the alternate option— both tours include Mautohe Cathedral Cove, one of the world’s Top 50 Beaches! Whichever option you choose, enjoy breathtaking scenery, secret stops, and the Cheeky Kiwi Travel difference: small groups, passionate guides, wildlife encounters, and thoughtful little touches that make our tours unforgettable. Access to Cathedral Cove is weather-dependent; alternative stops may be arranged in poor conditions.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Your tour starts in New Zealand’s largest city. As we drive out of the city your guide will not only set the scene for your adventure today but also point out and guide you past some of the city’s top highlights.
Exiting Auckland we travel south through the stunning Waikato countryside, the most extensive farming area in the world, encountering beautiful scenery, mighty rivers, great photo opportunities, impressive mountains and several farm animals along the way.
The exact itinerary is based on tidal conditions. Only tours where Hot Water Beach aligns with tide times will include a visit here, and if you're booked on our Coastal Adventure tour, you'll instead visit other key Coromandel Peninsula Highlights!
Time for lunch to refuel! We'll stop in Hahei where you can enjoy a delicious picnic lunch (Picnic lunch - ordered on the day by your guide), before we continue our adventure.
Visit Cathedral Cove, one of New Zealand’s most iconic natural landmarks. The walk to Cathedral Cove takes between 30 - 45 minutes, but the reward is well worth it—stunning coastal views and the opportunity to explore this breathtaking beach. Acess to Cathedral Cove is weather-dependent. For safety reasons, the track may be unsuitable after or during heavy rain. In such cases, alternative arrangements will be made to ensure you still have an incredible experience.
Dig you own hotspring in the soft white sand (if tide allows). We provide the shovels :)
Sadly after this day in paradise we must start to head north again but your day is not over with a fully guided return trip to Auckland including secret stops along the way.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
*If no pickup is selected at time of booking, you will be allocated our default meeting point (SkyCity Hotel). You are welcome to update this at any time. If your location isn’t listed, please choose your nearest available option & meet us there. *Pick-ups can begin up to 20 minutes before the tour departure time, depending on location. To ensure a smooth start, please be ready and waiting outside 5 minutes prior to your specific pickup time. *Pick-up locations are carefully planned for each tour and may vary by day. If your pick-up location changes, kindly inform us in advance. *Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. We are unable to wait for late guests.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have a high level of physical fitness
- A high level of fitness and good mobility is required, including a challenging 40-minute walk to and from Cathedral Cove over uneven terrain and stairs. Not suitable for guests with mobility difficulties.
- Hot Water Beach access is tide-dependent and may not always be possible for safety reasons.
- Tracks may be unsafe during or after heavy rain; alternative arrangements will be made if required.
- Bring swimwear and a towel if you wish to swim. Closed-in, sturdy footwear is mandatory.
- Children aged 7 and under must use a child safety seat. You may bring your own or hire one for NZ$20 with 24 hours’ notice.
- Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there are not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund.
Reviews(301)
Although it did ended up raining halfway through the tour we had an enjoyable experience walking down and taking in the view at the Coromandel Cathedral. Our guide was also helpful in showing people where to dig and dip the feet’s at hot water beach to experience the hot springs the best
If only I could give 6 stars, I would award them. This is largely due to our guide, Simon. He told us so many interesting facts we did not know before, he was kind, patient, attentive to our needs and had a good sense of humor. We saw very few other visitors. Both beaches were exceptional experience. The trip went very smoothly.
Thank you so much for this incredible review, Gabriela! Simon will absolutely love hearing your kind words. He has such a wonderful passion for sharing the natural beauty and history of the Coromandel with every guest. We are so glad both beaches delivered such a memorable experience and that the trip ran smoothly. Thank you for booking your Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach tour with Cheeky Kiwi Travel and we hope to see you back in New Zealand again soon!
I had an absolutely fantastic day on the Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach Tour with Cheeky Kiwi Travel! From start to finish, everything was well organized, stress-free, and exceeded my expectations. A special shoutout to Simon, who truly made the experience exceptional. His knowledge of the area, local history, and New Zealand culture added so much to the day, and he shared it all with enthusiasm, humour, and genuine passion. He struck the perfect balance between keeping the tour informative and making it feel relaxed and fun. Cathedral Cove was every bit as stunning as the photos, and Simon made sure everyone had plenty of time to enjoy the views, take photos, and soak in the experience. Hot Water Beach was such a unique experience, and his tips on where and when to dig for the warmest water were spot on! What stood out most was Simon's attention to the group and his ability to make everyone feel welcome. You can tell he genuinely enjoys what he does and wants guests to have the best possible experience. If you're visiting New Zealand and considering this tour, don't hesitate—it's a must-do. Thanks again to Simon and the team at Cheeky Kiwi Travel for an unforgettable day
What a wonderful review! Simon will be absolutely thrilled to read your kind words. He truly loves making each Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach tour as informative and enjoyable as possible and it is wonderful to hear his passion for the region shone through. Thank you for choosing Cheeky Kiwi Travel and we hope we can welcome you back on another New Zealand adventure very soon!
I was a very exciting experience. I really enjoyed it.
Hot Water Beach really is one of those places that has to be experienced to be believed! So glad you enjoyed it and we'd love to have you back on another Cheeky Kiwi tour.
It was a wonderful day! I highly recommend this tour!
We had an amazing day exploring the Coromandel Peninsula and Hot Water Beach with Dave. As a local, he shared so many great insights, and he was friendly, caring and super easy to spend the day with. The beach he took us to for lunch was absolutely stunning such a highlight! He is well-travelled with lots of interesting knowledge and stories to share. Highly recommend it!!
Highly recommend doing this tour with cheeky kiwi travel. Dave was exceptional and even included extra stops to make our day even more memorable including taking our lunch to a beautiful hidden beach. Small group which is always my preferred. Dont hesitate, just book it!
Matt was an awesome guide, very knowledgeable and super friendly! It was my birthday and the team went out of their way to make my day special. Scenery was absolutely spectacular. We couldn't have asked for more. It was everything we hoped for and more. Thanks for looking after us today Matt, and many thanks Cheeky Kiwi Travel for being a great company to deal with!
What a wonderful birthday memory to have — thank you so much for this glowing review! We're thrilled Matt and the team made your day so special and that the scenery wowed you. We hope to celebrate many more adventures with you! - GM, Cheeky Kiwi Travel
Tour Guide was very friendly and all the places were too good
This was a wonderful day trip. Tough hikes, but well worth it! Nice little stops along the way as well.
