The first time I went to the Coromandel I was on my Kiwi Bus Pass. We stopped on the East Coast to see Cathedral Cove (pictured above) and Hot Water beach. Recently I went back to the Coromandel, but this time to the West Coast. For a reference, the Coromandel is a peninsula East of Auckland. There are many towns and things to do, including what I did on the east coast of the Coromandel, but this list is about what to do in the actual “town.” Coromandel Town is a small village on the West coast, yet is a popular holiday spot because of its hiking, art and proximity to “The Big Smoke.”
Day
For a romantic weekend away from Auckland we booked an Airbnb with an outdoor shower, natural toilet and less than 100 meters away from Coromandel Town’s biggest attraction: the Driving Creek Railway. The Airbnb was private and had a wood fireplace. We were able to hear all chickens in the morning, and the birds at night. We were also able to stargaze into the Milky Way!
The best attraction in town: Driving Creek Railroad (DCR)
DCR is New Zealand’s only narrow-gauge mountain railway that travels through replanted native forest. It has pottery sculptures lining the track and has 2 spirals, 3 tunnels and 5 reversing points. 
The trip takes about an hour, and has about a 15 minute stop at the top. At the “Eyefull Tower,” you can overlook an amazing view of the Coromandel Harbour when the sun is out. 
During the summer they hold BBQ’s at the top. Since we went in the middle of winter, it was not too busy, however we still called and made a reservation for the time slot we wanted. I would recommend this no matter what time of year you visit.
The entire track was laid by hand by local Barry Brickell-Potter. He was a teacher who became a full time potter. As an avid history and native NZ flora/fauna buff, he decided to plant thousands of trees and plants on his land along the railway.
More than a million people visit DCR each year, and also visit the pottery gallery next door. The Coromandel has terrific terracotta clay and there are many artists in the area for this reason.
There is even a sculpture garden you can walk through while you wait for your train!
Night
Coromandel Town is small and quaint. There are a handfuls of cafes and restaurants with a few second hand stores and lovely boutiques. Since we wanted a relaxing weekend, we booked our train ride for late morning, had lunch in town and came back for the fire to snuggle and read. We got some local produce and made dinner while the sun went down.
The next day we did a day trip to the Waiau Kauri Grove. Kauri trees are some of the oldest in the world! They are very tall and beautiful, however most were cut down for timber when New Zealand was first settled. On the way to the Grove you drive through a free range pig & chicken farm. It was cool because they had pig crossing signs and we got out to see them running back and forth along the road. You could park to take photos and buy free range eggs. There were so many piglets and as soon as you get out of the car they come up to us so we were also able to pet them! For this reason, the pig farm is my #2 thing to do in the area!
Before doing this short bush walk we had to clean our shoes. As amazing as these trees are, there is a bacteria going around killing them called Kauri-dieback.
A highlight of the walk is the “Siamese Kauri,” which is 2 trees with the same base. It’s pretty rare! Doing this walk rounds out the 3rd best thing to do when visiting Coromandel Town.
After a final night in our humble abode, we drove through Whitanga on the way home. A bustling bay with a larger variety of eateries, bars and shops than Coromandel Town, the main attraction here is a visit to the Lost Spring. A geo-thermal hot springs spa, this one is different because it is set in native bush. A bit pricey, we skipped this but would love to go back and experience it.
TIP: New Zealand is known for is kind, easy going people; and lots of small towns rely on Bed and Breakfast’s as the only form of accommodation. Have a look at some unique homes all around the country by using Airbnb. Sign up with this link and get $50 off your first booking!
Where is the best Airbnb you have stayed in?