Travel Note: Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand

If you ever get the chance to travel to New Zealand, the Coromandel Peninsula is a must-see. Lots to see and do including Coromandel Town, Whitianga, Cathedral Cove and Mercury Bay Marine Reserve. For the photographer and those who love nature, it is a real gem.

Coromandel

The Coromandel is a popular holiday destination for Kiwis and visitors, with its clear sandy beaches and relaxed holiday feel. A beautiful oasis to stop, relax and enjoy the beautiful weather. Taking in some truly stunning views as we head towards the mountains and the bay finally looms before us. We checked into our hotel and headed out to explore the Coromandel town itself, very rugged and coastal.

We arranged our boat tour for the next day. This time we did a lot more research and chose a small craft with no more than 16 passengers, the skipper was a photography enthusiast and offered special photography tours of bays, coves and marine preserves… !

We then heard about the Driving Creek Railway and headed there for an afternoon train ride and a quick wander.

Drive the Creek Railroad

This is the dream of Potter Barry Brickell, who started this project in 1973. Building this amazing 3km narrow gauge railway through the jungle, mostly by hand! We boarded the miniature train for a very fun and informative 1 hour train ride up the mountain to Ain Mulu Tower for amazing views over the bay. It was beautiful and cool among the trees. Hand-made caves and various sculptures and large pottery are filled on the track. It was very dark and the train was a bit too fast making it difficult to get good photos while the train was moving. But a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon and well worth the side trip.

Back to our motel room for a cool drink and watching the sunset. It couldn’t be more perfect for a view from our boat on the bay.

Whitianga Wharf

Driving up the hills from Coromandel Town to Whitianga Wharf was a great morning of fun. We explored a small beach town before heading to Zodiac with the Cathedral Cove Scenic Cruise.

Cathedral Cove is a wonderful tourist destination

We had the most amazing day on the water with our talented Ken, a keen photographer himself. He took us to the best places. Cathedral Cove, Orua Sea Cave and some brilliant beaches. This 2.5 hour excursion was definitely the highlight of our trip. Amazing photos and even saw a hammerhead shark in the marine park. By choosing a small ship and a knowledgeable cruise operator, we’re sure to get great views and amazing photos from a local who knows the area well. They are much better than the big cruise ships that came before. Not to mention being on the Zodiac on the water was a lot of fun.

I wish we could have spent that extra time just for a few days. I would love to return to this beautiful coastal area.

Useful tips

• It’s very choppy on the water, so try and shutter speed at least 1/1600 to 1/2500 sec, ISO at least ISO400 — maybe 640.
• It’s hard to change lenses while on the water, say salt spray, movement, etc. So pick a lens and stick with it. I took 18-200 mm.
• If you’re out on the water, a CPL (Circular Polarizer Filter) will help reduce glare and let you capture the action below the surface if you’re lucky enough to see some.
• Of course, don’t forget water, sunscreen, a hat, and lens cleaner to get rid of sea spray on your lenses. A UV filter/blocker can also be a good investment.
• When not shooting, try to keep your camera and lens covered to protect them from salt spray and water.