Tours available from Cotswold Cottage
The Golden Highlights - an all Kiwi experience exploring the Southern Coromandel - rich in gold mining, history, pristine beaches and stunning walks.
These tours have been designed to give you a chance to immerse yourself in the uniquely Kiwianna life of the Coromandel. The itinerary can be tailored to suit individual needs and weather conditions.
<<Click on images for a larger view>>
Day One
Self drive to Cotswold Cottage.
Arrive mid-afternoon to a delicious Cotswold Afternoon Tea.
7.00pm (Optional Extra) Pre-dinner drinks and a chance to chat with your hosts followed by a chef-cooked two or three course dinner. <<Click Here For Details>>
Day Two
After a full breakfast the tour departs at 9.35am.
We take the Kopu-Hikuai Road to Opoutere. This is the most recent of the roads cut through the Coromandel Range and has plenty of spectacular scenery to enjoy.
Opoutere - Described by Lonely Planet as one of the hidden gems of the Coromandel - the last great undeveloped white sand beach on the Coromandel Peninsula accessible to the public. Opoutere Beach is protected from development by a forested reserve running almost its entire length, with crystal clear water for swimming, surfing and surf casting. At the southern end of Opoutere Beach lies the narrow entrance to the Wharekawa Harbour which is dominated by a spectacular sand spit. Also home to several New Zealand endangered sea birds.
Then on to Onemana for a Kiwi-style morning tea and a chance to view the off-shore islands of the Slipper Group (Slipper, Penguin and Rabbit Islands), the Alderman Islands and further round Mayor Island, from a great perspective.
The tour now continues to Waihi to join the Martha Gold Mine Tour at 12.30pm. This is a chance to get "up close and personal" with a modern-day working gold mine. The tour takes approximately 2 hours. Before the tour you will be fitted out with safety gear in preparation to go on site where you will view the mine and all its workings from a very close vantage point. The tour takes you through all the stages of the mining process with plenty of colourful stories and lots of information. There is also a good array of heavy duty equipment on display too. After the mine experience you rejoin us for the rest of the tour.
We then travel to the Karangahake Gorge for a guided walk on one of the many historic pathways. Here you will go back in time to the gold rush era of 1875 when the hills were staked out by men from all over the world looking for gold. (This is approximately a 1 hour walk suitable for most levels of fitness)
After the walk we take afternoon tea at Ohinemuri Winery before traveling back to the comfort of Cotswold Cottage Luxury Bed and Breakfast. <<Check Facilities>>
A delicious 3 course evening meal is served at 7.30pm. <<Click Here For Dining Information>>
Tour includes 2 nights bed and full breakfast - all transport - entrance to the Martha Gold Mine Tour - morning tea, afternoon tea and a 3 course meal on the second night.
Price for 2 people is $600 (minimum on tour 2)
Single travellers attract a 10% surcharge
Scenic Cruises
Coromandel Marine Farm Cruise
This tour is a must to start your Coromandel experience ... lets cruise along the Thames Coast enjoying the magnificent view of the Coromandel Ranges and rugged coastline that make our Peninsula postcard perfect. Visit Te Kouma harbour - Manaia Inlet - Deadmans Point Coromandel Harbour ... be amazed as huge barges manoeuvre through the Wilson Bay Marine Farms harvesting mussels for local and domestic markets.
Island Tour
Today we catch a little history, a little nature and a lot of relaxation as we travel through the still waters of the Coromandel Harbour enjoying the serenity as large sea birds soar above searching for food. We pass through the gap and head for the Black Rocks, Elephant Cove and Happy Jack Island. We will watch sea gulls nesting and nature at its best as gannets dive from great heights into the water to feed off the unsuspecting sea life. Marine Farms cover a large area of the sea, so sea and bird life are abundant. A tour not to be missed.
Thames - Paeroa
Cruise the Waihou River, visit the historic Captain Cook landing plus Kopu Bridge, historic Maori sites.
Sea Bird Coast Cruise
The Seabird Coast extends from the Southern Mangrove Forest in the Firth of Thames to North Eastern shores of Kawakawa Bay and is the home of 20 to 25,000 migrationary seabirds that migrate from their artic breeding grounds and congregate on the ancient chenier shell banks, shoals and sandy areas of pipi beds. Thames Charters are proud to present to you this vast wonderland of natural beauty ... lets explore the coast photographing the birds habitant, natural fauna and flora, dolphins, orcars and kahawai are plentiful to view. A mystical dragon lives in the shallows ...
4 hours cruise - times due to tide times
Mussel Farms
Half Day Mussel Farm Boat Fishing Trip 5 - 6 hours
Times may vary with tides and catch rate. Your daily limit of 9 snapper per head may bring you home early or a tour into watch mussel barges harvesting or visiting Mania harbour - the choice is yours or perhaps a refreshing drink as you reminisce the last couple of hours.
$85.00 per person mussel farm fishing.
$85.00 per person bait and rods supplied
Approx 5-6 hours.
Minimum boat charge applies
Tours
We are passionate about New Zealand and the outdoors. Cycling and treks, mountain bike hire. explore Thames, Kauaeranga Valley or the Coromandel Peninsula with us or hire a bike and do it yourself. Book a tour with our local guides who can take you on a multi day cycle ride around the Coromandel Peninsula, overnight treks to the Pinnacles and mountain bike rides half days to full days of varying skill levels. Tour guide at your door step - book a tour and the ride starts and finishes at your accommodation COTSWOLD COTTAGE. THE WAIHI GOLD MINE TOUR
This is a must do for those wanting to get up close and personal with a modern day working gold mine. This tour is a very special one taking you into areas that are normally off limited to the general public (you are fitted out with all safety equipment) The tour takes you to see every stage of the process from extraction to final processing. The tour departs daily from Waihi at 9.30am and 12.30pm and must be pre-booked at least 24 hours in advance. Let us arrange your tickets and transport to the mine while you stay at Cotswold Cottage. |
Bike Hire
If you would just like to hire a bike and go for a day ride or maybe several days around the Coromandel Peninsula ... $30 per day or $25 per day for 3 or more days. Panniers available.
$140 Per person : Max 6
OR
Pinnacles Trek - Overnight
$235 Per person max. 12
DAY 1 - Thames to the Pinnacles
Meeting in Thames, we drive up the Kauaeranga Valley to the end of the road where we begin our trek up to the Pinnacles following some of the original trails used by the Kauri loggers 150 years ago. Once there you will have time to settle into the hut and walk up to the Pinnacles for the view. After dinner and when the sun goes down, we go and check out the night life in the bush and streams.
Day 2 - Pinnacles to Thames
After breakfast there is a chance to explore, maybe up to the Pinnacles again or we take you to the dancing creek dam and a large Kauri stump cut down during the logging, then we pack up and head off taking the Billy goat track out to the vehicles.
