An up-and-coming sports star who drowned in a tragic paddle boarding accident in Coromandel has been remembered by her family as a "vibrant and energetic" girl.

We look at spots made famous by some classic Kiwi landmarks.

After a summer's day together exploring the Coromandel with boyfriend Jared Wilford, Ashleigh Dargusch decided she wanted to go for a swim.

Matt Boggs' carefully laid plan to propose to his girlfriend at one of her favourite places in Whangamata nearly sank when his old wave ski started taking on water.

A 23-year-old Australian tourist on a Kiwi Christmas holiday with her boyfriend and mates has died of head injuries after she fell at a Coromandel water hole.

The name of an Australian woman who died after suffering head injuries in a fall on to rocks has been released.

What does our food say about us as Kiwis? In a five-day series, Jamie Morton and photographer Alan Gibson head out to discover what’s on the plate in our summer places.

After the excesses of Christmas and New Year celebrations, Joelle Thomson investigates North Island walks for you to check out on your holidays.

Andrew Alderson stays at a classic Kiwi cottage on the Coromandel Peninsula.

Susan Buckland gets in some bird-watching at Miranda's sanctuary.

The owners and operators of Pacific Harbour Lodge on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula at Tairua want to sell the land and buildings as a tourism investment asset and negotiate a 30-year lease with the new owners so they can continue running it.

Next time you're in the region, be sure to explore these spots ...

Sure, there's gold in 'them thar hills' but there's far more to do in the mining town than a weekend is time for, find Donna McIntyre and her family.

A 70-year-old man died and two people received moderate injuries after a crash between a motorbike and a car near Thames.

Two abandoned Christchurch houses have been seriously damaged in suspicious fires early today.

A dispute between the Pauanui land owner and a golf club about a covenant on the property has gone to the Court of Appeal.

Clear skies are about to surrender to a soggy weekend - with rain starting to fall tonight in Northland before spreading tomorrow to Auckland and the Coromandel.

Cold nights are lit up with fire breathers, tin lanterns and fluorescent faces, finds Catherine Smith.

Head to some of these local gems next time you're visiting the peninsula.

Climb aboard a carriage to appreciate a potter's decades-long labour of love.

This hand-laid, three-kilometre-long railway snakes its way through rugged Coromandel bush terrain to a tower that affords wonderful views out to the Hauraki Gulf.

For further information see: drivingcreekrailway.co.nz

A man was in a serious condition in Thames Hospital last night after his car burst into flames following a crash in Coromandel.

Small town New Zealand does wonderful and whacky to keep up our winter spirits.

A man charged over a violent kidnapping and a daring escape from Auckland’s central police station will face trial.

A judge ordered an American man who caused a fatal crash on the Coromandel Peninsula to pay $5500 for emotional harm and told him "this will remain with you forever".

An American man was due to fly home with his wife the day after the vehicle he was driving crossed the centre line, hitting and killing an Auckland woman.