Dreamy holidays at the family bach, eating hot-smoked kahawai on the beach or just escaping the pressure of everyday life. Whatever memories the Peninsula conjures up, a common theme is a feeling of exploration.
For hundreds of years explorers from around the globe have been lured into its spectacular landscape. Kupe and Cook were two of the great navigators to step ashore. Their influence and that of those that followed in search of kauri and gold is still evident today.
A water based tour from Whitianga or guided bush tour through the Kaueraunga Valley, Puketui Valley and Karangahake Gorge are the best ways to hear some of the stories which shaped the region.
Its a chance to journey through breathtaking scenery, hearing the stories and seeing the remnants of the navigators, pioneers, goldminers and kauri loggers who first discovered the riches of the area.
The thousands of explorers who now come through the region each year now tread lightly, appreciating the natural beauty which abounds from every corner, says Jim Archibald of Tourism Coromandel.
Someone with an exceptional story to tell is Barry Brickell from Coromandel town. A railway enthusiast, potter and conservationist, Barry has for decades blended his three passions together to create a popular tourist attraction, Driving Creek Railway. This small gauge railway winds its way through native bush to spectacular views of the Hauraki Gulf at the Eyeful Tower.
A potter by trade, Barry created a small gauge railway to transport clay from the hills of his 22 hectare property. Transporting materials soon turned to paying customers, who came to see a unique conservation project in action. Once stripped of kauri and native bush by pioneers, Barry has worked tirelessly to restore indigenous forest on the property.
The introduction of a regular ferry service to Coromandel town by Kawau Kat has given the Coromandel a mainland island feel. Arriving by water and almost completely surrounded by 400 kilometres of coastline the region indeed feels isolated from the mainland.
The ferry service takes you to Coromandel town, which has undergone a renaissance in its cafe, cuisine and gallery scene. Some of the tastes of Coromandel include sampling smoked mussels from the Coromandel Smoking Company, organic wine from Castle Rock winery, crayfish at the Peppertree restaurant and locally roasted Coffee Lala.
Hands on artistic fun is on the menu at Bay Carving in Whitianga, where you can create your own bone carving or jewellery. Also open to visitors is the new Wairua Creative Retreat which runs creative workshops and stone sculpture classes.
Summer is welcomed to the Coromandel with a big party - the Mercury Energy Pohutukawa Festival which runs from November 25 to December 11.
The festival is a celebration of New Zealand's Christmas tree, the pohutukawa and its symbolic ties to New Zealand beach culture. For many people the blossoming of these trees triggers fond memories of Christmas spent by the beach and the family holiday home.
Over three weekends, some of New Zealand's top bands will be playing in coastal locations in Whangamata, Thames Coast and Whitianga. Crowd pleasers Goldenhorse, The Black Seeds and Greg Johnson are among those appearing at the events, which will also feature stalls selling wine and food.
Some of the dishes to be enjoyed include fresh snapper crumbed with locally grown macadamia nuts and Crimson, a Pinot Noir from Ata Rangi vineyard in Martinborough. Ata Rangi has produced the wine in conjunction with Project Crimson with proceeds from the wine going toward the trust's pohutukawa reforestation efforts.
For art lovers there is a visual feast of pohutukawa inspired creations at free exhibitions, art trails and the sixth Pohutukawa Wearable Arts show. On December 4 in Tairua a trail of three idyllic properties will host eight of the Coromandel's top artists and musicians in their living rooms, gardens and patios.
Mercury Energy consumer markets general manager Mark Carter says the company is proud to support an event that celebrates the natural beauty of this unique area.
Many of the Coromandel's environmental groups are involved in the festival, giving visitors the opportunity to interact with projects restoring the populations of pohutukawa, kauri and kiwi. A dozen close up kiwi encounters will run throughout the festival. Its a unique opportunity for many New Zealanders to see and hear kiwi in their natural environment.
Kicking the festival off is the Comedy Debate in Coromandel town on Friday, November 25 with Gary McCormack, Cocksy and Ewan Gilmore.
With a growing cafe scene the festival also offers each town the chance to earn the title of Cafe Captial of the Coromandel. Each town stages a progressive dinner or cafe crawl which is judged by two cuisine journalists.
More than 50 family events including fun runs, swims and bike races will be taking place between November 25 and December 11. In two week's time around 1000 cyclists will set out from Whitianga and circumnavigate the Coromandel by cycle.
In between, they will complete 200km and over 2300 vertical metres of ascents.
It's all part of the K2 cycle race held annually on the Coromandel and attracting some of New Zealand's top cyclists such as Sarah Ulmer.
The annual Coromandel Dive Festival once again takes place this year in Tairua from December 1-4.
