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Spectacular coastline, beautiful beaches, native rain forest, volcanic hills, brilliant red blooms of  Pohutukawa trees, swim with dolphins, explore old goldmines, check out the arts and crafts, eat and drink the locally produced cuisine and wines or just put your feet up and relax - the Thames/ Coromandel area is a wonderful location.
In only 90 minutes you can be in the relaxing, peaceful, arty region that is the Coromandel, it is understandable why people love it. With long hot summers that range in temperature from 11°C in the winter and up to the high 20's to the low 30's it is not hard to see why holiday makers flock to the area over the Christmas break and indeed throughout the whole year.
Industries in the area include mining, tourism, agriculture, horticulture, forestry, oyster and mussel farms, arts and crafts; there are also many cottage industries.
Most of the towns in the Coromandel are situated on the coastline so access to beaches and fishing spots is not hard to find. Towns include Cooks Beach, Coromandel, Hahei, Matarangi, Ngatea, Pauanui, Tairua, Thames and Whitianga.
Thames
The main street of Thames is equally well known for its beauty, history and its boutique shops. But it’s most famous for being one of the longest and straightest streets in the country. So much so that trekking the main street is a local challenge. The largest town on the peninsula,  Thames is the shopping capital of the Coromandel and is home to the Goldfields Shopping Mall.
In the late 19th century, the main industries of gold and kauri logging made Thames one of New Zealand’s largest cities. You can still take in some of this history at the Goldmine Experience, where tours of an old mine are conducted. As the gateway to the peninsula, it is a great base for people wanting to explore the Coromandel, with most places only an hour’s drive away.
To the north, the Thames coastline is an excellent area for fishing and the Kauaeranga Valley, in the hills just behind Thames, has walking tracks that will keep you breathtakingly busy.
Things to do
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Learn about the gold rush days at the Historical Museum
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Birdwatch on the firth of the Thames at the Karaka bird Hide
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Bushwalk Rocky's Goldmine Trail or in the nearby Kauaeranga Valley
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Totara Pa - a stronghold site for Ngati Maru tribe, who were defeated by Hongi Hika in 1821.
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Thames Saturday Market is always a good place to find unique collectibles
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Treat yourself in the shops around town and in the mall
Coromandel Town
Fishing, kayaking, snorkelling walking, sailing ... Coromandel town is a haven for lovers of the great outdoors. Visitors flock to the sun-drenched town to escape city and suburban life. Locals in the area have created a relaxed lifestyle, taking advantage of the beautiful coastline, the lush scenery and the activities the physical landscape encourages. The discovery of gold at Driving Creek in 1852 is only a small part of Coromandel's rich history, which is artfully displayed in many of the museums and galleries around town. The combination of the town's mining and timber-logging history, and the inescapable beauty of the coast is an inspiration for many artists and craftspeople who now call Coromandel home.
Perched on the harbour, on the western side of the peninsula, Coromandel town has mussels and oysters that will make your mouth water, all located just a 1 hour drive north of Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula, and only a 1.5 hour drive southeast of Auckland.
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Take a ride on the Driving Creek Railway train passing through Kauri forest
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Admire restored Victorian architecture and heritage buildings of days gone by
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Take a coastal walk on one of the scenic walkways
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Fish off the harbour, known for its high-quality mussel industry
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Indulge in the laid back lifestyle and 'cafe hop' your way through the town
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Pan for gold at the Coromandel Battery Stamper
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Relax in Waitati Gardens, home to NZ's flora treaures
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Hike the core of an extinct volcano at Castle Rock
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Only 3km from town you'll find Chiltern Scenic Reserve - a small national park
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Hunt for bargains at the local art and craft stores
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Visit many of the local art and craft galleries around Coromandel town
Property Sales Statistics
Median Residential Dwelling Price Comparison from Previous Years
| Year |
Median Price as at Dec |
Total Properties Sold |
Value of Total Properties Sold |
| 2009 |
$353,200 |
596 |
$260,596,496 |
| 2008 |
$335,000 |
508 |
$252,442,332 |
| 2007 |
$470,000 |
739 |
$363,892,026 |
| 2006 |
$375,000 |
825 |
$368,734,001 |
| 2005 |
$329,000 |
846 |
$340,213,276 |
| 2004 |
$315,000 |
1,021 |
$377,150,901 |
| 2003 |
$245,000 |
1,395 |
$366,941,532 |
| 2002 |
$185,000 |
1,028 |
$237,643,425 |
| 2001 |
$200,000 |
750 |
$164,461,260 |
| 2000 |
$170,000 |
570 |
$111,294,029 |
| 1999 |
$163,250 |
635 |
$131,414,972 |
| 1998 |
$122,500 |
459 |
$91,186,287 |
| 1997 |
$173,000 |
631 |
$119,424,100 |
| 1996 |
$155,000 |
695 |
$114,911,955 |
| 1995 |
$134,000 |
660 |
$99,713,900 |
| 1994 |
$129,000 |
682 |
$93,787,600 |
NB - Dwellings include houses, townhouses, units, apartments, home and income, conversions and residential investment blocks. Information provided by REINZ (Real Estate Institute of New Zealand).
The suburbs covered in these figures include: Colville, Cooks Beach, Coroglen, Coromandel, Hahei, Hikuai, Hikutaia, Hot Water Beach, Kaihere, Kaimarama, Kauaeranga, Kennedy Bay, Kerepehi, Kopu, Kopuarahi, Kuaotunu, Little Bay, MacKaytown, Manaia - Thames / Coromandel , Mangatarata, Matarangi, Matatoki, Miranda, Netherton, Ngarimu Bay, Ngatea, Oamaru Bay, Opito Bay - Coromandel, Opoutere, Papaaroha, Pauanui, Port Charles, Puriri, Ruamahunga Bay, Sandy Bay (Coromandel), Tairua, Tapu, Tararu, Te Kouma, Te Mata, Te Puru, Te Rerenga, Thames, Thames Coast, Thornton Bay, Tuateawa, Turua, Waiomu, Waitakaruru, Waitete Bay, Whakatete Bay, Whangapoua, Whenuakite, Whitianga
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