Prefer to have a list of some of the things to do in and around Waihi Beach? Take a look at a list we made up using our local knowledge.
Walks
Do the ‘windows walk’ or one of the many others in the Karangahake Gorge - go on a gorge walk, & see the history of the early gold mining days in the Karangahake gorge
Walk to Orakawa Bay – have a swim, take a picnic lunch
Walk from Homunga back to Waihi Beach – approx 2 3/4hour walk along the coast line
Walk around the headland at Bowentown to Shelley Bay for a picnic
Walk the beach - 9kms of sand
Rides
Cycle the Hauraki Rail Trail taking in Paeroa, Thames, Te Aroha and Waihi
Take a Harley bike ride and see the Coromandel with Bularangi Tours, half or full day
Borrow the bicycles for a leisurely ride around Waihi Beach.
Book a dinner kayaking trip through glow worm caves with Waimarino
Eating Out
Lunch at one of the wineries in the area:Ohinemuri winery; Morten Estate winery or Mills Reef winery & restaurant.
Have a coffee and cake in one of the local cafes.
Get a wood fired pizza on Beach Rd - north end of the beach
Buy fish n chips from the Wilson Rd fish shop or the Island View fish shop and eat them on the beach
Check out Ship Shape for a quiet coffee
Have lunch at the only café on the beach – Flat white cafe
Have dinner at the award winning The Porch Kitchen & bar
Book a dinner kayaking trip through glow worm caves with Waimarino
Have dinner or lunch at Waitete Orchard restaurant in Waihi
Drop into the Sparkling Waters restaurant at the Bowentown Boating & Sports Fishing Club for dinner
Go torpedo fishing with Greg & Ali and mix with a few of the locals – tie it in with fish n chips for dinner on the beach along with a glass or two of NZ wine or beer
Stop off at the Bistro in the Karangahake gorge for wood fired Pizzas and excellent a la carte offerings.
Take in the Waihi Beach RSA for dinner and enjoy the views
Leisure Activities
Take a Martha Mine Tour – approx $2,000,000 worth of gold & silver is taken out of this mine every week.(tour lasts approx 2 hours)
Watch the sunrise behind Mayor Island from down on the Beach
Deep sea fishing & snorkeling at Mayor Island
Visit the Martha Goldmine in Waihi
Enjoy a picnic at Anzac Bay
Play 18 holes of golf at one of the many local golf courses. (4 within ½ hour drive and at very reasonable prices – club, trundler & kart hire also available)
Soak in the Athenree mineral hot pools
Visit Bullswool farm and see the exotic animals
Catch a train ride from Waihi to the Waikino station & back
Gather Tuatua’s on Waihi Beach and open them on the bar b que
Visit the Art Market in Waihi to see local art at very good prices
Visit Athenree Homestead and see the history of original settlers in the area
Visit the Waihi Museum and check out the local history of Waihi
Enjoy a great ice cream in a cone from the Island View Dairy
Visit the look out & Pa site at Bowentown and look over to Matakana Island –110,000 hectares of pine forest stretching from Bowentown to Tauranga.
Collect mussels off the rocks at the northern end of the beach
Try some retail therapy for the ladies at Molly’s fashion store
Relax on the 9ks of white sandy beach
Watch the moon come up after sunset behind Mayor Island
Play 18 holes of mini golf in the village
Try your luck with trout fishing in the Ohinemuri river - guides available from Bularangi
Visit the Pump house in Waihi – an historic Cornish pump house
Enjoy surf casting off the rocks at Bowentown and bring back you catch to smoke in the smoker
Take a look at the avocado trees and Kiwi fruit vines close by – ask Greg & Ali for directions
Go to the ice creamery at Waitete Orchard Restaurant in Waihi for locally made ice cream
Collect many of the different shells on Waihi Beach – be careful to ensure the shells are empty if you want to take them home
Visit Waihi Water Lily gardens
Have a beer in the Waikino pub and catch up on the early history of the gold mining area.
Have some fun body surfing (or borrow the boogie boards) on the beach
Visit the lavender farm at Katikati
Check out Athenree homestead– an historic house dating back to the early 1800’s
Catch the thrill of tandem sky diving in Mt Maunganui
Take your bathers to the thermal pools in Te Aroha for a swim
