Tairua is a small coastal town situated on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula in the North Island of New Zealand. It is a popular destination for summer holidays and a coffee stop for tourists on the Coromandel tourist circuit.
Get in[edit]
By road[edit]
- State Highway 25 passes through the town centre. The town is about 40 km south of Whitianga and about 36 km north of Whangamata.
By bus[edit]
Intercity have buses Su-F from Thames and Whitianga.
By ferry[edit]
- Catch the short ferry ride from Pauanui across the Tairua Harbour.
Sail[edit]
- Tairua is a safe harbour and a good place for stopover.
Get around[edit]
See[edit]
The surrounding areas are covered in native bush and pine forests, and native bird life is plentiful. Estuaries and rivers are great fun to navigate on kayak.
Do[edit]
- Ocean Beach, Ocean Beach Rd. Great for surfing and soaking up the sun.
- Tairua Harbour, Manaia Rd. Children can swim safely in the warm water of the sheltered harbour beaches.
- 1 Paku, Tirinui Cres. Walk to the summit of this volcanic peak, which was once a Maori pa site, for an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean, Tairua Harbour and the Coromandel Ranges.
- Tairua River, Tairua Rd. Excellent for kayaking and other water sports.
- Coromandel Forest Park, Kopu Hikuai Rd. Loads of areas for swimming, walks and trailbike riding in the area.
Buy[edit]
- 1 The Little Gallery, 228 Main Rd. Commercial art gallery exhibiting paintings, pottery and jewellery by local artists.
- 2 Four Square, 234 Main Rd. daily 7AM-6PM. Small supermarket
Eat[edit]
The harbour and ocean provide an abundance of fresh seafood such as flounder, pipis, cockles, crayfish, scallops and snapper.
- 1 Out of the Blue Cafe, 227 Main Road, ☏ +64 7 864 8987. Daily opening at 8AM. A small cafe.
Drink[edit]
Sleep[edit]
- 1 Blue Water Motel, 213 Main Rd, ☏ +64 7 864 8537, fax: +64 7 864 8537. $85–175 per night based on double occupancy - extra fee for extra occupants.
- Colonial Homestay, 202 Paku Drive, ☏ +64 7 864 7743, fax: +64 7 864 7743. $145–160 per night depending on season.
- 2 Pacific Harbour Lodge, 223 Main Rd, ☏ +64 7 864 8581, fax: +64 7 864 8858. $100–180 per night depending on season and number of occupants.
- Saltwater Lodge, 4 Tui Terrace, +64 7 864 9592, fax +64 9 278 9322, mobile +64 21 959 911.
- 3 Tairua Shores Motel, 156 Main Rd, ☏ +64 7 864 8520, toll-free: 0800 426 276. $95–195.
Go next[edit]
- Hahei and Hot Water Beach – near the Marine Reserve – at Hot Water Beach, two hot springs come up through the sand near low tide, and you can hire a spade and dig your own hot pool
- Take the ferry to Pauanui, just across the harbour
- Thames to the west
- Whangamata to the south
- Whitianga to the north