Thinking about heading to Kuaotunu Beach this summer? If so you have come to the right place.
Kuaotunu is an incredible spot to enjoy a relaxing beach break, with no shortage of things to do and and unique spots to enjoy.
Being in the Coromandel for most of the summer, I have found myself spending a lot of time in and around Kuaotunu Beach. Whether I am at the beach for the day or popping in for a Kuaotunu Killer, I always love the vibe of this cute beach town.
I am here to tell you everything you need to know, to get the most out for your trip to Kuaotunu Beach.
Lets get started!
How to get to Kuaotunu
Getting to Kuaotunu Beach is quite easy. State Highway 25 runs straight along the middle section of the beach, with the shops to the east and the more residential area heading on along the road to the west.
Kuaotunu is just a short 20 minute drive from Whitianga, so not only is it a great place to stay, but a day trip is also easily do able.
To get to the main area of Kuaotunu you will need to turn into Black Jack Road. You will see the small block of shops and food establishments to your left.
Things to do in Kuaotunu
Most people visit Kuaotunu to enjoy the beach or to indulge in the yummy food at Lukes Kitchen or the ice cream shop. But, this place has a whole lot more to it. It is a great place to base yourself for summer holidays to get the most out of the beach and to explore the rest of The Coromandel.
There is something for everyone, regardless of what you enjoy.
Spend time at the Beach
Of course the main thing to do at Kuaotunu is to spend time at the beach. The beach is slit into two sections, with the eastern and western ends of the beach.
The eastern end is the most popular, as it is close to the shops and car park as well as the river that leads out to the water. I find this end of the beach to have slightly calmer water, while the western end has more waves.
Like everywhere in The Coromandel the water is crystal clear and the sand is soft and bright. There is also plenty of space to spread out up the beach. Unfortunately there is little to no shelter on the beach, so you will need to bring something along if you want shade.
swim in the stream
The stream is right by the main section of shops in Kuaotunu and proves to be quite popular on those hot summer days.
If you aren’t so confident in the ocean, then the stream is a great spot to cool off and relax. It does go right out to the sea, so there is quite often families on the sand using the stream instead.
If you don’t want to be on the sand, you can hang out in the small reserve on the rivers edge. There is a bit of shade from a couple of trees here as well as picnic tables and a swing.
The highlight of the stream for many children and kids at heart like me, is jumping off the bridge. The bridge is located beside the fire station connecting two parts of the reserve. The water is not that deep, so please always check what is beneath the bridge before jumping in.
Walk to Rings Beach and Matarangi
You can even get a small dose of exercise in with the walking track from Kuaotunu through to Rings Beach and Matarangi. The track follows along the coast connecting all three beaches together.
The first part of the track is the gravel road to Rings beach so do watch out for cars on this section. The road twists and turns around the cliff sheltered by Pohutukawa trees. Gaps in the bush give you glimpses of the stunning turquoise water below.
You will eventually arrive at Rings beach, a quieter beach with a few baches scattered around. Hang out here for a bit or get straight into the next part of the walk.
You have two options for the remainder of the walk to Matarangi. Either continue along the old gravel road or head up into the hills.
Going via the gravel road is definitely the easier option as it is pretty flat the whole way. This part of the road has been closed to cars for quite a while now and is very similar to the first bit of the walk as it also goes around the cliffs.
If you want a change of scenery then head up into the Matarangi Bluff Scenic Reserve. There is a short 20 minute walk that takes you up to the cellphone tower and back down the other side.
Get a Kuaotunu Killer
You can’t go to Kuaotunu and not get the Kuaotunu Killer. This epic ice-cream is a huge ten scoops! You choose five different flavours which get stacked up on a double cone. I have honestly lost count of the amount of times we have stopped by just for this ice-cream.
You might be wondering if its even possible to fit ten scoops onto one cone. YES, it certainly is! But there is no guarantee they will all stay on there. But not to worry, staff give you a paper plate to put the ice-cream on so it does not spill.
Beach Hopping
Kuaotunu is an awesome beach itself, but there are also many other amazing beaches around that are easy to visit.
If you are staying in the area a few days here are a few awesome beaches to check out.
- Otama Beach is just over the hill from Kuaotunu. This beach is often pretty quiet and has amazingly clear, blue water. This is the place I go escape the crowds. The left hand side of the beach also has a great area to snorkel in, which tends to be quite popular with locals.
- Opito Bay is a quiet beach with plenty of space to relax and set up for a great day at the beach. The water here is very calm and clear and a great place for those not as confident in the water to enjoy. You can also enjoy the walk up to the Opito Bay Pā which is easily accessible from the far end of the beach.
- Crayfish Bay is the secret beach accessible from Opito Bay. There is about a 5 minute walk to get here and not too many people know about it. The beach is quite rocky and not the best to lay on, but most people climb up onto the rock ledge where there is plenty of flat space to relax. There is also a cool rock jump here which is a fun way to enjoy spending time in the water.
- New Chums Beach is another popular spot close to Kuaotunu. Accessible through Whangapoua Beach, it is certainly worth visiting if you haven’t been. There is a bit of a walk, but once you are there it feels like you are in another world. The clear water and cool lookout make this spot one of my all time favourites.
Accomodation In Kuaotunu
There are no hotels in Kuaotunu but there is still a good selection a baches and a cool campground available to stay at.
The campground is an awesome place to stay and has a good selection of different accomodation styles. There are plenty of different size cabins to rent as well as tent and campervan sites. Just across the road is the beach and you will find the local shop, cafe and restaurant just a few minutes drive away.
If you are wanting a more bach style spot to rent then you can check out Bookabach or booking.com. There are plenty to choose from and there will always be something perfect for you.
Facilities in Kuaotunu
Food Options
Kuaotunu has some fantastic places to get some good food. The popular spot is of course Luke’s Kitchen. This is a surfy style restaurant that has a wide selection of food including the very popular pizzas.
There is also Kua Kawhe next door for a good coffee and small bite to eat. Or, you can also head to the general store and ice-cream shop.
Bathrooms
There are a few bathrooms scattered along around Kuaotunu. The main area has some flushing toilets near the beach and there is also a long drop by the boat ramp.
Wrap up – Kuaotunu
Kuaotunu is not one of the well known beach towns in the Coromandel, but that’s what makes it special. With a pretty beach, some great places to stay and delicious food spots you are guaranteed to enjoy your time here.
Make sure you add Kuaotunu to your list of places to visit in The Coromandel.
