The Coromandel Peninsula is the closest thing Auckland riders have to a perfect weekend loop. Within two hours of the city you swap motorway for tight coastal bends, bush-clad ranges and pōhutukawa-lined bays – and you can do the whole thing on sealed road, or throw in some gravel if you’re on something with knobbly tyres.
Here’s how we’d ride it over two days, where to stop, and what to watch out for.
Distances and times below are approximate and assume relaxed riding with stops. Always check the NZTA Waka Kotahi journey planner for roadworks and closures before you go – Coromandel roads are prone to slips after heavy rain.
The route at a glance
- Start/finish: Auckland (or Thames if you’re coming from the Waikato or Bay of Plenty)
- Main roads: SH25 around the peninsula, SH25A across the base
- Loop distance from Thames: roughly 200–230 km, plus about 115 km each way from central Auckland
- Surface: fully sealed on the main loop; optional gravel on the 309 Road and Tapu–Coroglen Road
- Best for: sports-tourers, adventure bikes, nakeds – anything that enjoys corners
- Suits LAMS riders? Yes, but some sections are tight, steep and unforgiving. Take it steady.
Day 1: Auckland – Thames – Coromandel Town – Whitianga
Auckland to Thames (about 1.5 hours)
Head south on SH1 and peel off onto SH2 towards the Firth of Thames, then pick up SH25 at Kopu. It’s not the most exciting stretch, but the run along the Seabird Coast past Miranda gets you in the mood. Thames is your last big-town fuel and coffee stop before things get twisty.
Thames to Coromandel Town (about 55 km)
This is the bit everyone talks about. SH25 hugs the western shoreline north of Thames through Te Puru, Waiomu and Tapu, with the Firth on your left and endless bends. The surface is generally good but the road is narrow in places, the corners are often tighter than they look, and there’s very little run-off before you’re in the sea.
North of Kereta the road climbs over the hill and there’s a lookout high above the Manaia and Coromandel harbours – stop for the photo. Coromandel Town itself is full of old kauri villas from the gold-rush days and has plenty of cafés for lunch.
Coromandel Town to Whitianga: pick your path
Sealed option – SH25 via Whangapoua (about 45 km): climbs over the range and drops steeply towards Whangapoua Harbour before running down to Kūaotunu and Whitianga. The descent is spectacular, but it’s steep with some tight hairpins – brake early and be in the right gear.
Gravel option – the 309 Road (about 22 km unsealed): a shortcut through the bush from just south of Coromandel Town to Kaimarama, near Whitianga. It’s dusty in summer, can be slippery and rutted after rain, and has blind corners with oncoming traffic. Great on an adventure bike with the right tyres; not where you want to be on a road-focused sportsbike. Stop at the kauri grove and Waiau Falls along the way.
Overnight in Whitianga – there’s plenty of accommodation, secure-ish parking at most motels, and good fish and chips on the waterfront.
Day 2: Whitianga – Hahei – Tairua – SH25A – home
Whitianga to Tairua (about 40 km plus side trips)
Head south on SH25 through Coroglen. Detour out to Hahei and Hot Water Beach if you want to stretch your legs – Cathedral Cove is a short-ish walk from Hahei (check DOC for current track status). Back on SH25, the road to Tairua is flowing and fun, with a great view over the harbour and Paku as you drop into town.
If you want more gravel, the Tapu–Coroglen Road cuts straight across the range from the west coast to Coroglen. It’s steep, narrow and unsealed – another one for adventure bikes and experienced gravel riders.
Tairua to Kopu via SH25A (about 40 km)
From Tairua head south to Hikuai and turn onto SH25A over the Kopu–Hikuai road. This is one of the best stretches of the whole loop: sweeping bends through the forest over the range. You’ll cross the new Taparahi Bridge, which replaced the section that collapsed in early 2023 and reopened to traffic just before Christmas 2023.
Want to extend the day? Carry on south from Hikuai to Whangamatā and Waihi before cutting back towards the Waikato or Auckland.
Kopu back to Auckland
Retrace your route via SH25 and SH2 to SH1. Grab fuel in Thames or Kopu – you’ll be tired by now, so consider an extra stop on the way home.
Things to know before you go
- Traffic: summer weekends and public holidays are busy, with campervans, boats on trailers and holiday traffic. An early start makes a huge difference.
- Road surface: expect slip repairs, loose chip, gravel washed onto corners and the odd pothole – especially after rain. Ride to what you can see.
- Wildlife and stock: watch for possums at dusk and the occasional wandering cow on rural stretches.
- Fuel: fill up in Thames, Coromandel Town, Whitianga or Tairua. Don’t count on finding fuel in smaller settlements.
- Police presence: the Coromandel is a popular motorcycling area and gets regular police attention, particularly on busy weekends. Stick to the limits.
- Weather: the ranges can be wet and misty even when the coast is sunny. Pack wet-weather gear.
Our verdict
The Coromandel Loop packs more corners into a weekend than almost anywhere else in the North Island, and it’s close enough to Auckland that you can decide on Friday night and be riding on Saturday morning. Ride it in spring or autumn, start early, and leave time to stop – the views are half the point.
Ridden the Coromandel recently? Let us know about road conditions, your favourite café stop or any good detours in the comments.