Coromandel Ocean Adventures
Kia ora
Firstly, an introduction. I am Kylie Hawker-Green, the new General Manager of Destination Hauraki Coromandel. I am looking forward to connecting with our trade partners over the coming months, at both TRENZ and eXplore. In the meantime, this newsletter includes updates on what has been happening in the region, particularly regarding the recent weather event.
January 2026 weather event
A week ago, the eastern coastline of the North Island of New Zealand was hit by a significant weather event, with persistent heavy rain falling at high levels. In some parts, more than a month's average rain fell in 24 hours.
The impacts from this weather event vary by location. Whilst not as significant as Cyclone Gabrielle (2023), we have seen isolated flooding and slips that have damaged some roads and infrastructure. A local State of Emergency was declared and in place for a week, allowing our local Councils and communities to receive significant and immediate Central Government support. A few visitors in the region were displaced during the weather event, and they were well cared for by our Civil Defence teams and the local community.
As of today, all the State Highways and most of the local roads across Hauraki and Thames Coromandel have been cleared and are open. There are some sections that have one-way traffic conditions while repair work continues, and this can extend travel times slightly... but we are most certainly open for business!
Our activity operators, accommodation providers, hospitality businesses, and retail stores are ready for visitors to return, and we are expecting to see an influx of visitors over the coming days. We understand from our local operators that they experienced an understandable, but unfortunate, flurry of cancellations during and immediately following the weather event. I encourage you to reach out to your suppliers and partners in the region to check the status of their product offering, so you can be assured that any forward booking/s can be accommodated.
In terms of key visitor locations, the following have sustained damage;
- Mautohe Cathedral Cove: The walking track from Hahei to the Cove is currently closed due to slips and trail damage. However, visiting by water, through the marine reserve, is operating as per normal, with multiple providers able to take guests to the Cove. We encourage you to use this map to see the multiple options for accessing the Cove.
- Hauraki Rail Trail: Four of the five sections of the Hauraki Rail Trail are fine for riding, with bike hire, shuttles, and supporting activities all fully operating. The section that is closed is through the Karangahake Gorge, with all the updates and access information available here.
- Coastal Walkway: The Coastal Walkway is currently closed due to track damage. Work is underway to repair the trail, and the track status is being regularly updated here.
GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL - Kaitiaki is how we turn that vision into action. The programme gives visitors a simple, meaningful way to give back: choosing a local planting site and donating or gifting $10 to plant a native tree, with $1 supporting local predator control and the goal of a predator-free Hauraki Coromandel.
In our first year GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL - Kaitiaki brought schools, businesses, community groups, visitors and volunteers together to plant native trees across the region. Season One showed the strength of collective action and the role tourism can play as a force for regeneration, supporting native wildlife and giving back to the places people travel to experience.
Season One at a glance:
- 1,264 native trees donated
- 41 business supporters
- Contributions from 17 countries
- $1,264 for predator control traps
- 11 of 17 planting sites completed
- Over 100 volunteers involved
We're now building on this momentum and welcoming more tourism operators to be part oof GOOD FOR YOUR SOUL - Kaitiaki, helping visitors turn their time here into lasting positive impact.
Tools and Resources
