Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach with Lunch from Auckland
Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Auckland, New Zealand
- 10 to 12 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
This small-group adventure is an easy and efficient way to see the highlights of the Coromandel Peninsula—without spending hours planning an itinerary. Enjoy convenient hotel pickup from Auckland, then follow a well-paced itinerary featuring Hahei Beach, Hot Water Beach, and Cathedral Cove, with a delicious picnic lunch included along the way.
- Perfect shortcut to the Coromandel Peninsula’s highlights
- Ride between dispersed sites in an air-conditioned vehicle
- No hunger pangs: A tasty lunch and snacks are included
- The small group size ensures the experience never feels overcrowded
What's Included
- In person guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- All Fees and Taxes
- Bottled water
- Snacks
- LunchEnjoy a picnic lunch by the coast Picnic Style lunch - (Chicken Wrap, Muffin, Fruit, Chips and Juice included - Please advise of dietary restrictions 3 days prior to your tour date)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Towels, Swimwear, Wet Bags ( Please bring this along)
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Pickup details
- If your accommodation is not yet confirmed, we suggest selecting The SkyCity Hotel for now—you can update it later if needed! - We offer convenient pick-ups from selected hotels. If your location isn’t listed, simply choose the nearest available option and meet us there. - Pick-ups start up to 20 minutes before the scheduled departure time. Please be ready and waiting outside by then for a smooth start. - Pick-up locations are planned based on each tour and may vary by day. If there are any changes to your pick-up spot, please let us know in advance. - Our guides make multiple stops and may arrive within a 10-minute window. To keep the tour on schedule, we recommend being ready 5–10 minutes early, as we are unable to wait for late arrivals. - As our hotel pickups operate from downtown CBD, guests located near the airport or South Auckland can be picked up from The Sebel, Auckland Manukau at 16 Lakewood Court, Manukau City Centre, Auckland 2104.
Itinerary
1
Auckland Central
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Waikato Region (Pass By)
2
Coromandel Peninsula
2 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Coromandel (Pass By)
3
Hahei Beach Walk
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Cathedral Cove Walk
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
5
Auckland Central
3 hours • Admission Ticket Free
6
Hot Water Beach
1 hour • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Infant seats available
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Near public transportation
- Stroller accessible
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Infant seat available only on request
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Footwear – Comfortable shoes for the Cathedral Cove walk and sandals or jandals for the beach. The sand can get very hot, and some areas may be rocky or slippery.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 16 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Andybrenda
Cathedral cove was beautiful. We had fun digging our hot water bath. David, our tour guide, was excellent. He was very informative- gave us so much information regarding Auckland and New Zealand in general. All members of our group enjoyed this adventure.
Reviews
4.9
based on 73 reviews
Sort by: Most insightful
MariaJose_U, Aug 2026
Had a great time visiting Coromandel with our tour guide Jamie. Cathedral Cove was so beautiful, and digging our own hot pool at Hot Water Beach was really fun. Lunch was just okay, but overall it was a great day trip from Auckland!
ANAND_T, Jul 2026
We had a fantastic day trip from Auckland to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. Our guide, David, made the experience even better with his great commentary throughout the drive and at each stop. He gave us plenty of time to explore, take photos, and enjoy the locations without feeling rushed. Lunch was also well prepared and tasty, which was a nice bonus. Overall, a well‑organized tour with a knowledgeable guide — highly recommended.
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your wonderful review! We're delighted you had a fantastic day exploring Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. It's great to hear David's commentary and relaxed pace made the experience even more enjoyable, and that you appreciated the lunch too. Thank you for your recommendation—we hope to welcome you back for another adventure soon!
Miranda_B, Jul 2026
This was one of the loveliest tours I’ve been on in a long time! Our guide, David, was incredibly kind, personable, and kept us thoroughly entertained…even through Auckland traffic. You can tell he genuinely loves his job and enjoys interacting with his guests, which made the experience all the more memorable. On top of that, every stop was absolutely spectacular, and we were given plenty of time at each location to fully appreciate its natural beauty without feeling rushed. Hot Water Beach was especially magical!
Response from Host, Jul 2026
Thank you for your amazing review! We're thrilled to hear David made your day so enjoyable with his kindness, knowledge, and great sense of humor. It's wonderful that you loved each stop and had plenty of time to take in the scenery. Hot Water Beach really is a special place! We hope to welcome you back for another unforgettable adventure soon.
Wesley_T, Jun 2026
Incredible experience with breathtaking views! Jaime was an excellent guide who was engaging and very knowledgeable. Took this tour with our family and friends of 4 adults and 5 kids aged from 8-15 and everyone loved it.
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your lovely review! We're so glad to hear that everyone in your group, from the adults to the kids, had such a great time. Keeping a group of nine entertained, especially with children ranging from 8 to 15, is no small feat, so it's wonderful to know the experience was enjoyable for all ages.
We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Jaime. He has a real passion for sharing the places we visit, and we're delighted that his knowledge and engaging style helped make the day even more memorable.
Thank you for choosing to spend the day with us. We hope the stunning views and family memories stay with you for a long time, and we'd love to welcome you all back on another adventure in the future.
Etevise_L, Jun 2026
Great experience- Aaron is an attentive and pleasant tour guide/driver- great value for what is provided. The beaches in Coromandel are absolutely stunning!
Response from Host, Jun 2026
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're delighted to hear that you had a great experience and that Aaron's attentive and friendly service helped make your tour enjoyable. The Coromandel's stunning beaches truly are something special, and we're glad you had the chance to experience them. We appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you on another adventure soon.
Tracy_V, May 2026
Expedigo is the tour provider and they were great. They communicated well before pickup, during the trip, and after the trip. Our guide was nice and helpful. We had a nice, long walk to the beach and then took the boat back. So glad the boat option (separate fee) was available because not sure if we would have been able to walk back. The sceneries were just as spectacular as in photos.
Response from Host, May 2026
Thanks so much for the kind words! We’re really glad you had a great time with us. It’s awesome to hear the communication and guiding made a difference, and that you enjoyed the walk down to the beach. Good call on the boat ride back—it can definitely be a bit much on the return!
And we love that the scenery lived up to expectations (it never gets old for us either). Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience—hope to have you back again someday!
Michael_B, Apr 2026
The scenery itself is incredible, but especially at Cathedral Cove we felt that there wasn't enough time given to a) take the fairly strenuous hike down&back up b) eat lunch and c) be able to just "be" at this incredible place. It didn't help that there was a lot of road construction which is of course not on the tour company, but they might consider giving an extra 30 minutes or so to the Cathedral Cove portion of the tour, even if it means a bit less time at Hot Water Beach. Hot Water Beach was nice, and the tour guide worked hard to help dig down to the thermal water pool, but again I'd rather have had more time at Cathedral Cove and maybe a little less at Hot Water Beach. The tour guide was very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful, and a safe driver through all the above-mentioned construction and sometimes thrilling roads on the tour. The packed lunch was also very good. Overall it was a very nice trip, and left us with time to explore Auckland in the evening. Recommended!
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thanks so much for taking the time to share such detailed feedback — we really appreciate it.
You’ve summed up Cathedral Cove perfectly — it’s an incredible spot, and with the walk, time to eat, and just wanting to soak it all in, it can feel like there’s never quite enough time there. We completely understand where you’re coming from. The roadworks and traffic on the day definitely don’t help either, even though they’re out of our control.
We try to balance the day so guests can experience both Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, but your suggestion about allowing a bit more time at the Cove (even if it means slightly less time at Hot Water Beach) is really valuable, and something we’ll take on board as we review the timing of the tour.
It’s great to hear your guide looked after you well throughout the day — especially navigating those roads and keeping things running smoothly. And glad the packed lunch hit the spot too.
Really appreciate the recommendation, and we’re glad you still had a great overall day and even had time to enjoy Auckland afterwards!
Andybrenda, Mar 2026
Cathedral cove was beautiful. We had fun digging our hot water bath. David, our tour guide, was excellent. He was very informative- gave us so much information regarding Auckland and New Zealand in general. All members of our group enjoyed this adventure.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thank you for the lovely review. We’re really glad to hear you enjoyed the day out on the Coromandel.
Cathedral Cove is such a beautiful spot, and it’s great that you had time to explore and take it all in. Digging your own hot water pool at the beach is always a fun and unique experience too — it’s one of those things people remember long after the trip.
David will be really happy to hear your kind words. He loves sharing stories and information about Auckland and New Zealand, and making sure everyone feels included and enjoys the day.
It’s wonderful to hear that the whole group had a great adventure together. Thanks again for joining us!
Tho_N, Mar 2026
Jaime is knowledgeable, safe diver and really considerate. He recommends so many places to go. Thank you.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks so much for the kind words! Jaime will be really happy to hear this. He loves sharing his knowledge and pointing out great places along the way. Glad you felt well looked after and had a good day. Thanks again for joining us!
xfbardyahoocom, Mar 2026
Trip to Cathedral Cove/Hot Water beach was excellent. Our tour guide (Jamie) was knowledgeable and friendly. He made the day really enjoyable. The time allotted at each location was adequate. The hike to/from Cathedral Cove was moderate. I would recommend sturdy shoes (sneakers).
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for the great review! Really glad you enjoyed the day out to Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach. Jamie will be happy to hear your kind words — he always tries to make the day fun and informative. And great tip about the shoes too, the walk to the cove is definitely much better with good footwear. Appreciate the recommendation!
Anna_R, Mar 2026
Be prepared for a long day, excellent guide for a very scenic day. Lots of walking, wear sneakers. One of my favorite excursions
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks so much for the lovely review! It is definitely a full day, but we’re glad you enjoyed the scenery along the way — it really is a beautiful part of the country. Good walking shoes are always a great idea with the amount of exploring involved. Really nice to hear it ended up being one of your favourite excursions. Thanks for joining us!
Leo_S, Mar 2026
Understand the itinerary and know what you are getting into. These sites are a long way from Auckland, so be prepared for a long day on the bus with short stops at the sites. Have bathing suits for enjoying the water, there is a changing room at the Hot Water and you can use private restrooms on the walk back from Cathedral Cove, which is a long walk over very hilly terrain, about 30-40 minutes each way depending on your speed. The ocean is great, the cathedral is great, the walk thru the rainforest is excellent. It's worth the time if you have it.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks for such a thoughtful and helpful review. You’re absolutely right — it is a full day with a bit of driving from Auckland, but we try to make the most of the time with some really special stops along the way.
Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach are pretty unforgettable, and the walk through the native bush to the cove is all part of the experience. Great tip about bringing swimwear too — the ocean and the hot pools make it even more enjoyable.
Really glad you felt the day was worth it, and we appreciate you sharing these tips for future travellers!
Harry_J, Mar 2026
It was a well-organized tour and our tour guide Jamie was nothing short of excellent. He made the trip fun and wonderful for everybody.
Response from Host, Mar 2026
Thanks so much for the kind words! Really glad you enjoyed the tour and that everything felt well organised. Jamie will be happy to hear this too — he always does his best to make the day fun for everyone. Appreciate you taking the time to share your experience!
Sandeep_S, Feb 2026
Biggest negative was on a 12 hour trip, the van was very cramped, nowhere to put our backpacks so spent the entire journey with it on our laps. Suggestion would be to take 3 less passengers and leave an extra seat in between. Or provide overhead space to hold small bags. Additionally, we spent too much time at rest stops which could have been better allocated to time at each scenic location. The main attractions - cathedral cove and hot water beach were excellent. But due to less time, felt rushed especially at cathedral cove which involved a long strenous walk to and back from the cove.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback — we really appreciate it.
The tour is marketed as a 12-hour full-day experience, which many guests enjoy as it allows them to see a lot and get good value for their time. That said, we understand that long days and small vans aren’t for everyone. While there isn’t overhead storage, there is space in the back of the van for bags, and we always try to respond immediately if anyone expresses discomfort during the drive. Your suggestion about fewer passengers and more spacing is a helpful one, and we’ll review it carefully.
Regarding the rest stops, since the journey from Auckland is long, we aim to provide enough stops for comfort without cutting into time at the main attractions. We do our best to give ample time at Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach, but we understand that the walk to the Cove can feel strenuous, and some guests may feel the time is shorter than they’d like.
We’re glad to hear you still enjoyed the main highlights — Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach are truly special spots. Your feedback is valuable and will help us look at ways to improve the balance of travel, stops, and time at each location.
Jennifer_K, Feb 2026
One of the best. I sincerely appreciate this tour guide, Chris. We had a fantastic time, learned a lot and enjoyed the other folks on our tour.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
This is so great to read — thank you.
Hearing “one of the best” truly means a lot to us. I’m especially happy to know Chris made such a strong impression. He’s incredibly passionate about what he does, and he genuinely loves sharing stories and making sure everyone feels included, so your words will mean a great deal to him. I’ll be sure he sees this.
It’s also wonderful that you connected with the rest of the group. Sometimes it’s the people you meet along the way that make the day even more memorable.
Thank you for joining us and for taking the time to share this — we’re so glad you had a fantastic time and learned plenty along the way.
Baruch_B, Feb 2026
It’s nice to have a small group, however, the van is not comfortable and crowded. The guide was really great, accommodating and knowledgeable. Lunch can improve. The tour itself is beautiful.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts — we really appreciate the honest feedback.
We’re so pleased to hear you enjoyed having a small group and that your guide made such a positive impression. We’re very lucky to have guides who genuinely care about making the day special, and it’s great to know their knowledge and flexibility stood out to you. I’ll be sure to pass that on.
I’m sorry to hear the van felt uncomfortable and crowded. That’s certainly not the experience we want anyone to have, especially on a full day tour. Your comments are important, and we’ll be reviewing this carefully to see how we can improve the comfort for future guests.
Thank you as well for mentioning lunch — feedback like this helps us look at where we can lift the experience overall.
We’re glad the tour itself was beautiful and that you still enjoyed the day. We truly appreciate you traveling with us and sharing your experience.
Catherine_V, Feb 2026
Take swimwear and towel. You can swim in Pacific Ocean at cathedral cove and sit on the hot pools on hot water beach. Stop for an ice cream on walk back from the cove- you’ll need it!! Lovely walk both ways but take your time if not used to walking hills.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thanks so much for sharing these tips! 😊 Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach are definitely highlights — swimming in the Pacific and relaxing in the hot pools is hard to beat. And yes, that ice cream stop on the walk back is well deserved! Great advice about taking your time on the hills too. We’re glad you enjoyed the walk and hope those memories stick with you.
Deanne_H, Feb 2026
Beautiful beaches - lots of driving- our guide was wonderful! Thank you to Doug who was so kind, generous and patient! Lived the ice cream stop too!
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We’re really happy you enjoyed the beaches (and the ice cream stop 🍦). Doug will be thrilled to hear your kind words — he truly loves looking after guests and making the day special. Thanks again for joining us, and we hope to see you again someday!
Lucy_V, Jan 2026
It was a fun tour! We liked the flexibility and not having to rush from one location to another. Our tour guide Doug was a good driver. We didn’t get carsick despite the windy roads. Music was good too, nice playlist, Doug. It was super cool to experience the hot water beach. Cathedral Cove was beautiful. We had a great time.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
So glad you had a great time! It’s awesome to hear you enjoyed the relaxed pace and could really take in each stop. Doug will love the shout-out—especially for the smooth driving and playlist 😉 Hot Water Beach and Cathedral Cove are pretty special, and we’re happy they lived up to it for you. Thanks for sharing!
Corinna_L, Jan 2026
Rain or shine, the tour still on. Doug, our tour guy made sure we were able to enjoy our trip even the weather was bad.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for the lovely review! We’re really glad you still enjoyed the tour despite the weather. Doug is great at keeping spirits high and making the most of any conditions. We’ll be sure to pass on your kind words to him — rain or shine, he’ll be happy to hear this!
David_B, Jan 2026
This was an excellent tour to see parts of the North Island. But you need to be aware that it includes about 40 minutes of walking on steep hills and beach activities.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you for your helpful review! We’re glad you enjoyed seeing these beautiful parts of the North Island. You’re absolutely right that the tour includes around 40 minutes of walking, with some steep sections and beach access. For guests who prefer not to walk, there’s the option to take a water taxi to Cathedral Cove for approx. NZD $40 each way, which is a great alternative.
Joy_B, Jan 2026
It was a lovely day out from Auckland with lunch and snacks.
Plenty of water was provided.
Our tour guide was Aaron and he was very informed. Plenty of time spent at the two places of interest.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Thank you so much for sharing this. We’re really glad you enjoyed your day out from Auckland and felt well looked after with lunch, snacks, and plenty of water. It’s great to hear the pace felt right at both stops, and that Aaron’s knowledge added to the experience. We truly appreciate your kind words.
Uwe_B, Dec 2025
Very relaxed Tour with friendly driver (Jaime), who never pushed us to be fast. So we could fully enjoy the Highlights, as hotwater Beach and the cove, including hiking.
He gave us nice explantions and insights into the history of the Region. We always got water and food from him, whenever needed. Very good experience!
Response from Host, Dec 2025
Thanks so much for sharing this. We’re glad you enjoyed the relaxed pace and had time to really take in places like Hot Water Beach and the Cove. Jaime will be happy to hear you appreciated his stories and the care he took of everyone. Sounds like a great day out!
Dylan_J, Nov 2025
Such an amazing locations, had a great time on this trip and the guide Jamie was super helpful with everything!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you for the lovely review! We’re so glad you enjoyed the stunning locations and had such a good time on the trip. Jamie will be really happy to hear your kind words — he genuinely loves looking after everyone and making the day easy and enjoyable.
We’re thrilled you had a great experience with us!
Fatima_A, Nov 2025
Jaime was a fantastic guide. The pick up was smooth, he was so knowledgeable about everything and even gave us some suggestions of other things to do while in Auckland.
The tour started off with Cathedral cove which was amazing. The walk down is okay, there are some steep uphill areas, but the views and beach are worth it. You can take the water taxi back if you don’t want to do the hike ($40) or just hike back, but give yourself enough time as it does get tiring.
Lunch was great and he gave us water throughout.
Next we went to Coromandel with the heated pools on the beach. It was such an incredible experience. We stopped off at some look out points on the way back.
Overall a long day but so worth it.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a thoughtful review! I’m really happy to hear you had an amazing day exploring Cathedral Cove and the Coromandel — it truly is one of those places that makes every bit of effort worthwhile. Jaime will be delighted to know you enjoyed the tour and appreciated his care and suggestions along the way.
It sounds like you made the most of the whole experience — from the walk down to the cove to unwinding at Hot Water Beach. A perfect mix of adventure and relaxation! We truly appreciate your kind words and hope to welcome you back for another memorable day soon.
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