About
Cathedral Cove, also known by its Māori name Te Whanganui-A-Hei, is a white sand beach on the Coromandel Peninsula on New Zealand's North Island. It lies near the village of Hahei, and it is best known for its natural rock archway and its clear water.
What to expect
The beach is reached on foot by a walking track from Hahei, so the approach is part of the visit. The walk gives you a sense of the coastline before you arrive at the sand. Once there, the rock arch is the focal point, and many visitors spend time simply looking at the shape of the cove and the colour of the water.
- Setting: a white sand beach on the Coromandel Peninsula
- Access: by walking track from Hahei
- Highlights: the natural rock archway and crystal clear waters
- Name: also called Te Whanganui-A-Hei
Planning your visit
Cathedral Cove suits a visitor who enjoys walking and coastal scenery. Because the track is the way in, allow time for the walk both ways and dress for the outdoors. For current details on access and conditions, you can call the contact number listed for the site, +64 7 866 3762.
The village of Hahei sits close by, so you can combine a visit to the beach with time in the surrounding area of the Coromandel Peninsula, which offers more coastline to explore.