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10 travel bucket list ideas inspired by Korean variety show Running Man

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Now that international travelling is made possible again, are you looking for some unique travel bucket list ideas?

Korean variety show Running Man is a reality-variety show concept that focused on games.

It has been airing since July 11, 2010 making it one of the longest running Korean variety shows.

The show even made it to the list of Business Insider’s 20 TV Shows of 2016.

The current members are Yoo Jae-suk, HaHa, Jee Seok-jin, Kim Jong-kook, Song Ji-hyo, Jeon So-min and Yang Se-chan.

Over the years, the show has invited hundred of guests including Hollywood stars Tom Cruise, Henry Cavill, Simon Pegg and Ryan Reynolds.

On top of that, Running Man has also filmed in countless number of different locations both in and out of South Korea.

So here are ten travel bucket list ideas inspired by Korean variety show Running Man:

1.Shop at a Floating Market in Thailand

The first country that the Running Man cast visited for filming is Thailand back in 2011.

During that episode, one of their filming spot is the Pattaya Floating Market.

Located in the heart of Pattaya, this market offers delicacies and handicrafts from four different regions of Thailand.

Let say that you are not in Pattaya but in the capital city of Bangkok, you have up to 17 different floating markets to choose from.

This list include Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, Amphawa Floating Market, Wat Sai Floating Market and more.

2.Visit the Great Wall of China

After the successful episode in Thailand, the Running Man cast visited another country in the same year, China.

Besides playing a string of games around Beijing city, the cast members also visited the Great Wall of China.

Do you know that some of these walls were built from as early as the 7th century with some of the stretches later joined by the first emperor of China Qin Shi Huang during 220-206?

This historical site is a definitely a must-visit place in any travel bucket lists.

3.Go for the highest commercial bungee jump in the world from Macau Tower

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Song Ji-hyo bungee jumping from Macao Tower

The episode that the Running Man filmed in Macau is one of the most talked about years down the road all thanks to one legendary scene.

The only female of the group back then, actress Song Ji-hyo was the only cast member who bungee jumped from Macau Tower in the 2013 episode.

With a wide smile on her pretty face while showing as many teeth that she could, Song was seen happily bungee jumped from a platform 233m above the ground point.

Apart from Song, there were many other celebrities who went for the same adventure including Edison Chen, Jack Osbourne, Xie Na and Joe Chen.

Watch the clip here.

4.Skydiving in Dubai

During an episode filmed in Dubai, Kim Jong-kook along with two celebrity guests Jung Il-woo and Lee Da-hae did something that only meant for thrill-seekers out there.

The trio did sky-jumping. After returning to the ground, all of three of them agreed that it is something that you need to do at least once before you die.

With majestic desert landscape, skydiving in Dubai is absolutely an unforgettable experience.

While you are in Dubai, might as well go for the world’s longest urban zipline.

Xline Dubai Marina offers adventurers an experience to ride on a zipline at 170 meters high from the ground, sliding up to 80km/hour for 1 km long.

5.Opt for a paranormal experience at Labyrinth of Fear; Japan’s Most Terrifying Haunted House

How about a dose of paranormal fear added on your travel bucket list?

The Super Scary Labyrinth of Fear (yes, that is the full name) is one of the two haunted attractions in Fuji-Q Highland.

It is a theme park located near the base of Mount Fuji.

The labyrinth holds the record for the world’s first and largest haunted attraction covering a two-storey building with 900m in length.

The attraction is inspired from a legend of a popular hospital where doctors were accused of selling internal organs of their patients. Unsurprisingly, the spirits of the dead victims came back to haunt and avenge their own deaths.

Running Man had done many horror-theme episodes before but this one definitely took the cake.

We were not surprised at all to see Jeon So-min in tears at the end of her scary labyrinth tour.

Watch the clip here.

6.Ride a manual wooden cable car over the crashing waves of Timang Beach at Yogyakarta, Indonesia.

Timang Beach in Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta is like any other beaches in Indonesia at first glance.

What makes it different is that there is an island called Panjang Island which is a lobster habitat.

The island is the best place to catch lobster for the local community.

But due to the steep hill that is directly adjacent to the sea, crossing over to the island is not an easy task.

Hence, the locals built a wooden cable car fit only for one person which is driven on a rope connecting the beach to the top of the island.

The 200-meter long ride is not a big deal unless there is a raging sea beneath you and huge waves that keep on crashing on your cable car just like what it did to Lee Kwang-soo and Jeon So-min in the 369th till 371th episode of Running Man.

Watch the clip here

7.Get into the Cage of Death at Darwin, Australia

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Lee Kwang-soo inside the Cage of Death

During the 378th and 379th episodes of Running Man, Yoo Jae-suk, Ji Suk-jin, Lee Kwang-soo and Jeon So-min went to Darwin, Australia.

There, they had to complete the mission of going into the Cage of Death.

The Cage of Death is a tourist attraction known for being Australia’s only crocodile dive.

This unique experience offers swimmers the chance to get up and close and personal with saltwater crocodile for 15 minutes.

In that short (or long) period of time depending on how you see it, swimmers can stare into the eyes of this famous predator while witnessing the power of his bite force.

Watch the clip here.

8.Take a swing at one of the world’s biggest swing, Nevis Swing

running man travel bucket list idea
Song Ji-hyo and Kim Jong-kook riding the world’s biggest swing upside down.

While half of the team were in Darwin, the rest of the members were in Queenstown, New Zealand.

Flinging people in an arc out over 300 meters, Nevis Swing is undoubtedly catered to adrenaline suckers.

You can choose swing by yourself or tandem with a friend – forwards, backwards or upside down like Song Ji-hyo and Kim Jong-kook did during their trip.

Later, Song revealed in a show that Kim and her had to go on the swing twice because the first time they rode the swing, the camera was not rolling.

Watch the clip here.

9.Visit Switzerland to walk on the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the Alps

During the 540th episode of Running Man, HaHa and actress Kang Han-na were chosen to take up the mission of hiking the world’s longest suspension bridge.

Despite their fear and constant complaints from HaHa, the unlikely duo successfully finished the mission.

The bridge that they crossed is the Charles Kuonen Bridge. It is the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge, giving walkers the view of 86 meters above the ground at its highest point.

It is a record-breaking 494 meters long connecting Grachen and Zermatt on the Europaweg foot trail.

Located near the village of Randa, the bridge provides views of Matterhorn, Weisshorn and the Bernese Alps in the distance.

10.Wing Walking in England

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Yoo Jae-suk wing walking in England.

Have you heard of wing walking? Lee Kwang-soo, Yoo Jae-suk and Lee Da-hee had the opportunities to do so during their trip to England.

The experience took them 10-minute flying while being strapped to the top of a plane while flying 500 feet above the ground.

After the episode was aired in 2018, many viewers expressed their concern over the activities raising the question if the production team had went to far.

The then production director assured that wing walking is totally safe and it is a leisure sport that has not seen an accident in 30 years.

Watch the clip here.

So which travel bucket ideas would you pick? Let us know in the comment box.

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13 New Zealand’s traditional ingredients you should know about

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Don’t know your pāua from your horopito? All you need to know about New Zealand’s traditional ingredients.

One of the biggest movements in New Zealand food is the enthusiastic embrace of Māori indigenous ingredients, known as kai.

The movement is spearheaded by Netflix’s Final Table star Monique Fiso, a chef of Māori and Samoan heritage who has conducted extensive research into traditional kai ingredients and cookery methods.

She incorporates many of these into the food she creates at her elegant new Wellington restaurant Hiakai.

If you’re keen to try kai, here’s a list of New Zealand’s traditional ingredients to look out for in restaurants, food trucks and at kai festivals.

1.Shellfish

Dig deep at low tide on sandy beaches for a range of delicious sweet shellfish such as pipi, tuatua, tuangi (cockle) and diamond shell clams.

Eat them freshly shucked straight from the shell; steamed and tossed with butter, herbs and lemon; or in pasta and fish dishes. Best place to try them? Depot Eatery in Auckland.

2. Green-lipped mussels/kuku

A unique and prized export to the world, the green-lipped mussel is served simmered in wine and herbs or baked on the half shell with a tasty topping of bacon, onion and buttery crumbs.

Taste their deliciousness at The Mussel Pot in Havelock in the Marlborough region.

3.Horopito

The dried leaves and seeds of this native bush have a slight peppery sensation and are prized by Māori for a wide range of traditional medicinal uses.

The spicy, earthy aromatic taste adds flavour to a wide variety of spice rubs, stuffings and chicken and other meat dishes. Look for Dovedale’s Horopito bread in good food stores.

4. Kawakawa

Another native bush whose leaves and berries are used for medicinal purposes but also for spicing up food.

Kawakawa tea is most refreshing, while the succulent leaves may be wrapped around foods or used as a base for soups and stocks. Find it flavouring the dressing for fish dishes at Hiakai.

5.Sweet potato/kumara

Sweet potato is one of the main kai ingredients; it’s an essential at hāngis and is served at all traditional feasts.
The three main sweet-potato varieties – purple, golden and red – are all deliciously sweet whether roasted or steamed. Pūhā & Pākehā cafe in Auckland serves stunning kumara and coconut bites.

6. NZ spinach/kōkihi

This very versatile native green (kōkihi or Tetragonia tetragonioides) is found in coastal areas.

The succulent leaves – when well washed and trimmed – can be used in salads and soups and are an excellent addition to stews and braised dishes.

7. Abalone/pāua

Pāua is a highly prized seafood gathered from the deep waters around rocky outcrops on the seashore.

The inky black meat found in the spectacularly colourful shell (which is often used in jewellery and as a decoration) is chewy and flavoursome. Find it in fritters, or in the famous pāua pie at Amisfield winery near Queenstown.

8. Pikopiko

These delicate, curled-up, bright green fern fronds are generally used as an attractive edible garnish, but can also be served steamed, boiled or added to a stir-fry. The risotto at Pūhā & Pākehā features this delicacy.

9.Puha

Puha CREDIT Vegetables co nz
Puha is one of the most important New Zealand’s traditional ingredients.

It’s one of the most important ingredients in Māori kai: a wild small leafy plant with thistle-like leaves and milky juice that grows profusely and is easily foraged.

Puha is boiled with pork and eaten as the green vegetable component of a common delicious dish known as “boil-up”.

As Monique Fiso says, “You can find it absolutely everywhere you look – by the roadside, in the bush or at the bottom of your garden.”

10. Seafood/kai moana

Kai moana (food of the sea) is central to all Māori feasting.

Apart from treasured shellfish, the most desired fish are two oily/meaty species, kahawai and mullet, and the larger kingfish and hāpuku.

Try them smoked or fried whenever you see them on a menu.

11. Taewa

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Taewa, one of New Zealand’s traditional ingredients.

These savoury potatoes were a staple crop for both eating and trading, and can be found in several varieties, usually with a purple or coloured skin and a creamy or blue interior.

Moemoe and urenika are the most popular, but the brilliant blue tūtaekurī is also worth tracking down.

12.Tītī  

Also known as mutton bird, this salty, savoury seabird is coveted by those who have acquired the taste for it.

It is gathered on islands in the extreme south of New Zealand in a traditional way by Māori iwi (tribes) who have lineal rights to the ancient ritual.

The birds and generally salted and preserved then roasted or boiled. Try this delicacy at Fleurs Place in Moeraki (Fleur herself says it tastes like “anchovy-flavoured duck”) or Fishbone in Queenstown.

13. Karengo and other seaweeds

High in nutrients, there are many delicious varieties of edible seaweed including rimurapa (bull kelp), karengo and sea lettuce.

Enjoy them in soups and salads or dried and used as flavourings.

This article is based on a press release by Tourism New Zealand.

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Five best New Zealand gardens to see in spring for Insta-worthy photos

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From subtropical Northland to blossoms down south, New Zealand gardens are at their best once winter’s departed.

New Zealand is a land of contrasts, with a climate that ranges from hot and humid to arid and alpine.

This diversity of topography makes it ideal for a wide range of garden styles.

And you’re never very far from a pretty garden whether that’s the houses along the street or a magnificent park. 

Here’s a rundown of the best New Zealand gardens both north and south during spring.

Northland: Sun-soaked sensations

As one of the warmest parts of New Zealand, Northland is celebrated for its subtropical gardens.

But this isn’t all the balmy region has to offer the keen plant lover. Pompallier Mission in Russell is an Edwardian/Victorian garden with curving flower borders and a mix of annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs.

Bordered by scented Elaeagnus hedges, it’s a tranquil spot that references the former mission’s 19th-century provenance.

Meanwhile, the privately owned Monto Garden in Kerikeri is closer to what you’d expect of a subtropical climate. Pools fringed by palms and cycads and a wetland area are star attractions in this lovely spot.

Travel Tips

Pompallier Mission: The Strand, Russell (+64 9 403 9015)
Monto Garden: 182 Puketotara Rd, Kerikeri (+64 9 407 3329)

Just a few hours north of Auckland, Northland is best explored by car.

Spring sees the area’s gardens at their balmy prime, and you’ll also avoid the crowds that gather over the summer holidays.

Russell is accessed by car ferry from Opua, and Kerikeri is an easy three-hour drive from Auckland.

Auckland: Diverse delights

Auckland is the country’s largest city. Besides it boasts a wide range New Zealand gardens

The Auckland Garden DesignFest (a biennial event, 16-17 November 2019) is a great way to see the city’s best private gardens in a short time frame.

Twenty gardens will be open to the public showcasing a range of gardening styles.

Accessible all year round, the 64-hectare Auckland Botanic Gardens in Manurewa includes 10 hectares of native forest.

One of the highlights is the Gondwana Arboretum, with cycads, conifers and ferns unchanged from those found in the super continent of Gondwana 150 million years ago.

Travel Tips

Auckland Botanic Gardens: 102 Hill Rd, Manurewa (+64 9 267 1457)

Auckland is built amid volcanoes (more than 50) and many of these have beautiful trees and other notable plants on their slopes.

In the city’s west, the Waitakere Ranges Regional Park offers interesting walks amid the native vegetation. Driving is the best option for getting around the area.

Auckland Botanic Gardens 4
Auckland’s Botanic Gardens are a wonderful place for a colourful spirng stroll. Credits: Auckland Council.

Waikato – Hamilton and Hobbits

Only 90 minutes south of Auckland, Hamilton Gardens is one of the country’s most celebrated public gardens, attracting 4000 visitors daily over spring and summer.

It is also one of the newest, founded 30 years ago on a former refuse tip.

At more than 54 hectares, it’s a large space and tells the story of different civilisations in areas including the Indian Char Bagh Garden, the Italian Renaissance Garden and the Tudor Garden.

Additionally, Te Parapara is New Zealand’s only traditional productive Maori garden. The newest series of gardens entitled The Fantasy Collection. It includes the Mansfield Garden (inspired by Katherine Mansfield’s The Garden Party) and the Chinoiserie garden.

Future gardens under development include the Surrealist Garden with features that will be five times the normal size. 

Just 50 minutes south-east of Hamilton is Matamata or Hobbiton.

Set in green pastureland, it’s the place where The Shire scenes were filmed for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

Enjoy the Hobbit holes with their gorgeous gardens, rolling hills and a beer at the Green Dragon Inn.

Travel Tips

Hamilton Gardens: Hungerford Cres, SH1, Hamilton (+64 7 838 6782)
Hobbiton: 501 Buckland Rd, Hinuera, Matamata (+64 7 888 1505)

The Waikato River runs through Hamilton and there are a number of easy walks along the river through lovely riverside vegetation. Hamilton Gardens is also on the river’s edge, so take a stroll after your visit.

Taranaki – Flowers and Forests

With both mountain and coastal climates, Taranaki is one of New Zealand’s best gardening regions.

The main gardening attraction here is the Taranaki Garden Festival (1 – 10 November 2019), with more than 40 public and private gardens open.

Best known for its brilliant spring-flowering rhododendrons, the district also features some outstanding native forests and elegant public parks.

Travel Tips

Taranaki has a wealth of natural wonders, from the beaches to the dramatic snow-capped peak of Mt Taranaki.

One of the most unusual and atmospheric natural wonders is the Goblin Forest. It is a collection of twisted trunks and branches of kamahi trees.

Located in an area known as East Egmont, it feels like an elf might just be hiding behind each tree.

ChristchurchBotanic Gardens willow tree
In September, the Chirstchurch Botanic Gardens are at their best with camellias, bulbs and magnolia. Credit: Tourism New Zealand.

Christchurch – Garden City

Christchurch has long been known as ‘the garden city’. Additionally, the central city redevelopment post the 2011 earthquake has a major focus on new gardens and green spaces on the terraces on the banks of the Avon River.

Among the many long-standing attractions is the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. In September, the camellias, rhododendrons, bulbs and magnolias are blooming across its 21 hectares.

Adjacent Hagley Park fills with daffodils and blossom, and close by Mona Vale is an historic homestead. It is a 5.5 hectares of maples and conifers, rose gardens, camellias, a large lily pond and a stunning iris garden.

Mona Vale Homestead 1
Christchurch’s Mona Vale is an historic homestead with 5.5 hectares of maples and conifers. Credit: Tourism New Zealand.
Travel Tips

Christchurch Botanic Gardens: Rolleston Ave, City (+64 3 941 7590)
Mona Vale: 40 Mona Vale Ave, Fendalton (+64 3 941 8999)

Christchurch is the gateway to the Canterbury region – from here you can drive to places such as Hanmer Springs (where you can spend time soaking in thermal pools) or the turquoise lakes and alpine slopes of Tekapo and Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park.

This is a story idea provided by Tourism New Zealand.

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Seven reasons to visit New Zealand in spring time

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Ahead of the summer crowds, New Zealand in spring time – September, October, November – set their own unique tone for enticing outdoor holiday experiences.

Spring in New Zealand is a lively season inspired with colour, flavoured with early produce and new wine releases.

It is populated by new life and creative festivals celebrating everything from seafood to arts and culture.

Days are getting longer and this is a season of many faces. From trim city gardens and farmers’ markets heaving with fresh produce to green pastures filled with lambs and the fresh powder snows of the late ski season.  

Travel north to south and you will see the season as it unfolds. Renowned for its spectacular scenery and diverse landscapes, a New Zealand spring awakens the country region by region over several weeks as the warmer temperatures spread southwards across 1600km.

Seven irresistible reasons to visit New Zealand in spring time:
Seven reasons to visit New Zealand in spring time
Dive Boat from above. Credits: Dive! Tutukaka Poor Knights Islands
1. Blooming spring 

Spring is definitely the season to admire the beauty of New Zealand’s flora and forests at their very best.

From the yellow swathe of  kowhai trees with their nectar-heavy flowers that are a magnet for native songbirds to the surreal green of unfurling fern fronds to massed spring bulbs.

Together with wild lupins and brilliant rhododendrons, new life pops up everywhere in a series of garden festivals throughout October and November.  

Hobbiton is never more glorious than when the pretty as a picture hobbit gardens blossom.

While, from north to south right across the country, many gardens of international and national significance open their gates to the public.

In the North Island, the Taranaki Garden Festival (1 – 10 November, 2019) is a major festival with 50 gardens on show.

But en route don’t miss Hamilton Gardens internationally-acclaimed themed gardens or Rotorua’s lovely thermal park.

In the South Island, the massed daffodils of Hagley Park and Otahuna Lodge in Christchurch offer a truly spectacular moment in springtime. 

2. Put a spring in your step 

Spring provides plenty of clear, settled days for exploring the great outdoors. Mild spring days and a lack of crowds mean this is a good time to discover some of New Zealand’s multitude of walking or cycling tracks.

Hire a bike and cycle the spectacular Karangahake Gorge gold miners’ trail in the Coromandel. Plus, go further to the thermal trails around Rotorua or through the southern vineyards of Queenstown’s Gibbston Valley.   

Other than that, take a walk on the wild side with Foris Eco tours. It is one of New Zealand’s best day hikes through Whirinaki’s ‘dinosaur forest’ to meet the locals in their natural habitat.

Meanwhile, dig your heels in the sand on the rugged southern coast of Westland. This is where World Heritage protected temperate rainforests meet the ocean and local wildlife.

There, penguins, New Zealand fur seals or elephant seals – can be found enjoying balmy spring days with their latest offspring.  

Or visit Rainbow Springs’ Kiwi Encounter, in Rotorua, to meet kiwi chicks as they hatch out of their large eggs. 

The first of the new season’s little kiwi will hatch in September. Plus, there are likely another 100 eggs come into the hatchery over the next few months.

Interestingly, Emma Bean – Kiwi husbandry manager is expecting the 2019-20 season to be another bumper season.  

3.Picture perfect spring 

All this loveliness and rampant new life on display means spring is a great time to be in New Zealand with a camera.  

The lengthening days mean photographers will be rewarded with lighter mornings to go with the flush of spring greens.

Furthermore, snow remains on the higher mountain peaks making for excellent scenic images. 

Fields are filled with the bleating of spring lambs, back-lit with the morning sunshine and snow-capped peaks in the background. This is a quintessential New Zealand image.

Off the beaten track, the ending of winter opens many unmade roads. These roads which are closed during the snow, are now allowing access with suitable vehicles to the road less travelled. 

Marcus Adams, who leads Travelling Light Photography tours, recommends a spring visit to New Zealand. He explains, “It will reward the photographer with soft light, stunning scenery and the unfolding wheel of life in the fields and pastures. Well worth it!”  

4.Dive into spring 

New Zealand is long, relatively narrow, and encircled by an astounding 15,000 kilometres of coastline.

This means you’re never far from the sea and large expanses of clear, calm waters. These are great conditions for diving, kayaking, fishing and other water sports.  

French explorer Jacques Cousteau named the Poor Knights Islands Marine Reserve. Located just off northern New Zealand’s Tutukaka coast, it is one of the top 10 dive sites in the world.

The Knights attracts tens of thousands of divers annually who come to explore the myriad wonders of this colourful yet ethereal underwater world inhabited by an amazing array of marine life.  

Dive! Tutukaka operator Kate Malcolm says spring is an amazing season to dive the Poor Knights. She adds “Activity speeds up with fish spawning, upwelling currents bringing planktonic goodness and feeding frenzies. The islands never sleep but they truly energise with life.”   

5.Dip your toes in a spring 

A dip in thermal mineral waters holds extra appeal in spring before the summer heat and the crowds arrive.  

At Hot Water Beach, on the North Island’s Coromandel Peninsula, you can dig your own hot bath in the sand at low tide thanks to ancient springs beneath the beach.

Additionally, this activitiy makes for a convivial social event with your significant other or a group of friends.

Just a little further south, Polynesian Spa – on the edge of Lake Rotorua – has been voted one of the world’s 10 best day spas.

Soak off the day’s activities in a steaming, natural thermal pool or succumb to a reinvigorating mud treatment. 

Besides that, the South Island has an alpine take on thermal wonders. Hanmer Springs – 90 minutes north of Christchurch airport, is New Zealand’s premier alpine spa. Relax in one of the many sculptured rock pools with temperatures ranging from 33˚C to 41˚C.

Or go further south in the heated glacial waters at Tekapo Springs and Omarama Hot Tubs. 

Karangahake Gorge reflection 85
Reflections in the peaceful Karangahake Gorge- a favourite cycling and hiking trail on The Coromandel Peninsula
6.Fresh flavours of spring 

Greener pastures also make for an abundance of fresh local produce and wine, making spring the ideal season to journey along New Zealand’s many food and wine trails.

Farmers’ markets are a Saturday morning highlight in many regions.

Furthermore, it is also the time when vineyards celebrate the release of their new season’s wine.  

Some of New Zealand’s finest seafood delicacies are at their freshest and best in spring.

The king salmon season begins early October. Hence, where better to sample from than Mt Cook Alpine Salmon’s Tekapo site. It is fed year-round by fast flowing glacial waters and, at 677m above sea level thus qualifies as the world’s highest salmon farm.  

Apart from that, there is also delectable New Zealand whitebait caught from the river mouths of the South Island’s West Coast. It is commonly served up as a whitebait pattie. 

FAWC (Food & Wine Classic) held in Hawke’s Bay is the not-to-be-missed spring culinary festival of the finer arts. The 2019 edition will run for 10 delicious days from 1 – 10 November.

Moreover, it will include dinners with the winemaker to long lunches, pop-up destinations and glorious food markets. 

7.Swish into spring 

And finally, after a bumper winter season, the Queenstown ski fields are gearing up for one of the best spring ski seasons on record. 

Spring skiing in New Zealand offers more opportunities for milder days on the slopes without the crowds.

The ski season continues through until October. Hence, it gives snow sports lovers an extended chance to experience uncrowded fields or off-piste skiing, snowboarding and heli-skiing.  

Meanwhile, Queenstown, nearby Central Otago and Wanaka are enjoying pretty blossoms on the trees and daffodils bursting into life. Crisp fresh mornings are perfect for a relaxing escape, or for exploring the trails by bike or by foot.

This story idea is provided by Tourism New Zealand.

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4 things you should know about The Coromandel, New Zealand

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Locals say The Coromandel is ‘good for the soul’ and it’s easy to see why in the sublime coastal scenery filled with peaceful blue coves and white sandy beaches, topped with a warm beach holiday vibe.

And, being within easy reach of Auckland, it has long been a popular get-away haven for city types and travellers alike. 

Nature is the architect of this extraordinary peninsula playground of rolling hills and lush green rain forest plunging down into impossibly picturesque coves and beaches framed by graceful pohutukawa trees.

For somewhere so close to the city (2.5 hours from Auckland, even closer to Tauranga and Hamilton), it’s a remarkably unspoilt environment with 400 kms (250 miles) of coastline brimming with recreational potential from pure relaxation through to seriously energetic experiences.

If you are visiting New Zealand, here are four things why you should know about The Coromandel:
Coromandel pohutukawa 90
View from the hills overlooking The Coromandel Peninsula.
1.It is an important historical site

Ancient Māori village sites are evidence of the first settlements on the coast which provided a welcoming, fertile and comfortable climate for the population that had navigated across the Pacific to Te Whanganui-o-Hei (the great harbour of Hei). 

British explorer and navigator Captain Cook arrived on The Endeavour in 1769. His mission to observe the transit of Mercury across the face of the sun inspired Mercury Bay’s English name along with neighbouring Cook’s Beach.

The crew spent 12 days forging relationships with the local Māori tribe Ngati Hei, who welcomed them to their headland village at Wharekaho / Simpsons Beach. 

The towering kauri trees depicted in Cook’s journal attracted the earliest European settlers who came to mill the hardwood forests that once covered the peninsula.

More fortune seekers followed, lured by New Zealand’s first gold discovery and a gold rush which yielded 16 million tonnes of gold ore between 1862 and 1952. 

2. The Coromandel is home to some nature’s treasures

These days, caring for the land is a major focus and with 34% of the region under the protection of the Department of Conservation (DOC), the Coromandel Peninsula has become the starting point for many conservation projects involving its precious flora and fauna, with kauri and kiwi among the top beneficiaries. 

One of the first safe havens for the flightless kiwi is the Moehau Kiwi Sanctuary, and in its heart is the Tangiaro Kiwi Retreat where, from the comfort of a luxurious bush hut, guests can sit on the deck at night and hear kiwi calling to each other.

Conservation successes can also be seen in Te Whanganui-a-Hei marine reserve where marine life is thriving thanks to a 20-year-old community-led project that created a ‘no-take zone’.

Now, from glass-bottomed boats, visitors can view all sorts of marine life from seals and stingrays to blue penguins, orca and dolphins.

The Coromandel is also home to some of rarest and smallest frogs in the world living at Papa Aroha, a protected habitat for Archey’s and Hochstetter’s frogs.  

3.Visitors can try walking, biking, and getting into hot water

Two of the region’s most popular icons are found on the eastern Coromandel coast. Cathedral Cove (a 2-hour return walk or a guided kayaking trip) is an idyllic location for swimming, snorkelling and picnicking.

This limestone archway and pristine golden beach has been immortalised in both film (‘The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian’), and countless photo opportunities. 

Further south, at Hot Water Beach, underground thermal activity provides bubbling hot water so beachgoers can pick up a shovel at low tide and dig themselves their own natural jacuzzi. 

Many walking tracks are steeped in mining and logging history, such as the Windows walkway which follows an old rail line through the Karangahake Gorge past gold-mining relics and riverside scenery.

The two-day Pinnacles trail through the Kauaeranga Valley was once a bridle path for horses carrying supplies to pioneer loggers, gum diggers and gold-miners. Early risers overnighting in the DOC hut will be treated to a spectacular panorama as dawn breaks over the Pacific.

Up north there’s the Coromandel Coastal Walkway, which, like some of the forest treks, also provides a challenge for mountain-bikers. The easier-going Hauraki Rail Trail is 82 kms (50 miles) of nice flat cycling for up to three days riding.  

Karangahake Gorge reflection 85
Reflections in the peaceful Karangahake Gorge- a favourite cycling and hiking trail on The Coromandel Peninsula.
4.Every season brings in different seasonal highlights to The Coromandel

In summer Kiwi families flock to The Coromandel to stay in baches (holiday homes) and camping grounds. But regular events and festivals through every season make it a year-round holiday destination for visitors who can experience the region’s unique way of life and environment. 

The Coromandel locals are famously laidback, offering a warm and relaxed welcome. Inspired by the lifestyle and the natural beauty around them, the region’s artists contribute to the quirky, creative vibe.  

In autumn, artists and artisans open their studios for the Mercury Bay Art Escape and the Coromandel Arts Tour.

And in winter, the Coromandel celebrates the scallop harvest at the Whitianga Scallop Festival, a weekend of local food, wine, entertainment and family activities.

The Coromandel pohutukawa on the Thames road CREDIT Destination Coromandel 90
Sunset picnc on the pohutukawa-fringed Thames Coast road in The Coromandel. Credit: Destionation Coromandel.
Here are some additional facts about Coromandel:
  • Thames, the gateway to the Coromandel Peninsula (pop: 7000) was once New Zealand’s biggest town. It boasted more than 100 pubs and was proposed as the country’s capital city.
  • Thames’ colonial architecture goes back to its gold-mining heritage.
  • The name Coromandel has an Indian origin. HMS Coromandel, the first ship to bring European settlers to the region, was named after India’s Coromandel Coast.
  • Foodies consume about 100,000 scallops in a single day at the Whitianga Scallop Festival.
  • Archey’s frog is New Zealand’s smallest native frog, growing to only 37mm in length, and is also one of the world’s oldest frog species: fossils show it has hardly changed in 150 million years.

Here is how to get to The Coromandel:

The Coromandel is an ideal self-drive destination. Thames, on the doorstep of the Coromandel, is less than 2 hours’ drive from Auckland, Tauranga, Rotorua and Hamilton.

Whitianga is 2.5 hours’ drive direct from Auckland, 1 hour 20 from Thames.

A shuttle service connects Auckland Airport with many of the Coromandel’s hot spots or take the 2-hour scenic ferry cruise from downtown Auckland to Coromandel town. 

This is an article based on a story idea provided by Tourism New Zealand.

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