There’s some nice waterfront and beach running in the Cooks Beach area, and also Whitianga just across the way.
Cooks Beach. Run along the 3 km beach. There’s decently firm sand, especially at low tide. It’s a nice beach, with a scrub grass background. For scenery and a hill challenge, run from the northern
Whitianga waterfront. Google Street View.
end of Cooks Beach to the Shakespeare Cliff Lookout. It’s 1 km, climbing 70m. There are fine views of Cooks Bay and Mercury Bay. Note: no shoulder, but not too much traffic.
Whitianga Waterfront & Buffalo Beach. Some decent waterfront running here. Follow the main waterfront roads for up to 4 km: Robinston/Albert/Victoria/Esplanade/Buffalo Beach. Combination of a waterfront path and sidewalk (in some sections, sidewalk is on the opposite side of the water). Nice views of Mercury Bay.
Buffalo Beach is also decent for running. It’s narrower and pebblier than some of the other great beaches on the Peninsula. Up to 1.5 km. Best near low tide.
Simpson Beach. Just north of Whitianga in Wharekaho, this wide, 1.8 km beach is wonderful for running.
There’s some nice waterfront and beach running in the Cooks Beach area, and also Whitianga just across the way.
Cooks Beach. Run along the 3 km beach. There’s decently firm sand, especially at low tide. It’s a nice beach, with a scrub grass background. For scenery and a hill challenge, run from the northern
Whitianga waterfront. Google Street View.
end of Cooks Beach to the Shakespeare Cliff Lookout. It’s 1 km, climbing 70m. There are fine views of Cooks Bay and Mercury Bay. Note: no shoulder, but not too much traffic.
Whitianga Waterfront & Buffalo Beach. Some decent waterfront running here. Follow the main waterfront roads for up to 4 km: Robinston/Albert/Victoria/Esplanade/Buffalo Beach. Combination of a waterfront path and sidewalk (in some sections, sidewalk is on the opposite side of the water). Nice views of Mercury Bay.
Buffalo Beach is also decent for running. It’s narrower and pebblier than some of the other great beaches on the Peninsula. Up to 1.5 km. Best near low tide.
Simpson Beach. Just north of Whitianga in Wharekaho, this wide, 1.8 km beach is wonderful for running.
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Essentials
Cooks Beach is 3 km, Shakespeare Lookout is 1 km. Whitianga waterfront is up to 4 km (2.6 miles) one-way. Buffalo Beach is 1.5 km
Shakespeare Cliff Lookout is a 70m climb over 1 km.
An idyllic beach for running. Wide, uncrowded, reliably firm sand, and great views of Mt. Pauanui & Mt. Paku. Add with Gallagher Park and some of Pauanui's residential streets, such as Vista Paku. Can also hike/run to Mt. Pauanui Summit.
Gorgeous 6.4 km trail along the Tairua River, winding through mangroves, native forest and rolling farmland. Mix of surfaces and some scenic boardwalks. Just 2 km from central Pauanui. Plans to extend with to 15 km with new 120m suspension bridge.
Just across from Pauanui in Tairua, one can stitch together a quite lovely run combining the Esplanade path along the Tairua River, an 0.5 km, 120m climb to the summit of Mt. Paku, and the scenic 1 km Tairua Beach, which has reliably firm sand.
Unique & memorable running on the Peninsula. Run along Hot Springs Beach & then dig your own spa pool! Just north, nice running on Hahei Beach, and the spectacular Cathedral Cove Trail, leading to the iconic Cathedral Cove Beach (world Top 50 beach).
Our list of the ten best beaches for running on the Coromandel Peninsula. These beaches are at least 1.5 km long, are scenic, and feature reliably firm sand. Check tide times!
Stunning coastal path that runs for 10 km between Stony Bay and Fletcher Bay. One of New Zealand's great walks is also a scenic & very hilly trail run! Can also run along Port Jackson Rd., esp. a 15 km gorgeous coastal section. See notes for logistics.
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Essentials
Cooks Beach is 3 km, Shakespeare Lookout is 1 km. Whitianga waterfront is up to 4 km (2.6 miles) one-way. Buffalo Beach is 1.5 km
Shakespeare Cliff Lookout is a 70m climb over 1 km.
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Share your feedback on this route and see that of other Great Runs users. Click on the image icon to upload a photo. And please let us know if there are notes or changes we should incorporate!