Amazing Top 8 Things to do in Pauanui 2026
In this Pauanui travel guide you will uncover the most unforgettable things to do in Pauanui. From amazing bush walks, incredible surf beaches and breathtaking views across the Coromandel. Pauanui is where you can truly relax and unwind for a summer or mid winter escape, this coastal town in New Zealand is one of the best holiday destinations in the North Island and it’s not difficult to see why. Climb Mt Paku or Pauanui Summit track, unwind with a coffee while strolling along the Pauanui Coastal Walk, or if you’re looking for a challenge you can check out the Pinnacles hike to real test the strength in your quads.
Pauanui is a small town in the Coromandel’s East Coast, sitting only 2 hours from Auckland making it the perfect weekend escape. This small town in New Zealands’ North Island is a popular holiday destination for kiwi families and is a direct neighbour to Tairua; another picture perfect town in the Coromandel.
Pauanui Vs Tairua
Pauanui and Tairua townships are both fantastic holiday locations if you’re looking for a coastal getaway in New Zealand. The townships are separated by the small channell of Tairua River between Billy Point Reserve and Mt Paku.
Bordered by white sand beaches and hilly landscapes, Pauanui and Tairu both make for the perfect rural escape during summer. Both these small Coromandel towns hasve just over 1,000 permanent residents, but the population can climb to over 15,000 each during the summer holiday season.
Pauanui has its own airstrip, surf beach and waterways to enjoy kayaking and relaxing water based activities, there is very little that Pauanui is lacking. And there’s no surprise why it’s known for being the chosen beach town for the wealthy.
Tairua is decorated with beautiful boutiques, affordable campsites, fantastic coastal viewpoints and an annual fishing competition. Both towns are easily accessible to each other via the small boat operating on the channell. During the weekends in summer you’ll often find markets on the main field, kids skating boarding through the streets or playing basketball in the middle of the road. The beaches are pumping with locals, visitors or day trippers, and the boat operating between Pauanui and Tairua is at full capacity.
Pauanui Accommodation
Pauanui is a popular holiday destination, especially for those living in Auckland or in the central north island. You won’t have any issues finding Pauanui accommodation as there are plenty of accommodation options ranging from camp sites, to motels and even the odd house on Airbnb.
If you can’t find somewhere to stay in Pauanui, then I suggest checking out the nearby towns likes Tairua or Whangamata which have a lot more accommodation options when it comes to stand alone houses available for a weekend on Airbnb. Tairua is a short boat ride across the Tairua river, or a 20 minute driver back through the valley and around the river. Or Whangamata is little over half an hour drive to up the coast to Pauanui.
Getting to Pauanui from Auckland
Taking around 2 hours without traffic; Pauanui is further enough away from civilisation but close enough to not get achy legs. However the most popular time to visit Pauanui is during the Christmas holidays, and this can mean that trying to exit Tamaki Makaurau can take around an hour.
The road along SH25a, AKA Kopu-Hikaui Rd, can be quite dangerous due to the twists and turns and frequent slips through the area. Be mindful of your driving and be sure not to cross over the centre line when travelling through the area.
Directions from Auckland to Pauanui
To travel from Auckland to Pauanui you will need to private vehicle. Travel south on State Highway 1 until you meet with State Highway 2. Travel along SH2 for 32km and slight left onto SH25. Continue through the Kopu-Hikaui gorge along SH25a to meet up again with SH25 and follow signs for Pauanui.
Pauanui Hikes
Hiking Pauanui Trig Track
Total Distance 4.8km
Time 2+ hours
Difficulty Medium – Hard
One of the most popular things to do in Pauanui is to hike the trig track to the top of Mt Pauanui. The Pauanui Trig Track is relatively steep and will take anyone with a good level of fitness just over an hour to reach the top.
The Mt Pauanui hiking track starts off like any other bush walk in New Zealand; a dirt trail surrounded by dense bush. The Alltrails website lists this Coromandel hiking track as ‘moderate’, which is the biggest controversy I’ve heard since U.S. moon landing. The only way this could be considered a ‘moderate’ hike is if Sir Edmund Hillary wrote the review. Sturdy shoes with grip are a smart idea if you don’t fancy sliding knee or butt first down any of the steep slopes. Tree trunks, exposed roots and rocks are the only things available to help steady yourself, as the path up the mountain is not marked out with any formal barriers or steps.
I wasn’t aware of how steep Mt Pauanui could get and a few profanities were heaved out into the open air during the hike. I can say it is much easier than hiking the Pinnacles but at the time this was one of the steepest hikes I have ever completed in New Zealand. The track is incredibly slightly more difficult after a rainy day as the path can be slipperier than a banana in a slapstick comedy. Take stable shoes and a couple of plasters to be safe.
Even though this sounds like a review of Mt Doom, there are plenty of children that complete this Coromandel mountain hike. We got overtaken by a child who made light work of the steeper ‘shortcuts’ through the zig zagged sections of the track.
The view from the top however, was spectacular. The summit of the mountain has panoramic views across Pauanui and Tairua, and out towards the mountains within the Coromandel Forest Park.
Pauanui Coastal Walk
The Pauanui coastal walk is a great way to explore Pauanui without having to break too much of a sweat. Grab a cup of coffee and take a stroll along Pauanui surf beach to Royal Billy Point Reserve.
Whenuakite Kauri Loop Walk
Total Distance 1.5km
Time 1 hour
Difficulty Easy
The Whenuakite Kauri Loop Walk is a great family-friendly near Pauanui, this well-formed track through regenerating native forest takes you through a series of steps leading you to a bridge over the Manuka Stream. The Boardwalk loop continued through Kauri trees before you finish your easy hike right back where you started.
Climb the Pinnacles
Total Distance 12km
Time 6 hours
Difficulty Intermediate
The Pinnacles Hike is an extremely popular hiking trail in Coromandel; steep steps and incredible views is what draws in ten of thousands of visitors to the Pinnacles Hike every year. This amazing Coromandel hike can be completed in one day, or you can book yourself a bed at the DOC hut to complete the final 40 minute trek for sunrise the next morning.
We completed the Pinnacles Hike in one day on New Years Day, the suggested time to the top is 3 hours and 40 minutes, however we reached the Pinnacles platform in just under 3 hours. A good level of fitness is needed for this walk, if you have weak knees or lower joint issues I do not recommend this hike in the slightest as majority of the walk it steep stairs built up from boulders and large stone. If you don’t have sore knees going up, your certainly will come back down.
You may need to invest in hiking poles for this one.
Visit Tairua Township
Tairua is literally a stone throw away from Pauanui. A small channel separates the two towns and a ferry service operates during summer to transport passengers between Tairua and Pauanui. Also accessible by car, Tairua and Pauanui are separated by 22.9km of road which will take about 22 minutes to travel without traffic.
Climbing Tairua Hill / Mt Paku
Total Distance 1km
Time 1 hour
Difficulty Easy
Tairua Hill/Mt Paku is the large hill in Tairua that towers over Pauanui at the end of Pauanui Beach. The Mt Paku Summit Walk is easier to manage compared to it’s neighbour, Mt Pauanui, so is a great option for those who are unable to complete the more rocky climb in Pauanui. Mt Paku gives another great view of the east coast but from a slightly different perspective, allowing for more panoramic views across the coast with much less effort required to get there.
Getting to Tairua from Pauanui
Pauanui to Tairua via boat
The Tairua ferry operates during the school holidays and throughout summer from December to April. The ferry can carry 50 passengers, transferring them between the Tairua wharf in Pauanui and the Paku wharf in Tairua.
The timetable for the Pauanui ferry can be viewed on their Facebook page.
Pauanui to Tairua via car
Take Hikuai Settlement Rd until you meet with State Highway 25. Turn right and travel along SH25 for 12km until you find yourself in the centre of Tairua.
Day Trip from Pauanui to Coromandel
One of the best things to do in Pauanui is to take a road trip to the nieghbouring Coromandel towns; From Whitianga to Coromandel Township, there is plenty of amazing beaches and great pubs to explore while you’re staying in the Coromandel.
Coromandel Township
The Coromandel township is another sweet holiday destination, although immensely popular this area of the Coromandel is slightly cheaper if you have a budget for accommodation. Pauanui and Tairua are a day trips drive away, as well as every other beautiful white sand beach along the coast. Check out my weekend itinerary for the Coromandel if you want more options for a getaway to a more remote location.
Coromandel Beaches
If you’re looking for a beach getaway then you’ve come to the right place. Far away white sand beaches like Otama and Opito bay are beautiful places to spend a day; pack a lunch and plenty of sunblock and take the drive to one of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand.
New Chums beach is extremely popular for its token instagram picture from the cliffs above, however still a great beach with a bit of surf, and there’s enough shelter from the neighbouring forest to hide from the sun if need be.
Whangapoua sits right next door to New Chums, and is the beach you must first cross if you’re wanting to get to New Chums beach. Because Whangapoua is an easy walk from the car park and sits close to any amenities; this beach is more favoured by families with young children. Check out my post of 4 of the Coromandels best beaches if you want to find out more!
Coromandel Accommodation – Hush Boutique
It would be rude of me to suggest and convince anyone of a trip to the Coromandel without offering some idea of accommodation. Hush Boutique Accommodation is a place I would stay over and over again. The cosy wooden cottages sit apart from each other separated by native bush and man made creeks.
Hush Boutique is the perfect place for couples wanting a romantic weekend, individuals needing a peaceful escape, or those with young families who want to be among a more quiet environment. The accommodation allows for you to store and prepare small meals in your cabin, otherwise the shared kitchen is a great way to meet people and cook in a lush outdoor kitchen but with all the benefits of an indoor one.
The other benefit of staying at Hush Boutique is that it’s not too much of a far walk from Coromandel township, and sits right opposite Driving Creek Railway Adventures. So if you’ve found that you’ve had one too many wines at the pub you can definitely stumble your way home no problem. And if you’re stuck with what to do for a day you can easily skip across the road and book a pottery class or take a train ride around the native forestry in the area.
If you want to know more about Hush then head to my Hush Boutique article to find out more!
Other Great Things to do in Pauanui
Pauanui is full of wonderful experiences but of course I haven’t indulged in them all. The following list of things to do near Pauanui are worth adding to your Coromandel itinerary. But be sure to do your own research as I am not lucky enough to share my own personal experiences!
- Pauanui Surf Beach
- Pauanui Golf Club
- Pauanui Cycle and Walking Trail
- Whitianga Lost Springs
