New Chum Beach

The Coromandel Peninsula reminds me of Golden Bay in so many ways.  Whilst it is generally a bit more accessible, a little less remote and a lot more populous, it has a very similar 'funky'/'quirky'/creative/alternative/wholesome energy to it.  Some spots have become sooo popular because of their (relative) ease of access.....Hahei, Cathedral Cove and Hotwater Beach come instantly to mind.  But then there are the relatively inaccessible places that far fewer visit.  New Chum Beach is one such place.  It's a little off the less-well travelled road to Whangapoua and when you do get to the end of the road, you then have to walk for 20 or so minutes across a stream, along a bouldered shoreline and finally over a small saddle.  The easy walk though is worth every step as this is the view that greets you as you emerge from the nikau grove. 

I spent some time just sitting and looking, watching the birds, the waves and the very few people.  I walked 3/4 of the length of the kilometre-long beach, the final quarter being thick with a somewhat smelly, red algae that has washed up along this end of the beach.  Whilst the algae was an unpleasant addition to the beach, it actually added a colourful layer to the breaking waves.

What a stunning location - very well worth getting off the old beaten track for.