Best in the early morning
Time: 1 to 1.5 hours return
Grade: Moderate
Start: Pa or Grange Road Get Google Maps directions
If you don’t kayak or take a boat trip here you can choose to walk into Cathedral Cove which is 90 minutes return. Visitors can access Te Whanganui-A-Hei Marine reserve as well as Gemstone Bay, Stingray Bay and Mare’s Leg Cove. A snorkelling trail is located in Gemstone Bay.
Named after the natural rock formations this is one of the more popular spots to visit on the Coromandel so is often busy. Take a towel for a swim once you make it to the beaches. The track is best described as moderate passing along the cliff tops before descending into Cathedral Cove.
Getting to Mautohe Cathedral Cove
Plan transport ahead of time – please note there is no parking available at the Grange Road track entrance.
- Free parking is available at the Hahei Visitor Carpark on Pa Road, at the village entrance. From here, visitors can walk or catch a shuttle bus to the Grange Road track entrance.
- Paid parking is available at the Cathedral Cove Gateway Trail, 150 Lees Road. From here you can take the private farm walk to the main Mautohe Cathedral Cove track.
There are also many different commercial tour options – including water taxi, kayaks and boats.
The Cathedral Cove Park & Ride shuttle
To reduce the volume of motor traffic through Hahei village and Grange Road, there will be a shuttle operating from the Hahei Visitor Carpark to the Grange Road track entrance this summer.
The Shuttle will operate daily, every 10-15 minutes from 9am to 6pm. As at December 2024:
- Adult fare: $7 return
- Children 14 and under: Free
Grange Road restricted access
Due to significant damage to the Grange Road carpark and the expected volume of visitors, DOC is restricting access.
No buses will be allowed access to the Grange Road carpark, this is due to ongoing structural challenges in the lookout area. Until this is resolved, an alternative parking option for buses is the Hahei Visitor Carpark, which is well equipped to handle the expected volume of visitors, along with the shuttle to take visitors up.
No vehicles will be allowed to park at the Grange Road carpark this summer – drop-off and pickup only. For visitors wanting to access via the Grange Road track entrance, DOC is encouraging vehicles to park in the Hahei Visitor Carpark and either walk or take the shuttle to Grange Road.
Walking duration
Depending on your level of fitness and the pace you walk – and how long you spend on the beach – it’ll take about 90 minutes return from the Grange Road entrance.
Walking from the Hahei Visitor Carpark to the Grange Road track entrance adds an extra 30 mins each way. Note it has a long uphill section and there is little shade.
You can also park at the Cathedral Cove Gateway Trail (paid parking) and walk to Cathedral Cove in 30-40 minutes.
Accessibility: While the walking track contains stairs and steep sections, you can view or reach the cove by water. Some commercial boat operators offer accessible tours.
Toilets
Toilets are not available on the beach: There are toilets at the start of the track at Grange Road, and a new flushable toilet facility is located about 10-15 minutes from the end of the track.
Pack in, pack out
There are no rubbish bins, you must take all rubbish away with you.
Visitor safety
Rockfalls and landslides occur frequently at Mautohe Cathedral Cove and other parts of this coastline, as the landscape is naturally unstable. These could cause serious injury or death. The risk is highest during or after heavy rain, but there can still be landslides and rockfall in good weather. To reduce the risk:
- If you do want to go under the arch then move quickly through it. Do not stop under the arch.
- Stay back from the shadow of the cliffs.
- Do not visit during or after heavy rain.
- The beach is not patrolled by lifeguards. Take care in and around the water.
The Gemstone Bay track, Stingray Bay track and the Hahei Beach to Grange Road track (Hahei Beach Walk) are closed. Do not use these tracks.
PLEASE Prevent Kauri Die Back disease spreading.
After visiting Kauri trees please do the following:
1. Clean all dirt off footwear, hiking pole, tyres and equipment before and after a visit to a Kauri Forest
2. Stay on tracks at all times and away from Kauri roots. Walking and disturbing soil around the roots can spread the disease and damage fine feeder roots.
Please keep our Kauri alive for future generations. Kia Toitu He Kauri.
