Tucked away in a charming beach town, Mount Pauanui offers a hike to its summit that I’ve tackled multiple times. And always with good reason—the views are spectacular.
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In the diverse landscape of Coromandel, Mount Pauanui stands out as a must-see spot. It’s a place you definitely don’t want to miss when exploring this beautiful region.
MOUNT PAUANUI LOCATION
Located on the East Coast of New Zealand, Pauanui is a coastal town found in the Coromandel, Waikato area.
It will take you roughly 45 minutes from Thames (48km), 2 hours from Auckland (148km) or if you’re heading down from Whitianga, expect about a 1 hour drive (64km).
MOUNT PAUANUI PARKING
Finding parking near the trail of Mount Pauanui is a breeze. Typing ‘South End Reserve’ into Google Maps or clicking this link will lead you to the end of Pauanui Beach Road. Although parking is limited and fills up quickly as the day progresses, you’ll find that there are roadside spots leading up to the reserve.
You can also find picnic tables, freedom camping and public toilets here, too.
MOUNT PAUANUI TRACK – KEY INSIGHTS
SUMMIT LOOP
Location: Pauanui, Coromandel, Waikato
Duration: 2 hours
Length: 5 km | 3.1 miles
Elevation: 400m
Difficulty: Medium
Open: Year-round
Need to have: Water, snacks and sun protection
Mount Pauanui is quite a challenging trail. And there are two options on how to tackle it.
First up is the Pauanui Summit Loop, which you guessed it, is the loop trail option. Depending on your choice of direction it will guide you along the coast (anti-clockwise) past Cave Beach and Flat Rock before the ascent begins up to the summit. You’ll then make the descent down the other side of the mountain which will lead you straight back to the carpark.
Alternatively, the descent down from the loop can instead be used as a there-and-back trail. This is also the closest entrance to the parking area and is a quicker, more direct route up to the summit.
Both tracks wind through native bush and up steep inclines, but in reward offers stunning views of Pauanui, the estuary, Coromandel Ranges and Tairua (including Mount Paku).
I can say confidently that the hike up Mount Pauanui, no matter what direction you go in, is worth the effort. For the best view and time, make sure you get up here for sunrise. The earlier, the better, as it will minimise the amount of people on the trail. Also watching the sun come up from this spot is a great way to start the day.
MOUNT PAUANUI ACCOMMODATION
Accommodation is easy to come by in and around Pauanui.
From boutique hotels to batches along the coast, while it does depend on your preference, there is plenty to pick from.
Also if you want to explore more of the Coromandel, there are some other township gems nearby to choose from, including Tairua, Whitianga and Whangamata.
MOUNT PAKU
You undoubtedly can’t miss Mount Paku from Mount Pauanui summit.
If you have the time I would also suggest to do the walk up this volcanic peak in Tairua. It’s a challanging path, made of mostly steps but in one kilometre and less than 30 minutes you will be standing on the summit. It’s also less than a 30 minute drive from Mount Pauanui.
THE COROMANDEL
If you’ve read my post about other incredible destinations in Coromandel, you’ll know that I’m a big fan.
In this area there’s no shortage of things to do or places to explore. From cruising along the coastline to ziplining through native forest, or just chilling on the beach, there is a great amount to keep you busy.
In this post, we’ve delved into Mount Pauanui, situated in a quaint beach town on New Zealand’s East Coast. Hopefully the information provided like location, parking and insights into the track will help you on planning your visit. The Coromandel region in general offers so much to see and do so I hope you enjoy!