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THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA

New Zealand

— GREAT HOLIDAYS BEGIN HERE —

          New Zealand compacts the Exotic with the Familiar. Take the COROMANDEL PENINSULA: all the remoteness of a South Pacific paradise but less than 40 air miles east of New Zealand’s singular sprawling metropole, Auckland, and as close as 50 driving miles from Auckland International Airport. A region distinctly unto itself but easily explored in 1-2 days: two very different coastlines divided by a rugged mountainous spine; rain forest clad; rimmed with sheltered bays, hidden coves, sunny beaches, and crashing surf. Native Maori live here, and have for over 1,000 years. Captain Cook first set foot on New Zealand here in 1769, heralding the arrival of miners, lumbermen, farmers, artists, craftsmen, sportsmen, retirees, and dropouts from all over the world, creating society of its own: multi-counter-cultural. Visitors discover fascination on the Coromandel: geography, activity, artistry, gastronomy. They learn to expect surprises – pleasant surprises. Like remarkable places to stay. Like Home At First’s Coromandel Treehouse.
 
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COROMANDEL TREEHOUSE

COROMANDEL PENINSULA, NORTH ISLAND, NEW ZEALAND

         Quality accommodations set amongst tall tree ferns on a hillside of primeval rain forest with outstanding coastal views of the blue Hauraki Gulf, and green headlands of the northwestern Coromandel Peninsula. Five driving minutes to the restaurants and services of Coromandel town, 5-40 minutes to white sand beaches on the east and west coasts of the peninsula, sea kayaking, ocean fishing, harbor cruises, and challenging golf. An ideal base for exploring the region, yet is only two to three hours drive from Auckland Airport.

QUALITY BED & BREAKFAST:
The Coromandel Treehouse offers a unique, high quality bed and breakfast lodging. Occupying a modern, one-level house on stilts on a remote hillside, the lodging is set among the treetops of pristine rain forest that include the spreading umbrellas of exotic, native tree ferns. The property provides splendid views overlooking lush, rugged hills of the northwestern Coromandel Peninsula and across several offshore islands to the open waters of the Hauraki Gulf.
          To reach the one-story treetop-level lodging, guests must

The standard double bedroom at the Coromandel Treehouse
offers comfort, space, and fine views from the room
and its terrace balcony.
Photo © Home At First

climb a set of stairs from the parking

area. Coromandel Treehouse has three spacious standard guest accommodations, each a well-furnished double bedroom with full en suite bathroom. Two standard bedrooms are identical in size and quality. Each has a queen bed, an en suite bathroom with shower, and a balcony with extensive views northwest across the Hauraki Gulf. A third standard double room with en suite bathroom is available with twin beds. However, it is up a flight of stairs and does not have a balcony.
          A deluxe suite (and extra-cost option) on the main floor includes a glass-enclosed bath that permits soaking in the large tub while enjoying a grand view of the rain forest. The deluxe suite is larger, more lavishly furnished, and features a large queen bed and a furnished sun deck. All bedrooms have heated towel racks, and terrycloth guest robes.

     LIFE IS GOOD AMONG THE TREE TOPS:

ALTERNATELY RELAXING, COMFORTABLE, AND DELICIOUS:

   • RELAX ON THE TERRACE AFTER AN ACTIVE DAY OF EXPLORING

   • CURL UP WITH A GOOD READ IN A COMFY CHAIR IN THE LOUNGE

   • ENJOY A DELIGHTFUL BREAKFAST OR GOURMET DINNER IN 
       THE FABULOUS DINING ROOM OF GLASS AND NATIVE WOOD.

  Photos © Home At First

GUEST FACILITIES & OTHER SERVICES:
Rooms are serviced daily. Each of the bedroom suites has its own furnished private terrace balcony with views of the Hauraki Gulf, the arm of the South Pacific between the Coromandel Peninsula and New Zealand's North Island surrounding Auckland.
          A delicious cooked or Continental breakfast is provided guests daily in the dining room. On fine mornings, breakfast may be taken on the outdoor terrace.
          Delightful three-course gourmet dinners (with or without wine) are an extra-cost option at the Coromandel Treehouse. They must be pre-reserved and are

subject to availability.

          The glass-enclosed dining room and adjoining guest lounge with comfortable, overstuffed chairs and sofas, are impressive interiors constructed of native New Zealand woods. With its high ceiling and rainforest setting, the dining room suggests native Maori architecture. A large furnished balcony terrace extends over the rainforest from the lounge and dining area and is a superb setting for drinks and conversation before dinner and at sunset.
          Private parking is on the ground level below the Coromandel Treehouse.

LOCATION: THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA is the thumb of Auckland's mitten. Separated from the main trunk of the NORTH ISLAND of New Zealand by the Firth of Thames and the Hauraki Gulf, the Coromandel extends northward into the South Pacific from the rural, rugged east coast of the Bay of Plenty region, and northeast of the agricultural flatlands of the Waikato region. The northernmost tip of the Coromandel, is

approximately 50 miles northeast 

of downtown Auckland. The Coromandel itself is very rugged. Much of its interior land is unpopulated bush (forest) that carpets the steep  Coromandel Range, mountains that, with few exceptions, extend almost to both coastlines of the peninsula. What habitations do exist take up much of the coastal flatland and are widely scattered. But no town on the Coromandel could be considered large. The peninsular

THE SOUTH PACIFIC COAST OF THE COROMANDEL PENINSULA ALONG
MERCURY BAY 19 MILES EAST OF THE COROMANDEL TREEHOUSE.
Photo © Home At First

geography restricts roads to a

winding, looping coastal route and two or three spellbinding crossings of the mountainous spine. If its geography is the antithesis of the rolling sea level Auckland region immediately to the west, its population and lifestyle seem equally different as well. Coromandel has attracted drop-outs, retirees, artists, vagabonds, and free-

thinkers to create lifestyle

 

The west coast of the Coromandel Peninsula where the Firth of
Thames opens into the Hauraki Gulf south of Coromandel town.
Photo © Home At First

alternatives to the button-down, mainstream hustle of Auckland. Although there remain some pockets of marginal existence on the peninsula, there have also evolved a number of prosperous towns and villages that have become successful seaside resort communities, artist colonies, joining a few original settlements that continue to do well on fishing and agriculture. The resulting character of the peninsula is that of a region of unrivaled mountain-and-sea scenery, sparsely

populated by a broad spectrum of

individualists who practice casual lifestyles of their own design, and who hope your visit is enjoyable but that you decide not to relocate to their particular paradise the glorious but fragile Coromandel.

HOSTING: Like many residents on the peninsula, artists Evelyne and her husband Raouf decided to relocate from Switzerland to the Coromandel to their dream home. They converted part of their custom home into a unique guest lodging at treetop level, decorating it with their own art, native woods and stone, and artifacts they have collected from cultures across the globe. Evelyne, originally from Taiwan, brought her gourmet cooking skills with her from her position as chef in an award-winning Swiss restaurant. When Raouf died in 1999, Evelyne decided to continue the life they began together. Today, the Coromandel Treehouse continues as a unique, welcoming lodging that reflects much about the Coromandel Peninsula: its extraordinary natural beauty, its multiculturalism, its artistic bent, and its fresh food and wine prepared with a mixture of nouveau New Zealand flavors and Continental quality. Evelyne ensures that every guest experiences the special South Pacific welcome of the Coromandel with the inimitable flourishes of the Coromandel Treehouse.

EVELYNE AND HER ARTISTRY.
Photos © Home At First

VIEW OF THE HAURAKI GULF FROM THE ROUTE 25 PASS ACROSS THE
COROMANDEL RANGE BETWEEN WHITIANGA AND COROMANDEL TOWN.
Photo © Home At First

ACTIVITIES: The Coromandel offers a wide variety of activities. In addition to beach life, water sports, boating and fishing, visitors to the peninsula can play golf, hike, hunt for arts, crafts, and antiques, and, most popularly, tour the Coromandel by car. Art galleries, craft shops, and antique stores are scattered across the Coromandel — with many clustered in and near Coromandel town just minutes from the Coromandel Treehouse —

and provide good reason to

THE SETTING: The Coromandel Treehouse occupies a section of pristine Coromandel bush (forest) on a western slope overlooking the low hills of northwest Coromandel and the islands offshore in the Hauraki Gulf. The isolated property promises a peaceful visit, yet is only 5 minutes drive to the restaurants, services, and organized activities of Coromandel town, principal habitation along the west coast of the peninsula. The west coast of the Coromandel is rugged and extremely scenic with several white sand beaches inviting swimming, and

COROMANDEL TOWN & REGION

• BOATYARD, COROMANDEL TOWN.

• Christ church, coromandel town.

• COROMANDEL HOTEL'S TOP PUB.

• HOT WATER BEACH: EMPTY AT HIGH TIDE, IT BECOMES BUSY AT LOW TIDE
    WHEN SWIMMERS DIG OUT 'HOT TUBS' IN THE SAND FILLED BY HOT
    SPRINGS NEAR THE SURFACE JUST OFFSHORE.

• beachcombers strolling near cathedral cove, named after the
    wave-formed stone archway leading to the isolated beach.

• beach wedding near cathedral cove, noted beach 20 minutes
    north of pacific view lodge.

Photos © Home At First

fishing. Two steep, winding

spine approximately one-half hour

A STEEP DRIVE LEADS TO PARKING AT THE COROMANDEL TREEHOUSE ENTRANCE.
Photo © Home At First

to the Coromandel's eastern coast. Here are the region's two best-known beaches, Hot Water Beach (dig your own thermal spring hot tub in the sand at low tide!) and the monumental Cathedral Cove. But guests at the Coromandel Treehouse need only drive five minutes to reach excellent, uncrowded beaches at Long's Bay and Oamaru Bay. Offshore, the Hauraki lures sport fishermen and boaters from

kayakers to ocean-going

sailboats and power craft. The lodge is well-situated for exploring the Coromandel, and, at about two and one-half hours drive from AUCKLAND Airport, it makes a lovely base at the start and/or end of a driving tour of New Zealand.

AVAILABILITY: For current availability information,
call HOME AT FIRST at (800) 523-5842,
or contact us by e-mail: info@homeatfirst.com.

NOTES: Home At First’s Coromandel Treehouse consistently receives high ratings from Home At First guests. In addition to the above description, please note the following:

• This second-floor lodging requires climbing a set of stairs.

• Rooms are spacious and nicely furnished, but only one of the four double bedrooms offers twin beds.

• All rooms at Coromandel Treehouse are non-smoking. Smoking is permitted on the sun decks.

• Coromandel Treehouse not suitable for children due to its open sun decks and balconies.

• A very steep, but well-maintained private forest lane of about .6mi. length leads to Coromandel Treehouse. Private parking is available by the entrance to the lodgings.

 

Bathroom with shower en suite with
the standard double bedrooms.
Photo © Home At First
 

Learn more about HOME AT FIRST's travel program to: NEW ZEALAND.

HOME AT FIRST IS A DESIGNATED "KIWI SPECIALIST"
TOUR OPERATOR BY THE NEW ZEALAND TOURISM BOARD.
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AFFORDABLE DREAM TRAVEL WITH ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME.