The Lost Spring covers three and a half acres in the centre of Whitianga, a small town on the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula with a permanent population of about 4,000.
Steeped in both Maori and colonial history, Whitianga is celebrated for its sheltered coves, scenic cliffs, abundant sea life and deepwater estuary.
This area of the Coromandel boasts some of the best hiking, fishing, swimming and boating in New Zealand.
Whitianga is the main settlement of Mercury Bay, an attractive township with a deepwater harbour. The wharf in the centre of town is the departure point for fishing enthusiasts, charter boats and scenic cruising. If taking your own craft, Mercury Bay has several launching ramps.
Lonely Bay | photo by Tourism Coromandel
An enjoyable excursion for young and old is the ferry crossing across the river to Ferry Landing. Passengers alight at the oldest stone wharf in Australasia. A short walk up the hill from the ferry leads to Front Beach then on to Flaxmill Bay. You can hire a scooter and explore further to Cooks Beach and beyond.
Front Beach | photo by Dreamland
There are many fabulous beaches, walking tracks and great scenery to take in. Further south is Coromandel's first marine reserve, officially designated in early 1993. It is easily accessed from Hahei Beach and Cathedral Cove.
Cathedra Cove | photo by Dreamland
It incorporates the offshore area from Cooks Bluff and Motukorure Island to Hahei and Mahurangi Island. Marine reserves are set aside for the regeneration of the marine environment and this particular area was chosen for the quality, complexity and diversity of its habitats. The reserve is named Te Whanganui-A-Hei after a Maori Chief who arrived on the Te Arawa waka (canoe) at the time of the Polynesian migration to New Zealand in the 1300s. Taking of fish and shell fish in the reserve is prohibited.
Hot Water Beach | photo by Dreamland
South again is wonderful Hot Water Beach, so named because of the hot springs that surface on the sand two hours either side of low tide. You can take a spade & dig your own hot pool.
For golfers there is an 18-hole golf course 3.2km south of Whitianga, a 9-hole course at Purangi near Cooks Beach, and an 18-hole course at Matarangi, 26km north of Whitianga. A short distance north of Whitianga is Wharekaho Beach where there is a fine stand of Pohutukawa trees. One of these is a gnarled old specimen that exactly fits a description in the journal of explorer Captain Cook written in 1769.
