Whenuakite: Sunflowers, kiwifruit and pottery

Kiwi and seasonal blooms

Whenuakite combines a connection with nature with experiences that can be planned in different ways. Dogs are not allowed on the Whenuakite Kauri Loop Walk because Whenuakite is home to a population of brown kiwis. A kiwi survey conducted in 1992–93 on behalf of the Department of Conservation identified Whenuakite as a kiwi hotspot. The track rule provides practical guidance for your walk; the survey adds a historical ecological perspective.

At Tahi Toa Farm in Whenuakite, the Sunflower Fields offer a seasonal pick-your-own experience: stroll through the sunflower fields and pick your own stems. The opening date depends on the weather and the conditions during peak flowering. Plan your visit flexibly, and check before setting out whether the flowering season aligns with your travel dates. So when planning, it’s not just the location that matters, but also when you travel.

Craft and getting your bearings

Pottery is also part of Whenuakite. Alan Rhodes works as a potter here, creating high-fired stoneware. At Alan Rhodes pottery, visitors can buy handcrafted pottery directly, including bird baths and pasta bowls. This gives your stay a different focus from seasonal flower picking: here, the emphasis is on a specific craft.

Whenuakite is often used as a meeting point for people travelling by car, bus or bicycle to Whitianga, Hot Water Beach, Hahei, Cathedral Cove, Cooks Beach, Flaxmill Bay or Ferry Landing. It’s a practical landmark for people travelling together who plan to meet up before continuing their journey.

To get to the Hahei area, turn off State Highway 25 onto Hot Water Beach Road at Whenuakite. Cathedral Cove is in Hahei, with a sandy beach and a natural rock arch. The surrounding area therefore combines practical road directions with coastal scenery featuring a beach and rock arch.

Nearby, at Cooks Beach, the annual Cooks Beach Summer Gala raises funds for Whenuakite School and offers a wide range of local arts and crafts for sale. Check the latest dates for your trip and whether the event is still taking place.

In the wider Thames-Coromandel District

The Hauraki Rail Trail is an example of a longer regional cycling route in the wider Thames-Coromandel District destination: it is 160 km long and runs through the Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki and Matamata-Piako districts. A 34 km section from Thames to Paeroa passes through lush farmland. The comparison helps you get your bearings: 160 km describes the route across several districts, while 34 km marks a specific section.

The Thames-Coromandel District’s cultural heritage also has its own highlights. In Thames, the Thames School of Mines complex is nationally significant as a rare and well-preserved example of its kind. The site has spiritual, cultural and archaeological significance and is particularly important to Ngati Maru. The Band Rotunda in Thames’ Victoria Park has been used for musical performances and related events for more than a century.

Discover more destinations: Hot Water Beach, Pauanui, Hikutaia, Opito Bay, Hikuai, Colville, Te Puru, Thames.

View the wider travel guide: Thames-Coromandel District.