I feel embarrassed to admit this, but I have just completed my first foray around the Coromandel. Too many years passed before I surrendered to the abundance of scenic charms of this region.
Basing myself in the beach township of Whangamata, the rich pickings along Coromandel's Pacific Coast are as a sweet and succulent as sun-kissed holiday berries.
Few New Zealand beaches can compare to Whangamata's main ocean beach, renowned among surfies as a most reliable performer, with the legendary Whanga bar delivering the best breaks.
Big game fishing, golf, mountain biking and bush walks are all on tap. Don't miss the Wentworth Falls, a one-hour walk through native bush to a viewing platform and swimming hole at the base of the falls.
In March, Whangamata crawls with classic cars, rock 'n' roll and Americana-themed diners, as the annual Beach Hop roars into life. Happy Days are yours and mine, indeed.