@Munish I think the Coromandel is a hike from Auckland for a day trip - particularly since the best bits are right at the top …

Might I suggest Waiheke Island - a 40 minute ferry ride from the ferry building. (On the map below - Waiheke is the big island about half way between Auckland bottom left and the Coromandel Peninsula on the right.)

(I might be biased - since it has been my home for the past year) - this is a series of daily photos from our gaff across Oneroa bay and on some of the pictures you can see the Coromandel Peninsula).

If you decide to make the trip - let me know and I will give you some specific pointers.

Other places … across the bridge and head north Northlands - be ready for TRAFFIC - Warkworth is an hours drive.

Re Coromandel - Thames is 1 hr 45 from downtown Auckland - and that is NOT your Coromandel experience! Example - Tairua - across the peninsula and mountains is another hour and half.

Not to put you off - but IF only a day - I wouldn’t do it - even two days with an over night stop?

BUT - if an overnight stop - a LOT of visitors go to Rotorua - again - tough for a day - but tourists rave’ - personally never been there - though a place I have driven past many times.

There’s also Hobbiton - south of Auckland - a 2 1/2 hour drive EACH way

Its a small country - i find that the best measure by how long it takes to get between places than by the miles / kliks between those places!

Final Thought …

What is total time you will be in New Zealand for - and what else are you seeing - then recommendations can be contrasts - alternatives to - etc

// @lmika