Hahei Holiday Resort Review 2026: Cathedral Cove Stay

#HonestReview

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New Zealand Travel Guide

Hahei Holiday Resort

Words & Photos © Global Explorer

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Welcome back, fellow explorers!

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If you are planning a road trip from Auckland to explore the surrounding regions,

choosing the right base camp is absolutely crucial.

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Especially if iconic spots like Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach

are on your bucket list,

I highly recommend checking into Hahei Holiday Resort.

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While it operates primarily as a holiday park—perfect for those classic

New Zealand campervan road trips—they also offer fantastic

standalone cottages for those of us traveling without an RV.

It is an exceptional choice for

family vacations or group getaways with friends.

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✔️ Hahei Holiday Resort Family Cottage Review

✔️ A true Kiwi experience: BBQ & Stargazing

✔️ How to get to Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach

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If you are mapping out a getaway from Auckland,

don't miss this guide!

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1. The Perfect Base: Hahei Holiday Resort near Cathedral Cove

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Cathedral Cove is arguably the crown jewel of the Coromandel Peninsula

on New Zealand's North Island.

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In fact, when you search for "New Zealand travel,"

the breathtaking natural archway that pops up

is usually Cathedral Cove.

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Because it is a protected marine reserve,

direct vehicle access is heavily restricted.

This means where you choose to stay

dictates how smoothly your day will go.

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The accommodation I booked for this trip

is located right on Hahei Beach,

just a stone's throw from Cathedral Cove.

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Since the vast majority of tours and shuttles

depart directly from Hahei Beach,

setting up your base camp here is incredibly convenient.

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It is also just a quick 10-minute drive to Hot Water Beach.

Pro tip: You need a spade to dig your own hot spring there,

and the resort lends them out to guests completely free of charge!

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Add in the stellar BBQ facilities

(perfect for grilling up some world-class New Zealand beef or lamb),

and the incredibly dark skies over Hahei Beach for stargazing,

and you have the recipe for a truly romantic and memorable night.

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📌 Summary

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✅ The absolute best location for Cathedral Cove & Hot Water Beach

✅ Welcomes both campervan travelers and regular rental car road-trippers

✅ A wide variety of accommodation types

Perfect for families, friends, and couples alike!

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🔻click!🔻

🏨Book Hahei Holiday Resort Here!

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2. Inside the Family Cottage

Hahei Holiday Resort offers

a huge variety of accommodation types.

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I did not know what to expect,

but I was genuinely blown away by how spacious it was.

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It honestly felt like everyone visiting Hahei Beach

was staying right here... haha.

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Some rooms feature private en-suites,

others are cozy traditional cabins with shared facilities,

and there are plenty of powered sites for campervans!

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Since we were a family of four,

we booked the Family Cottage.

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We strictly needed at least two bedrooms for our group,

but this specific cottage

actually featured three separate bedrooms!

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The space was incredibly generous for four adults,

and my parents absolutely loved it.

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It gets amazing natural sunlight—so much so

that we used the spare room just to dry our laundry...

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Having a full kitchen and BBQ setup

was an absolute lifesaver,

especially since dining out in New Zealand can get pricey.

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Firing up the BBQ at a Kiwi holiday park

is such a fun, authentic experience.

If you are heading to Cathedral Cove,

definitely keep Hahei Holiday Resort on your radar.

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The Family Cottage not only features

a private bathroom,

but also comes equipped with a washing machine!

Being able to wash our salty clothes right after a swim was brilliant.

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For a closer look at the Family Cottage,

be sure to check out the video above!

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3. The Ultimate 2-Day Coromandel Itinerary from Auckland

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Here is the exact itinerary we followed

to maximize our time exploring the Coromandel Peninsula

while based at Hahei Beach :)

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Day 1

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We drove up from the Rotorua area the day before,

specifically to visit Cathedral Cove and Hot Water Beach,

making Hahei Beach our home for the night.

(You can easily start from Auckland too)

Rotorua - Tauranga (Lunch) - Check-in

- Hahei Beach - Hot Water Beach - BBQ

Day 1 Itinerary

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Even if you are driving straight from Auckland,

it is only about a 2.5 to 3-hour drive (~110 miles).

If you have a rental car,

it is an incredibly easy and scenic road trip.

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Hot Water Beach is a unique coastal spot

where you can literally dig your own natural hot spring.

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You have to time your visit with low tide.

When you dig into the sand in the right area,

geothermal water bubbles up to the surface.

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By mixing this hot water with the cool ocean waves,

you get to enjoy a free natural spa right on the beach.

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⚠️ The resort provides spades for digging

completely free of charge!

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The hotel lobby conveniently displays the daily tide times,

which made planning our Hot Water Beach excursion effortless!

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💓 I will be writing a dedicated, in-depth guide

on Hot Water Beach soon, so stay tuned! 💓

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After soaking in our sandy hot tub,

we headed back to the resort for a classic New Zealand BBQ.

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We realized we forgot aluminum foil,

so we grabbed some from a local general store.

Pro tip: Pack some foil before you arrive

to save yourself a trip!

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After a delicious dinner,

we walked down to the beach right out front

to stargaze and wrap up an incredible day.

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The stars in the New Zealand night sky

look like they are literally spilling across the horizon...!

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I took these photos with just my smartphone camera 🌟🌟

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Day 2

Quick Breakfast - Checkout -

Cathedral Cove - Return to Auckland

Day 2 Itinerary

The main reason I chose this resort

as our base camp for Cathedral Cove?!

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Because so many tours and transport options depart right from here.

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Water taxis, park-and-ride shuttle buses,

and even guided kayak tours

all launch from Hahei Beach.

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We opted to take the shuttle bus followed by

the scenic coastal walking track (about 40 minutes one way).

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Emerging from the trail to see that massive natural archway

framing the crystal-clear turquoise water

is a memory I will never forget. If you travel all the way to New Zealand,

this is an absolute must-visit.

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4. Final Thoughts

It is not every day you get to experience

the quintessential New Zealand outdoor lifestyle.

This resort strikes the perfect balance—giving you that rugged camping vibe

while still providing highly convenient, modern facilities.

I was thoroughly impressed.

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The accommodation was incredibly spacious and spotless,

and being just steps from Hahei Beach made it

phenomenal for both water sports and nighttime stargazing.

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It is strategically positioned for exploring the Coromandel Peninsula's

biggest hits: ✔️ Hot Water Beach and ✔️ Cathedral Cove.

If a getaway from Auckland is on your

2026 travel radar!

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Spending a night or two at Hahei Holiday Resort

is an absolute no-brainer!

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Before you book, make sure to use the link below

to apply a discount code and save up to ~$77 on your stay!

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🔻click!🔻

🏨 Get the Best Rate for Hahei Holiday Resort

If you have any questions, feel free to drop a comment below!

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