Our guide to walking the 科罗曼德's captivating 10km walkway

An invitingly accessible walk around the tip of the 科罗曼德 Peninsula rewards a moderate amount of effort with fabulous views of land, 海, 和天空.

关于科罗曼德尔海岸步道

After a relaxing two-hour ferry cruise from Auckland city to 科罗曼德, one of the most enjoyable ways to get up close with the peninsula's scenery is to follow this historic ten-kilometer coastal path between Stony Bay and Fletcher Bay.  被自然保护部评为容易, 对骑自行车和步行的人都开放, 它可以在任何一个方向上遵循, 两边都有DOC营地.

开始在科罗曼德尔海岸人行道

For day-trippers, it's recommended to use local tour operators who will take you from 科罗曼德镇 去散步，然后去接你.  The drive between 小镇 and either bay is a slow one along un海led roads, 使徒步成为一天的探险, 而是司机对历史的评论, 地质, 地理和八卦是有趣和娱乐的, 风景总是很美.

Heading up the west coast to Fletcher Bay from 科罗曼德 小镇, 你对即将到来的事情有了初步的了解, with the blue 海 breaking white on the rocks to your left beyond a fringe of flax, while bush-clad hills rise to your right behind green farmland.

The quirky little settlement of Colville is your last chance for a coffee, 在那里你可能还想买一些零食当午餐.  Be sure to have a browse through the barn-red General Store, 从绿豆到钉子，什么都卖.

当你继续沿着海岸行驶时, 你会经过帕奇尔奇的花岗岩码头, where the rock was hauled from the interior to be loaded onto scows, 为了建设 奥克兰战争纪念博物馆 邮局和惠灵顿的国会大厦.

更多天鹅绒般的棱纹山坡紧随其后, 点缀着绵羊, 牛, 还有野生火鸡, and the road is one long avenue with gnarled pohutukawa hanging overhead.  They are spectacular when in glorious red flower in December but are always majestic, 构筑蓝海, 绿色的岛屿, 还有多石的海滩.  在闯过一些多岩石的浅滩之后, 你到达了路的尽头, 还有标志清晰的人行道的起点, 开始你的徒步旅行.

在科罗曼德尔海岸人行道上

穿过麦卢卡灌木丛穿过农田, and encountering the first of many laid-back Angus 牛, 你可以看到下面迷人的沙滩.  When you reach the top of a ridge you will see ahead of you the distinctive hump of the 220 meter Sugar Loaf hill, 下面是糖面包岩和尖峰岩, and Great Barrier Island a looming presence not far away across 大海.  你会在老牧羊人的小屋休息一下, getting on for a century old and a reminder that the track you are following started as a bridle path for both Maori and early settlers.

接下来是成熟的原始森林, 郁郁葱葱的尼考棕榈树, puriri, 和pohutukawa, 到处都是嘈杂的鸟，然后有一个短的, 但陡峭, 降落到波利湾. 这里有一些有趣的煎饼石头作为提醒, 比如Sugar Loaf尖塔, 半岛的火山历史.

这个多石的海滩不建议游泳, 但这里的水下岩石并没有阻止塘鹅, which can be seen diving like arrows into the water and a reminder, 如果你需要的话, 大概是午餐时间了.

然后又回到了山脊线, you have a pleasurable amble through the forest along towards Stony Bay. Glimpses of 海 and cliffs give you the impetus you need to take the steep but short side-track up out of the forest to the observation point, from where you'll get a glorious 360- degree view of the peninsula's hills both bare and forested, 大海, 以及小堡礁和大堡礁.  You might also be tempted to take the nearby detour down to Shag Bay.

从 here it's a gentle descent down to the finish of the walkway at Stony Bay, where a creek is a home to tame eels and you'll find yourself again at the end of a road.  你要么去接你的人 科罗曼德镇 or settle into your well-earned rest for the night at the DOC campsite.

The more intrepid and energetic though will head to the start of an alternative route to walk back to Fletcher Bay, along the steeper and more challenging Stony Bay Mountain Bike track.

到达科罗曼德尔海岸步道：

Take the Fullers360 ferry from the city center to 科罗曼德 via Rotoroa Island.  目前在周五和周末开课。 www.漂洗工.co.nz

There are several local operators who will transport you to and from the Coastal Walkway.  For their details and the various accommodation options available on the peninsula, as well as suggestions for the many other activities to be enjoyed in the area, 去 www.thecoromandel.com.