Pauanui is a small town on the east coast of the Coromandel, located between Whangamata and Whitianga it’s about 2 hours from Auckland and Hamilton. There are around 1000 locals in Pauanui but over the busy summer season, those numbers swell to over 15,000. It is a fantastic spot for fishing, hiking, surfing or just relaxing on the beach. Although it’s a small town there are cafes, restaurants, bars, and even a small supermarket. If you are an active relaxer you could hike up Mt Pauanui or walk around the coastal track at the base of the mountain. There is also a boardwalk and bike track that takes you to Tairua. So, hop on your bike or pop on your walking shoes and check out the scenery and wildlife along the Coastal Walkway that takes you to Tairua where you can grab an ice cream. If the kids want something to do there is a skatepark and a play park so this should keep them busy for a couple of hours. You could drive them out to the Puketui watering hole which is about 15 minutes from Pauanui. It’s a great place to cool down on those hot summer days! There are 3 golf courses in Pauanui, 2 of them are in town and are 9-hole courses, and the third is just out of town and is an 18-hole course.