Attractions

Natural Geo-Thermal Spring Pools. 

Hot Water Beach is an absolute NZ Must Do!

Best visited two hours either side of low tide.  Take your spade and dig a small pool or enjoy the rewards of someone's else previously dug pool.  Temperature of the water is hot - up to 64 degrees celsius. 

The Mercury Bay Golf Course is a fine 18-hole facility situated on the southern outskirts of the exciting Whitianga in the beautiful Coromandel Peninsula.

The Course is set in a beautiful park-like setting, with an abundance of native trees and birds. It is an easy walking course, however power carts are available if desired. The course is mostly flat and provides an easy walking experience for all ages and abilities.

The course is challenging, requiring some shots to be shaped around trees and to fit doglegs of both directions. The greens have been rated as among the best in the area. The fairways and rough are generally greener than others due to the favourable climate conditions here.

New Zealand’s only narrow-gauge mountain railway travels through regenerating native forest with pottery sculptures lining the track

This train ride is one of the most popular in New Zealand.

Enjoy a 1 hour return trip on this scenic narrow gauge mountain railway. Travel through regenerating and replanted native kauri forest where unique pottery sculptures line the track. The train includes 2 spirals, 3 short tunnels, 5 reversing points and several large viaducts as it climbs up the hill to the Eyefull Tower.

At the top there are panoramic views out over the island-studded Hauraki Gulf.

Before your return trip your driver will explain about the man who originally built the railway to bring clay to his potteries and wood to fire the kilns.

As well as browsing the pottery complex (under reconstruction 2016 -2017) you may also want to spend some time in the craft shop viewing the finished works for sale. There is also a selection of well-researched material on local history and ecology as well as a variety of souvenirs for sale.

Suitable for all ages and weather conditions.

Mercury Bay Estate is owned by Simon & Veronica Ward and was formed from the vineyard established by Alex Morcom in 1996 (named Shakespeare Cliff Vineyard and later spawned Cooks Beach Vineyard). The vineyard originally contained plantings of Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc.

The vineyard, of course, took its original name from one of the landmarks in the area, the stunning Shakespeare Cliff. Other well known attractions such as Hot Water Beach, Hahei and Cathedral Cove are close by. There's also a well known marine reserve in the bay which attracts many divers.

The subdivision of the vineyard occured in 2004 with each variety being established as a separate viticulture block. We purchased the Pinot Noir block purely as an ideal location to live and enjoy the beauty of this wonderful location.

We offer a Cellar Door & Restaurant where locals and tourists can come and relax and enjoy the beauty we are so fortunately surrounded by, while tasting some of our wines, together with platters of local food.

Our current range of wines include varieties produced from fruit grown on our vineyards at Cooks Beach and from vineyards at Hawkes Bay.