Tapu: Coastal History and Outdoor Experiences

Tapu can be understood through both its mining and coastal history and its outdoor activities. When planning, it helps to distinguish between the settlement and a nearby track: the Tapu Summit to Crosbies Hut Track starts at the summit of Tapu-Coroglen Road.

Coastal Settlement and Mining History

Tapu was the region’s earliest coastal settlement. By 1869, 500 miners were working in the Tapu Valley. The settlement’s history therefore brings together early coastal settlement and mining; the figure for miners refers to the valley.

Shellfish harvesting also has a historical and cultural connection with Tapu. The Te Mātā and Waipatukahu shellfish gathering areas, commonly known as Tapu, were part of a temporary closure of the coast from Ngarimu Bay to Wilsons Bay in 1998. The closure was granted under Section 186A at the request of the Hauraki Māori Trust Board. It was intended to improve the availability and size of cockles and pipi, while also recognising the traditional fishing practice of rāhui.

Things to Do in Tapu

In Tapu, you can visit art galleries and studios. Walks through bush to kauri groves are also possible. On the water, you can swim in swimming holes, kayak or sail; conditions and access may vary. Fishing trips by charter boat are also available in Tapu.

The Track to Crosbies Hut

Nearby, the Tapu Summit to Crosbies Hut Track starts at the summit of Tapu-Coroglen Road. Among the routes to Crosbies Hut, it has the least elevation gain and no stream crossings. However, the track can be very muddy, and parking is limited. Take these conditions into account when planning and check current track conditions before setting out.

Getting Around and Staying Overnight

Tapu Domain is 20 km north of Thames town centre on the Thames Coastal Highway (SH25). The Tapu River flows into the Firth of Thames. Tapu Camp is a beachfront campground about 20 minutes north of Thames on the winding coastal road. It offers powered and unpowered sites for tents, caravans and motorhomes, as well as cabins. As facilities may change, please check before booking.

Regional Context in the Thames-Coromandel District

The wider Thames-Coromandel District includes about 2,000 hectares of parks and protected areas. Its landscape is characterised by distinctive topography and coastline, native forests and diverse coastal settlements.

The Hauraki Rail Trail is a 160 km cycling trail that extends across the Thames-Coromandel, Hauraki and Matamata-Piako districts. The 34 km section from Thames to Paeroa passes through lush farmland. These details provide regional context beyond Tapu.

The Thames School of Mines complex is located in Thames. It is nationally significant as a rare and well-preserved example of its kind. Its site has spiritual, cultural and archaeological significance and is particularly important to Ngati Maru. The Band Rotunda in Thames’s Victoria Park has been used for musical performances and related events for more than a century.

Discover more destinations: Opito Bay, Kuaotunu, Whenuakite, Colville, Coromandel, Cooks Beach, Hahei, Opoutere.

For the wider travel overview: Thames-Coromandel District.