Lots of info here: https://www.thecoromandel.com/towns/waihi/activities/all/ Shopping: The local shops are at Wilson Road, 5 minutes’ drive away. The butcher has excellent cuts of meat and the 4 square is good for most things. There is a Pharmacy, a Health shop, various fashion shops and art and gift shops. Some of the shops offer local art and crafts. It is well worth having a look around. Waihi town is approximately 15 minutes away and has a New World supermarket which is less expensive and has greater choice for food shopping. Katikati is about 20 minutes away and has a large Countdown supermarket which has greater range and is less expensive than the Waihi New World. Tauranga is 1 hour away and is a bigger town with a large selection of shops and activities. Places to eat out: Locally is the corner café/restaurant at Bowentown roundabout – I have not had good feedback. The Bowentown Boating Club has a bar and a restaurant serving family type food, good and wholesome with good views of the inner harbour. At the other end of the beach (5 minutes’ drive) there are a few restaurants and plenty of café’s. Flat White Café is a favourite and you will need to book ahead. The Waihi Beach pub and restaurant serves great food. The Falls Retreat Bistro, is a recommended restaurant, book ahead, this is in the Karangahake Gorge approx. 20 minutes’ drive. Local beaches and swimming: Walk down through the garden (path starts behind your carpark). At the bottom of the garden you will be on Seaforth Rd, turn right and walk along the road for approx 50m, on your left will be reserve to Waihi Beach (just before campground), if you continue straight ahead you will reach the calmer, Anzac Bay. If you walk up the Bowentown Hill you will get great views of the beach and from the carpark there is a small path down to a third beach on the channel entrance to the estuary (caution there is a strong tidal current in this entrance so do not go very far out into the channel if swimming here). There is a flagged area at each end of the main Waihi Beach for safe swimming with lifeguards on duty depending on the season. The best surf spot is at the northern end of the beach. There is also a quiet inner harbour beach at Anzac Cove, this is tidal and can be very shallow when the tide is out. This is a lovely spot in the afternoon sun.