Matarangi
| Matarangi | |
|---|---|
  Matarangi | |
| Coordinates: 36°43′55″S 175°40′14″E / 36.73194°S 175.67056°E | |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Region | Waikato |
| District | Thames-Coromandel District |
| Population (2009) | |
| • Total | 300 permanent residents |
Matarangi is a small modern tourist town on the Coromandel Peninsula of New Zealand, with around 300 permanent residents increasing to over 7000 holiday residents during the summer period of late December to February. It was developed in the 1980s as a purpose built resort town and occupies a white sand spit between the Whangapoua Harbour and historic Mercury Bay.
The town is quite wealthy, with a mix of older, smaller holiday houses (known in New Zealand as baches), while waterfront sections have luxury holiday homes and prestige lifestyles. It attracts holiday makers from around the world, from back packers to those on international golfing holidays. The main attraction for families is the 4 km long white sand ocean beach which provides safe swimming all year round. The harbour also offers swimming, jet boating, fishing and bird watching, with an upgraded boat ramp, boat parking and picnic area. Occupying the scenic end of the sand spit is "The Dunes", a Bob Charles-designed championship eighteen-hole golf course.[1] Coordinates: 36°43′55″S 175°40′14″E / 36.73194°S 175.67056°E