Ngarimu Bay on the Thames Coast, Coromandel Peninsula, New Zealand is a very beautiful place, as these images show. This is the west coast of the Coromandel and only 10 minutes north of Thames, about an hour and a half from Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga.

The coast is popular for swimming, kayaking, fishing, sailing, walking and more. The local community is friendly, with young families and also retired people. The local primary school is on the coast with a beach beside the school playground (photo opposite). It has a good reputation, as has Thames High School, 10 minutes away by bus. We recommend both schools: our five children went there and have done very well at university.

There are many interesting people living in this region and a vigorous environmental movement - the Coromandel has always attracted 'alternative' people, those who are not enamoured of the rat race. There are many artists, an organic co-op in Thames, and the Thames Coast Protection Society is an important local environmental group.