Fantail Hill

You know what struck me first about Fantail Hill? It’s actually perched right on Hill Street where you get this incredible vantage point over Thames – I mean, the name sort of gives it away, but the reality is even better than you’d expect. When I pulled up (parking’s easy, by the way), I could see straight down to the Firth of Thames waterfront, and honestly, that view alone made the drive from Auckland worth it.

The thing about Thames is that most people just blow through on their way to the Coromandel beaches, but staying at Fantail Hill made me realize what they’re missing. The staff here actually know the area – like, really know it. They told me about this little walking track that starts practically behind the hotel and winds up through the bush where you can spot actual fantails (clever naming, right?). It’s maybe a 20-minute walk, perfect for working off breakfast, and you’ll probably have it to yourself unless it’s peak summer. The rooms themselves are what you’d expect from a solid 4-star place, but it’s the thoughtful touches that get you – they’ve got local honey at breakfast, and the coffee is properly good, not that instant stuff you sometimes get at smaller places.

What I really appreciated was how quiet it gets at night. Thames isn’t exactly a party town, but Hill Street is far enough from the main drag that you won’t hear late-night traffic or the occasional group stumbling back from the pub. The building’s got good bones too – you won’t hear your neighbors walking around, which is more than I can say for some places I’ve stayed. If you’re planning to explore the Coromandel Peninsula, this is honestly a perfect base camp. You’re about 40 minutes from Hot Water Beach, maybe an hour to Cathedral Cove if you’re not in a rush, and the drive through the ranges is spectacular. Plus, Thames has that old gold mining history thing going on – there’s a decent museum downtown if you’re into that sort of thing, and the locals are surprisingly chatty about the area’s stories. The hotel’s got that 9.5 rating for good reason – it’s not trying to be fancy, just really good at what it does.