Jess Zausmer
James Turner
Jess Zausmer
James Turner
April 11, 2025
Schedule
Friday, April 11, 2025
Ceremony & Reception
3:00 pm - 11:30 pm
162F Whitipirorua Road, Onemana, Waikato 3691, New Zealand
Join us for our wedding festivities starting with the ceremony and reception on Friday, April 11th. Plan to arrive around 3:00 pm for our 3:30 pm ceremony. COCKTAIL ATTIRE SHUTTLE INFORMATION There will be shuttle service to/from Whangamata to help with guest transportation. Buses will depart Surf Club Whangamata at 2:15 pm and Whangamata RFC at 2:30 pm for transport to Hillbrook. Please choose your preferred location. After the reception, return buses will leave Hillbrook between 10:30 and 11:45 pm, stopping at each guest’s accommodation. Surf Club Whangamata: Cnr Lowe St & Esplanade Drive, Whangamatā 3620, NZ Whangamata RFC: Aickin Road, Whangamatā 3620, NZ PARKING There is limited parking at Hillbrook for anyone who wishes to drive themselves. VENUE The ceremony and cocktail hour will be outdoors, with the reception held under a marquee tent. Just FYI for our international travelers, April temperatures in the Coromandel typically range from 60-70°F with cooler evenings.
Saturday, April 12, 2025
'Recovery' Party
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
162F Whitipirorua Road, Onemana, Waikato 3691, New Zealand
If you can, stick around to continue the fun with a "recovery day" event on Saturday! We're planning to be back at Hillbrook with light bites and drinks. CASUAL ATTIRE PARKING Please plan to drive yourselves back to Hillbrook for the recovery party. There is limited parking at Hillbrook, so try to carpool if you can!
Saturday, July 12, 2025
Stateside Celebration
4:00 pm
We understand that New Zealand is quite the trek, so if you can't make it, we’re also hosting a small celebration in Detroit, MI on July 12th. Please indicate via your RSVP if you would like to be kept in the loop with details, and we will follow up with a separate invitation.
Travel
Flight
Auckland Airport
The primary international airport for New Zealand is in Auckland. This is about a 2 hr drive from the wedding venue so is your best spot to touch down. Renting a car from the airport (or Auckland) is likely easiest in terms of transportation to Hillbrook. Remember... keep left!!
Travel Note
Nearby Lodging
The best places to stay are Whangamata (20 minutes + wedding night shuttle service) or Onemana (10 minutes away). As these are small beach towns, airbnb or bookabach.co.nz will likely serve you well.
Travel Note
VISA
For those tourists amongst us, don't forget to apply for your NZeTA visa at least 72 hours before arriving! It's an easy process (https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/) and should cost about $15-20.
Things To Do
Kauaeranga Kauri Trail (Pinnacles Walk)
For you adventure seekers, the Pinnacles Walk is a popular hike with some stunning coastal views. It's 9ish miles out-and-back to the Pinnacles Hut, or you can backpack in and stay overnight there (reservation required). Check out AllTrails for details: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/new-zealand/waikato/the-pinnacles-track Driving distance from Whangamata: 1 hour 20 minutes
Hot Water Beach
A famous New Zealand attraction, head to Hot Water Beach to enjoy the views and dig your own natural hot spring tub right in the sand. The hot springs will be under water if you arrive at high tide, so aim to visit the beach at low-tide or two hours either side of low-tide. You can rent shovels at Hotties Cafe, Hot Water Beach Cafe and the Hot Water Beach Top 10 Holiday Park. Driving distance from Whangamata: 1 hour
Lukes Kitchen
Great local spot for fish & chips, wood fired pizza, and casual drinks. Distance from Whangamata: 1 hour 40 minutes
Cathedral Cove Beach
Another popular spot, Cathedral Cove is a secluded beach and natural archway in the Coromandel Peninsula. You'll take the Cathedral Cove Walking Trail to get there (3.2 miles out-and-back) with coastline views and scenic places to stop along the way (Gemstone Bay, Stingray Bay). If you're up for it and the weather suits, kayaking tours are available. https://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/places-to-go/coromandel/places/hahei-area/tracks/mautohe-cathedral-cove-walk/ Cathedral Cove Gateway Walk: For a shorter walk, you can park at the privately-managed Cathedral Cove Gateway carpark at Lees Road. Follow the farm track and walk to Cathedral Cove in 30-40 minutes. Driving distance from Whangamata: 1 hour
Hobbiton™ Movie Set Tours
Head to Hobbiton to visit Gandalf and Frodo Baggins. For ~$70, you can take a tour of the 12 acre Lord of the Rings movie set (reservations recommended). If you're looking for small talk at the wedding, find Henry Parker and ask him what it was like to star in the movie. Distance from Whangamata: 1 hour 45 minutes
New Chums Beach
If you're itching for a pristine and secluded beach, head to New Chums. It's only accessible by foot via the New Chums Beach Walk, about 3 miles out-and-back. You’ll park your car at the New Chums Beach car park in Whangapoua then make your way from there. Aim for low tide. Check out AllTrails for details: https://www.alltrails.com/trail/new-zealand/waikato/new-chums-beach-trail Distance from Whangamata: 1 hour 45 minutes
Canyonz
For you outdoor enthusiasts, Canyonz offers full or half day guided canyoneering trips through Sleeping God Canyon in the Kauaeranga Valley. Think wetsuits and helmets, rappelling down waterfalls, and beautiful scenery. Driving distance from Whangamata: 1 hour 10 minutes
RSVP
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