In The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, the Pevensie siblings walk through a magnificent triangle-shaped rock archway and enter Narnia.

That picturesque arch is Cathedral Cove on the Coromandel Peninsula, and it is every bit as magical in real life: shaped over centuries by wind and water, it remains standing in the sparkling South Pacific Ocean with a sliver of golden sand on either side.

At high tide, the sea floods the archway, and you’ll have to wade through water to get to the beach and Te Hoho Rock, an iconic, freestanding limestone outcrop, on the other side.

Cathedral Cove is located at the southern end of Mercury Bay and is accessible by foot and boat. Hahei is the starting point of the 2.5km walkway that runs along the coast towards Cathedral Cove and passes by two beautiful secluded coves, Gemstone and Stingray bays, each with a small beach fringed by shallow turquoise waters and white limestone cliffs.

The bays are gorgeous, sheltered swimming and snorkelling spots, down short detours from the main track, and we were surprised to find them both empty.

Not so the beaches to either side of Cathedral Cove. With the borders closed to international visitors, the cave wasn’t nearly as busy as usual, but the beach was still popular with locals flocking here to sunbathe on the weekend.

There’s no parking but a drop-off zone at the trailhead. Free parking is available at Hahei Visitor Carpark on Pa Road or Cathedral Cove Gateway Trail Carpark on Lees Road and at the time, a park and ride shuttle service would run in peak season.