How about Maratoto?

Maratoto is a little known peak tucked away in a beautiful and little travelled valley in the Coromandel ranges between Thames and Paeroa. It is a very striking peak - the sort that makes your knees go wobbly just looking at it. Very prominant and somewhat intimidating despite only being 386m elev. Access is easy with a good metal road that goes right past it.

When viewed from the road, it is simply begging to be climbed, but unless you know the route, it is quite a formidable undertaking. I bush-bashed my way up here on a recce mission around the other side, and it wasn’t until I’d almost got to the summit that I stumbled upon ‘the track’. I took the easy way down and found out where it starts - it is not marked or signposted at all on the roadside, but directions are as follows:

Drive down Maratoto Road and the peak will become obvious after a few kilometres. The sealed road becomes metal, and just after you cross a culvert you will find a small grass parking area on the LHSide of the road (see photo below). Leave your car here and walk across the grass towards the peak. Cross the stream and you will find the track continues on up the other side. Allow around 1 hour to the top from the carpark.

I came back here again with my two merry gerblings on the shortest day of the year, and ended up descending in the pouring rain (definitely not recommended). The track is very steep in places and there are some quite tricky exposed sections up high which are slippery in the wet. Very reminiscent of Kaitarakihi a little further north. Not everyone would be brave enough for the final push to the summit, but there are cables in place on some of the most exposed sections. My kids managed fine in the rain (wearing gumboots!), but they're kids, and not easily put off. The wind also tends to whistle through here, so be prepared, and take care! However the views from the top are superb, and it is a very satisfying peak to summit.