A Coroner says the death of a 13-year-old boy, who fell at least 15 metres after climbing a cliff at Coromandel Peninsula's Hahei Beach in January this year, serves as a tragic reminder

Michael Robb says young people can lack full appreciation of the dangers involved in some activities.

Open Justice reports the boy was climbing with a friend at around 7pm - and he told her to check every rock to ensure it could hold her weight.

She expressed concern about how high they were - before he fell past her and despite efforts by emergency services - the boy died just after 9pm.

Robb says his death was a tragic accident where an everyday childhood activity went dramatically wrong.