Out for the day
Things to do nearby
Walks, beaches, markets and history within about forty minutes of us at Topuni. Drive times are from our gate and rounded up — a campervan is slower than a map. Check the tide and the opening hours before you go; every place below links to the people who run it.
Walks
Cliffs, rivers and harbour views
Two of the best walks in the area, one on each coast. Both are worth timing around the tide or the gate hours, so read the notes first.
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Sail Rock and Taranga, from Mangawhai Heads. Photo: Sids1, CC BY 2.0 Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway
A Department of Conservation coastal walk along the clifftops north of Mangawhai Heads, down to a natural rock archway.
Start from the Mangawhai Heads car park at the end of Wintle Street. It is about 20 minutes along the beach to the walkway sign, then around an hour and ten minutes over the cliffs, with steep ups and downs and a lot of steps, before a steep descent to the coast and the archway.
From the archway you can come back along the beach in about an hour, but only at low or mid tide. At high tide that stretch is impassable and you return the way you came over the clifftops.
- To come back along the beach, DOC suggests starting 2 to 3 hours before low tide.
- If water is surging through the archway, go back over the cliffs.
- The side track to Cove Road closes every year from 1 September to 31 October for lambing and calving. The main walkway stays open.
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The Oruawharo River from Ātiu Creek Regional Park. Photo: Lee Taylor, CC BY 2.0 Ātiu Creek Regional Park
An Auckland Council regional park on the Kaipara Harbour, with the 7.8 km Oruawharo River Trail looping the whole park.
The same Oruawharo River that runs below us widens out here into the Kaipara Harbour. The Oruawharo River Trail is a 7.8 km loop through farmland and bush with views over the harbour; the council allows about three hours for it.
The park is at 414 Run Road, Tāpora, reached by Port Albert and Wharehine Roads. The last 1.3 km from the park entrance to the main car park is unsealed, and there are toilets at the car park.
- The gates open at 6am and close at 9pm during daylight saving, and at 7pm the rest of the year.
- No dogs anywhere in the park, including inside vehicles.
- Regional parks are rubbish-free: take everything home with you.
Park details and alerts from Auckland Council (opens in a new tab)
Beaches and the lake
Surf, sheltered sand and a dune lake
Three beaches and a freshwater lake, all within about forty minutes. Each is different enough to choose between on the day.
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The surf beach at Mangawhai Heads. Photo: Bernard Spragg, Public domain Mangawhai Heads surf beach
An east-coast surf beach at the end of Wintle Street, patrolled by volunteer lifeguards over the summer.
The ocean beach at Mangawhai Heads, from the same car park as the Cliffs Walkway. The Mangawhai Heads Volunteer Lifeguard Service patrols it through the summer, with the flags set up near the clubhouse.
- Swim between the flags. Safeswim publishes the patrol hours and the water quality on the day.
Patrol hours and conditions on Safeswim (opens in a new tab)
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Riders and surfers on Te Ārai Beach. Photo: Avenue, CC BY-SA 4.0 Te Ārai Regional Park
A long stretch of surf beach and dunes south of Mangawhai, with a headland to explore at Te Ārai Point.
The park runs along the coast south of Mangawhai, at 708 Te Arai Point Road. Te Ārai Point is the more popular surf beach, but there are good waves further south as well, and you can explore the headland or swim in the old quarry at the point.
There is parking at Pacific Road, with a path over the dunes to the beach.
- No dogs on the beach, the dunes, the tracks or the car parks, including inside vehicles.
- No fires, and no drones. Take your rubbish home.
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Lake Tomarata on a calm day. Photo: Gadfium, CC0 Lake Tomarata
A freshwater dune lake in the forest off Atkins Road, popular for swimming, kayaking and boating.
One of the best examples of a dune lake on this coast, and a popular place to swim and boat in summer. There is a concrete boat ramp, picnic tables, changing rooms and toilets, and a short walkway part of the way round the lake to small sandy beaches.
- The last part of the road in is gravel. Take it slowly in a big van.
- The lake is shared with boats, water-skiers and jet skis.
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Langs Beach, looking north along Bream Bay. Photo: Bernard Spragg, CC0 Langs Beach
A sheltered, pōhutukawa-lined beach on Bream Bay, just north of the Mangawhai cliffs.
About 1.7 km of white and golden sand on the sheltered shore of Bream Bay, framed by old pōhutukawa. Carry on along Cove Road and it is 5 km to Waipū Cove.
Food and drink
Dinner, markets, chocolate and cheese
In Mangawhai village, The Local for a meal and the markets on a Saturday morning. Kaiwaka is ten minutes up the highway for a coffee and supplies.
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Dinner at The Local, Mangawhai. Photo: The Local — Kitchen + Bar, Used with permission The Local Mangawhai
A kitchen and bar in the heart of Mangawhai village, on the corner of Moir and Molesworth, open from morning coffee until late.
Coffee from 9:30am, brunch until 2:30pm, lunch from midday and dinner from 5pm — small plates, pizzas and mains — with eight beers on tap, a considered wine list and cocktails. There is live music and events too.
Much of what is on the menu comes from producers close by, among them Mangawhai Gelato and Corner Paddock dairy from Tomarata and Te Ārai.
- Open every day except Tuesday, from 9:30am until late. Last bookings are at 8pm.
- The kitchen closes between 2:30pm and 5pm; the bar stays open.
- Book a table online or ring (09) 945 3838. Holiday hours are posted on their Facebook and Instagram first.
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The Mangawhai Tavern on Moir Street, home of the Saturday Tavern Market. Photo: Zoohistorian, CC BY-SA 4.0 Mangawhai Saturday markets
Two markets every Saturday morning on Moir Street, Mangawhai, within a short walk of each other.
The Mangawhai Tavern Market is at 2 Moir Street, beside the estuary, from 8:30am to 1pm: produce, bread and pastries, street food, coffee, crafts and plants, with live music in the garden bar.
The Mangawhai Village Market is up the road at the Village Hall, 45 Moir Street, from 9am to 1pm: fruit and vegetables, cheese, bread, books and bric-a-brac.
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Bennetts of Mangawhai
A chocolate shop, chocolate factory and courtyard café at 52 Moir Street in Mangawhai village.
A family-run chocolatier, founded in 1998. The café opens every day for breakfast and lunch, around a Mediterranean-style courtyard, beside the flagship chocolate shop.
- They do not take reservations, and weekends are busy.
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Eutopia Café
A café on State Highway 1 at Kaiwaka, serving breakfast, lunch and coffee in a building covered in mosaics.
At 1955 State Highway 1, ten minutes north, next door to the Kaiwaka Cheese Shop. Open Monday to Thursday, 8:30am to 3pm, and Friday to Sunday, 8:30am to 3:30pm.
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Kaiwaka Cheese Shop
Local, Dutch and imported cheeses, with tastings, on State Highway 1 at Kaiwaka.
At 1957 State Highway 1, ten minutes north. Cheese tasting to help you choose, plus Dutch groceries, cured meats, wine and craft beer. A good place to stock the van.
History and culture
Shipwrecks, settlers and a pā
Three good reasons to go out on a wet day, and to learn something about the land you are parked on.
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Mangawhai Museum. Photo: Gadfium, CC0 Mangawhai Museum
The museum of Mangawhai and its harbour, with a café, across the car park from the Mangawhai Historic Village.
On the corner of Molesworth Drive and Thelma Road South, between the village and the Heads, with the Mangawhai Historic Village across the car park.
Open every day from 10am to 4pm between September and April. From May to August it opens 10am to 4pm at weekends and 10am to 2pm on weekdays.
- There is an entry charge; the museum lists current prices.
- There is a public dump station here — see the practical notes below.
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Albertland Heritage Museum, from across Port Albert Road. Photo: Bjankuloski06, CC BY 4.0 Albertland Heritage Museum
The story of the Albertland settlers, at Memorial Park on Port Albert Road, Wellsford.
A small museum of the Albertland settlement and the district, at Memorial Park on Port Albert Road (State Highway 16), Wellsford.
Open Wednesday to Saturday, 11am to 3pm, and Sunday, 1pm to 3pm. Afterwards, carry on out to Port Albert, about 20 minutes from us, the riverside site where the settlement began.
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Te Hana Te Ao Marama, on State Highway 1. Photo: Gadfium, CC0 Te Hana Te Ao Marama
A Māori cultural centre on State Highway 1 at Te Hana, with guided tours of a replica village and pā.
Ten minutes south at 311 State Highway 1, Te Hana. Guided tours take you through a replica 17th-century Māori village and fortified pā, and there is an art gallery on site.
Across the road, the Arts Factory carves giant sculptures from swamp kauri tens of thousands of years old.
- Bookings are essential: phone 09 423 8701. Tours are outdoors, and heavy rain can cancel them.
Day plans
Five easy days out
Every Mangawhai day finishes at The Local in the village, half an hour from the brazier. The Local is closed on Tuesdays.
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Coast, half a day
The Cliffs Walkway, timed for a falling tide so you can come back along the beach; a swim at the Heads between the flags; then dinner at The Local in the village on the way home.
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Saturday morning
Both markets on Moir Street, the beach at Mangawhai Heads for the afternoon, and back to the village for dinner at The Local.
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Lake and surf
A swim at Lake Tomarata, over to Te Ārai if the surf looks good, then up the coast to The Local in Mangawhai to eat.
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History loop
The Albertland Heritage Museum in Wellsford (Wednesday to Sunday), out to Port Albert, and back up the highway past Te Hana — book ahead for a tour.
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A wet day
The Kaiwaka Cheese Shop on the way over, the Mangawhai Museum, then a long lunch or an early dinner at The Local.
Practical
Dump stations, water and tides
There are no toilets, showers or dump station here, so your van carries its own. These are the nearest places to empty it.
- Dump station, Wellsford
- 107 Centennial Park Road, Wellsford. About 15 minutes south.
- Dump station, Mangawhai Heads
- At the Mangawhai Museum, Thelma Road South. About 25 minutes. No drinking water there, and no overnight camping — the museum points visitors to the holiday parks nearby for water. NZMCA listing (opens in a new tab).
- Tides
- Coming back along the beach from the Cliffs Walkway is only possible at low or mid tide. Tide predictions from LINZ (opens in a new tab).
- Regional parks
- Ātiu Creek and Te Ārai are rubbish-free, and fires are not allowed in any public place in the Auckland region.
Golf
- Wellsford Golf Club (opens in a new tab) — an 18-hole country course on State Highway 1, just south of Wellsford. About 15 minutes.
- Mangawhai Golf Club (opens in a new tab) — 221 Molesworth Drive, Mangawhai. About 25 minutes.
- Paparoa Golf Club (opens in a new tab) — a 9-hole course on Golf Course Road, off Golden Stairs Road near Maungaturoto, with clubs and trundlers for hire. About 40 minutes.
- Te Arai Links (opens in a new tab) — a destination links course on the coast south of Mangawhai. Book a tee time well ahead.
Northern Bass
Northern Bass (opens in a new tab) is held at Kaiwaka over New Year. Kaiwaka is about 10 minutes north of us, if you would rather sleep somewhere quiet either side of it. We are not connected with the festival.
Photo credits
The photographs on this page were not taken by us. The photograph of The Local is their own, used with their permission. The rest come from Wikimedia Commons and are used under the licences shown, cropped and resized for this page. Photographs under CC BY-SA remain under that licence in their cropped form.
- “Sail Rock from Mangawhai Heads” (opens in a new tab) by Sids1, CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab).
- “Atiu Creek Regional Park - Oruawharo River” (opens in a new tab) by Lee Taylor, CC BY 2.0 (opens in a new tab).
- “Mangawhai Heads Beach. NZ” (opens in a new tab) by Bernard Spragg, public domain.
- “Horse riders and surfers on Te Arai Beach” (opens in a new tab) by Avenue, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
- “Tomarata Lake” (opens in a new tab) by Gadfium, CC0 (opens in a new tab).
- “Langs Beach. Northland NZ” (opens in a new tab) by Bernard Spragg, CC0 (opens in a new tab).
- “Dinner at The Local” (opens in a new tab) by The Local — Kitchen + Bar, used with permission.
- “Mangawhai Tavern 2019 after renovation 01” (opens in a new tab) by Zoohistorian, CC BY-SA 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
- “Mangawhai museum” (opens in a new tab) by Gadfium, CC0 (opens in a new tab).
- “Albertland Heritage Museum from across Port Albert Road” (opens in a new tab) by Bjankuloski06, CC BY 4.0 (opens in a new tab).
- “Te Ao Marama” (opens in a new tab) by Gadfium, CC0 (opens in a new tab).