KaihŪ
Whangārei District
WhangĀrei
Kaiwaka
The Little Town of Lights Inland and rural, by
tempts those angĀrday eiKaiwaka heading north to stop and
h DargavilleW
Heads
Matakohe
enjoy its cafés and cheese shop. By night, it embraces its title as ‘the little town of lights’ and erupts into a spectacle of glowing signage.
Wellsford Kaiwaka Cheese Shop It’s an unusual spot for a Dutch-style delicatessen, but an essential stop for travelling foodies.
am Bay WellsfordBre Eutopia Art Café Easily Wellsford Main Street Flanked with cafés, dairies and small shops, it’s the perfect place for provisions. The South African Shop is worth ducking into for biltong, curios and sweets you won’t find in the supermarket.
WaipŪ
Te Hana Te Ao Mārama Stays at this Māori cultural centre in the small yet thriving village of Te Hana (fiveminutes north of Wellsford) include overnight marae accommodation, guided tours and unique hangi pies from the café.
the most unusual place you can sip a cuppa. This labyrinth café is a masterpiece of turrets and onion domes, creatively adorned, top-to-bottom with sculptures, mosaic and stained-glass. And that’s all before the top-notch food and drink.
can stop and watch for whales. 9km, 2-3hr return.
Mangawhai
Mangawhai Village Markets The main market is held every Saturday from 9am-1pm on Moir Street, whereas the Mangawhai Beach and Country Market opens on designated Sundays at the Mangawhai Domain – from Labour Weekend until Easter.
Kaiwaka
Mangawhai Museum A modern and delightful museum that celebrates life on the harbour from past to present; from building ships to building sandcastles. Bennetts Home of famed chocolatiers, Bennetts of Mangawhai. Pick at cinnamon brioche over hot chocolate in the café’s Mediterranean-style courtyard and then empty the shelves of the chocolate shop.
Wellsford
ABOVE: Mangawhai Heads © Getty Images TOP LEFT: Te Hana Te Ao Marama Marea Māori Cultural Centre © Chris McLennan BOTH TOP RIGHT: Kaiwaka © AATP
See Map Section - pages 58 to 61
Coastal Paradise This nugget of seaside perfection never fails to impress. Just 80 minutes north of Auckland, with rolling surf and plenty of sun, sea, sand, art, cuisine and a calm estuary for safe paddling, it’s year-round idyllic.
Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway Start on the beach and scale the cliffside. A rugged yet beautiful coastline will unfold before your feet. This is a well-marked pathway passing rock formations and elevated vantage points where you
Mangawhai Heads A popular white-sand surf beach with a calm estuary, too. Walk to the top of the nearby sand dunes; they’re golden, rippled and rather impressive. Access is from Pacific Beach, off Back Swamp Road.
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