1 minute read
Secret Coast Route - Must-Do's
The Secret Coast Route snakes its way 54km between Helena Bay and Russell, offering a glorious alternative to the SH 1 out of Whangārei. Every bend in the road presents a fabulous view.
© AA Traveller 2021
Advertisement
Helena Bay / Te Mimiha Bay - Heading north on the Secret Coast Route, this is your first taste of coastal splendour. Stop for sheltered swimming.
Mimiwhangata Coastal Reserve - It takes a bit of effort to drive the bumpy road here, but paradise awaits the plucky. Discover deserted white-sand beaches, an idyllic walk around the peninsula and the Waikahoa Bay DOC Campsite, accessible only by foot.
The Gallery Helena Bay Hill - Primarily a home, this subtropical space has grown to encompass a higgledypiggledy garden teeming with trinkets, an art gallery and café pitched high above the valley floor. The views are sublime.
Whangaruru Harbour - This large and visually stunning harbour boasts several small communities freckling its shoreline.
Whangaruru Beach - Home to Whangaruru Beachfront Camp on the shores of Parutahi Bay and sandwiched between Ōakura Bay and Ohawini Bay. In other words, you get three beaches in one.
Whangaruru Beach © Whangārei District Council
Ōakura Bay - Teal water tickles soft golden sand and holiday homes sit just inches from the beach. There’s a single dairy (such is the solitude here), decent surf waves and a rocky outcrop.
Elliot Bay - Another corker just 30 minutes from Russell, this beach appears dramatically over the bluff and presents boisterous waves for surfers.
