PUHOI & MAHURANGI WEST

The small rural community of Puhoi is located 50 kilometres north of Auckland and is the southern gateway to the Matakana region. Positioned between rolling farmland, native bush and the Puhoi River, the historical village is a short detour from State Highway 1 and an excellent way to break up your journey north. While small, Puhoi is rich in history and dates back to the mid-1800s when immigrants from Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) first settled. Both the local museum and the iconic Puhoi Pub have a fascinating selection of artifacts and photographs dating back nearly 150 years. In addition, the Puhoi Heritage Trail is a self-guided walking tour that takes you past over 20 different local sites and is a wonderful way to immerse yourself in the village’s pioneering history. Once you carry on your travels, just another five minutes further from Puhoi is the entrance to Mahurangi West, where you will find incredible views out to the Hauraki Gulf and the western entrance to the Mahurangi Regional Park.

Mahurangi West Regional Park - By Dominey Flores

Mahurangi West has some of the most beautiful and isolated beaches in the Auckland region (in our humble opinion, anyway). Otarawao Bay (Sullivans Bay) is the only beach within Mahurangi West with vehicle access and is just a 10-minute detour from State Highway 1. Once you arrive at the beach, you will find a calm, sheltered bay with views across the water to Lagoon Bay at Mahurangi East. There is a campsite located at the northern end of the beach that allows tents and self-contained vehicles. Be sure to book in advance over summer as there are limited sites, which can book up quickly. Secluded Te Muri Beach is located at the southern end of the Mahurangi Regional Park and is the perfect place to avoid the summer crowds. With no vehicle access, the only way to reach Te Muri Beach is by boat or foot from Sullivans Bay at low tide. A basic campground near the beach is available for tents, but make sure you bring everything from your car as it’s a 1.3km trip back if you forget anything. The second beach that is accessible only by foot and boat is Otuawao Bay (Mita Bay). The quiet beach is a 1.8km walk north from Sullivans Bay car park so pack lightly. Once you get to Tungutu Point, you can choose to follow the track to go over the rocks, which is only accessible for two hours on either side of low tide. However, it’s worth the effort once you arrive, as you will find a beautiful, secluded white sand cove surrounded by native bush. There is also a very basic campsite at Mita Bay where you may very well be the only tent. The sheltered waters surrounding the beaches at Mahurangi West are fantastic for kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, or simply cooling off.