LEIGH, GOAT ISALND & PAKIRI

LEIGH, GOAT ISLAND & PAKIRI

The small coastal village of Leigh is the perfect place to make the most of the warmer summer months. Home to the famous Goat Island Marine Reserve and Pakiri Beach, the area is brimming with things to do for all ages. Once an area used for sawmilling and boat building, Leigh is now a bustling fishing village overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The 20-minute drive past Matakana is worth every second as when you arrive, you are rewarded with stunning views out to sea and some of the best (and freshest) fish and chips in New Zealand, if not the world.

Mathesons Bay - By Dominey Flores

Whangateau As you make your way along Leigh Road from Matakana, you will pass through the small settlement of Whangateau. Home to what is likely one of the most picturesque sports fields in the country, Whangateau also has a playground and lots of room for kids to run around.

The narrow harbour runs between Omaha and Ti Point and is perfect for swimming, boating and kayaking. A wonderful holiday park on the water’s edge offers a range of accommodation options and endless activities for the whole family. With kayaks, paddleboards and bikes for hire and a TV and games room, you will be able to keep the kids entertained, no matter the weather. Mathesons Bay Mathesons Bay is a small cove located just a 15-minute walk or 5-minute drive from Leigh Village. With a large playground near the beach and plenty of rockpools to explore, the secluded beach is the perfect place to set up for the day with the family. There are no camping facilities at Mathesons, however, it is one of the few places in the area with space for certified self-contained vehicles to stay for up to two nights. Goat Island Named after the small island sitting just off-shore, Goat Island Marine Reserve is located just out of Leigh and is a great way to spend a day over Summer. The marine reserve was established in 1975 to protect and preserve the surrounding marine life and, for this very reason, has some of the best diving and snorkelling in the country. The best part about Goat Island is that you can simply snorkel and dive straight from the beach. You don’t have to venture far from shore to come face-to-face with schools of fish, and the nearby island and many reefs around the reserve provide great diving and snorkelling conditions.

There are plenty of places to hire snorkel gear in Leigh or at the nearby campsites. If you’re a certified diver, there is scuba equipment available for hire, along with the option of a guided scuba tour. For those who prefer to keep a bit of distance between them and the creatures beneath the ocean, clear kayaks are available for hire from Goat Island Beach. These kayaks provide you with a front-row seat to what lies beneath and are a fantastic way of enjoying the reserve whilst keeping dry. Alternatively, the famous Glass Bottom Boat offers an informative 45-minute tour where you can learn about the history and preservation of Goat Island.

Another great way to immerse yourself in the Marine Reserve is to visit the Goat Island Marine Discovery Centre. Part of the University of Auckland, the Discovery Centre, with its state-of-the-art interactive displays and a tide pool tank, is a fantastic way to learn about the marine environment.

If you’re looking to stay overnight, there are campsites and backpackers located near Goat Island, along with holiday homes for rent in nearby Leigh. A word to the wise, Goat Island is incredibly popular with day-trippers, so be sure to arrive early to secure your spot and avoid the masses. Pakiri If you carry on a further 15 minutes past Leigh, you will find yourself at the white

sand surf beach of Pakiri. Be sure to pull over at the top of Pakiri Hill, where you will be treated to spectacular views from north to south, and on a clear day, you might even be able to spot the Auckland Sky Tower. Once you arrive at Pakiri, you are rewarded with 14km of white sand beach that stretches up to Te Arai Point at the northern end. Pakiri is incredibly popular with surfers, but it’s not as busy as other surf beaches in the region due to its more remote locality. The beach is patrolled over the summer months, but if you’re looking for something a little calmer, an estuary is at the southern end of the beach, which is great for families with younger children. A holiday park is located just a 2-minute walk from the beach with a range of different accommodation options and excellent facilities for the whole family.

Leigh Harbour - By Andrew Tunnicliffe

FISHING

Before dropping your line in, be sure to familiarise yourself with the boundaries of the Goat Island Marine Reserve, which prohibits any fishing between Okakari Point in the north down to Cape Rodney. The coastline between Big Omaha and Pakiri is dotted with wharves and rocky points that are excellent for fishing. So long as you’re on either side of the marine reserve boundary, then setting yourself up at one of these spots puts you in good stead for catching yourself a Snapper from dry land. Another option for fishing from dry land is casting from Pakiri Beach. Discerning locals can be found near the river mouth at dusk trying to land a good-sized Snapper or Kahawai.

For those looking to head out to sea, boats can be launched from Leigh Harbour, Big Omaha and Ti Point. Several reefs are located just out from Leigh, which are great for fishing for Snapper, Kingfish, Terakihi and John Dory. These boat ramps are also a good starting point for those looking to head towards Little Barrier Island.

The Leigh Fishing Contest The Leigh Fishing Content is an annual event that is popular with anglers from far and wide. Now running for nearly 20 years, the popular fishing event raises money for the Auckland Westpac Rescue Helicopter and the local school and fire brigade. There is entertainment for the kids throughout the day and live music. The prize-giving isn’t to be missed as all entries go into the draw to win a boat and outboard package, and if you’re not there when your name is drawn, you’ll miss out!

WALKING TRACKS

For a small area, Leigh has many scenic walking tracks to choose from. So, whether you prefer the shelter of the native bush, rolling farmland or gazing out to sea from the elevated coastline, Leigh has plenty of options for walkers of all ages and abilities.

The Leigh Harbour Path is a two-hour return walk from Leigh Boat Ramp that makes its way up towards Cape Rodney. The harbour is still a working wharf, and if you time it right, you can watch the commercial fishing boats unload their daily catch. The walk will take you through native bush, along the rocky ridges of the harbour and down to quiet, sandy beaches. The Leigh Coastal Path is a one-hour return trip along the Pohutukawa lined coastline of Leigh. With stunning views across Omaha Bay and the islands beyond, lucky walkers are often rewarded with dolphins, orcas and whales playing in the ocean below.

The Matheson Bay Bush Track links walkers back up to Leigh Road from the beach via native bush. The track itself is well established, and there’s a boardwalk and steps for the steeper parts. You will pass the Kohuroa Stream Waterfalls along the way there, and there is even a swimming hole for those needing to cool down. Once you arrive at Leigh Road, you can either turn around and head back down the way you came or wander back down Matheson Bay Road to the cove below.

The Goat Island Coastal Walk begins at the Auckland University Marine Laboratory and is approximately an hour each way, depending on what route you choose. Heading along the rugged coastline to Tabletop Reef, the views across to Hen and Chickens Island, Pakiri and the Hauraki Gulf are outstanding. Once you arrive at the end, you can either turn around and take in the views for a second time or take the Farm Loop back to the beginning.

Mathesons Bay - By Dominey Flores