MATAKANA, OMAHA + TAWHARANUI

Ahhh, the Matakana coast. Miles of untouched coastlines, boutique shops and wineries, galleries, the famous Farmers’ Market and beautiful white sandy beaches. It is no wonder the area is popular for all ages and one of the country’s best holiday spots. This area is where you are spoilt for choice; come for a day or stay for a week. You will never be bored in the ever-changing scene.

Photo: Tawharanui Beach - by Dominey Flores

Photo: Road to Matakana - by Dominey Flores

Photo: Matakana - by Dominey Flores

Matakana Village has always been a bustling hotspot. In the mid-1800s, it was known for timber milling and shipbuilding utilising the Matakana River. In the following years, agriculture and dairy farming grew as this thriving rural town became a community. The old timber yard is now the location for the famous Saturday Farmers’ Markets and village shops. Spring is a fantastic time to explore this area as the cherry trees show off with their stunning cascading blossoms.

Photo: Omaha Beach - by Dominey Flores

With a 3km arc of perfect white quartz sand, crystal clear waters, rolling waves and uninterrupted views, it is no wonder that Omaha is one of the country’s most popular beaches. Located just ten minutes past Matakana, there is ample time to take a beach stroll on a day’s adventure. Lifeguards patrol during the summer months only. It is a perfect location for surfers, kitesurfers, windsurfers, or to learn how to boogie board. The beach’s northern end is home to endangered Dotterel and Fairy Terns. This area is roped off to protect them, so please ensure that dogs and children do not bound through and disturb the nests. If the main stretch is busy, and you time it right with the tide, you can clamber over the rocks at the beach’s southern end, which is also a great spot to cast a line, and you will find yourself at a magical bay called ‘Pink Beach’. It is only 200m long and gets its name from the millions of pink wheel shells that have been crushed by waves and storms, resulting in flecks of red mixing with the white sand.

Photo: Surfers at Tawharanui - by Dominey Flores

Winding down a gravel road to the Tawharanui Peninsula is like entering paradise. From the moment you arrive, you are greeted by the shingled shore of Jones Bay, and you know you are witnessing magic. The 588-hectare park boasts beautiful white sandy beaches, rolling farmlands, native coastal forest and regenerating wetlands. Tawharanui is the first integrated public open sanctuary where farming and conservation thrive behind a predator-proof fence – to protect the wildlife; please leave your dogs at home. The gate is automatic, but it also locks for the night. Make sure you check times as you drive on in. Once through the gates, there are four beaches to choose from; the main beach is Anchor Bay and is a leisurely stroll from the main car park. Once there, you can wander the 360m white sand and pick the perfect position to relax. Tawharanui is also popular for surfers, and as it is a marine reserve, snorkelling reveals another world beneath the waves. Keep an eye out for the stingrays and eagle rays that glide across the bottom!

The Tuscan-inspired countryside, combined with incredible soil, produces a wide variety of wines to sip. Those who prefer a hopp-ier beverage, there are also plenty of local craft beers to enjoy. While there are plenty of places to indulge the palette, better yet, have someone else take the wheel and book a tour! If you prefer to self-guide, it pays to check the individual vineyards are open, as some are open by appointment only. If you plan to explore further than Matakana, it is a good idea to stock up, as the small supermarket here is one of the last ones on the coast. The Saturday Farmers’ Market is a great place to experience the local produce, we recommend you go with an empty belly and basket - both are going to be full by the end of the day! In Omaha there is a small superette and a café in the block of shops near the Surf Club. You can also forage amongst the roadside stalls that dot each side of Omaha Flats Road and pick up perfect in-season fruit and vegetables. These crops are grown in the superb soil that this area boasts, and you can be sure you are eating something harvested not very long ago.

Photo: Tawharanui - by Dominey Flores

The Matakana Cycle Trail takes you through farmland and bush. It provides plenty of places to stop and admire the view – and as it leads through wineries, you may even get the chance to top up the cellar! The trail starts at the Village and is a two-way track suitable for the entire family. It is open to runners, walkers or cyclists – bikes can be hired from Matakana Country Park. The gravel and boardwalk trail links Matakana to Omaha and has a separate detour to Point Wells.

If Tawharanui is too boisterous for wee ones, there are many options for sheltered family-friendly beaches on the way out. Baddleys Beach has toilets and changing rooms. Campbells Bay has a playground at the water’s edge. Just be warned if you go at low tide, be prepared to walk out to the water as it goes out goes out a long way! There are no shops on this part of the coast so ensure the picnic is packed before heading out.

Challenge yourself to walk up the Quarry Loop. Located at the southern end of Omaha Bseach, there are 130 steps to the top, where you are rewarded with breathtaking views across Omaha Bay and beyond. Tawharanui provides seven signposted walks starting from either Anchor Bay or the Lagoon and range from easy for little legs to tracks suited to the more energetic; the Infomation Site located near Anchor Bay has all the details. A firm favourite for people of all ages is the Ecology track which begins from Anchor Bay and is a loop walk that can take between 40mins to an hour. It will lead you through ancient native bush and reveal stunning sea views over the bustling marine reserve - Bottlenose Dolphins are also fans of this area and are frequently spotted playing and surfing in the waves.

There is no campground at Omaha, however, many properties are holiday homes and are available to rent as well as around the corner in Point Wells.

Tawharanui campgrounds are located 150ms from Anchor Bay; as they get incredibly busy during the summer months, be prepared to book early to avoid disappointment and drift off to the waves crashing on the beach. If you feel up to it, you can also wander through Waterfall Gully and witness a display of the local glow worms. If you keep extremely quiet, you may also see a Kiwi.

Photo: Birds at Tawharanui - by Dominey Flores