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Things to do
Activities for all ages
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Things to do on or near the water
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Walking
Activities for all ages
Choose from our range of activities
from the adventurous to more
leisurely pursuits.
Walking
We are truly spoilt for choice when
it comes to walks in the Matakana
Coast area. A few of our
favourites.....
Walking on the beach; Omaha &
Pakiri Beaches are both long white
sand beaches, Omaha also has a
boardwalk behind the dunes starting
from the surf club. Snells Beach and
Algies Bay are also long enough for
a good walk and Snells Beach has a
paved walk running along most of its
length.
Our picturesque regional parks
offer countless options. We have
detailed brochures on these
available at the Matakana
Information Centre
or check out
www.arc.govt.nz
Several of us have a fondness for
Tawharanui Open Sanctuary the
park closest to Matakana Village.
Tawharanui has beautiful beaches and
great views from its walking tracks.
Ti Point
Walkway is accessed from the wharf.
The track runs through a bush clad
area just above the high tide mark.
You can pop down to wee beaches for
a picnic or for fishing off the
rocks.
Leigh Wharf.
To
the left of the toilets at Leigh
Harbour walk down towards the boat
ramp. Continue across the bridge to
the track which takes you northwards
around the headland to a quiet
bay. You can swim here or continue
walking until you come to a gate
leading to private property. This
walk will take about an hour and is
suitable for all ages.
Part
of Te Araroa - The Long Pathway,
The Mt Tamahunga Walkway is a
challenging but rewarding walk.
Access is from Omaha Valley Rd,
Matakana or Bathgate Rd, Pakiri.
There are signs in place or visit
www.doc.govt.nz
A walk around The Brick Bay
Sculpture Trail will take about
an hour dependent on how long you
spend looking at the art!
Explore a secret New Zealand on the
three day Kaipara to Kaipara
Walk, starting in the
village of Kaipara Flats across
private farmland and native bush to
the Kaipara Harbour.
Close to the village you can walk up
Tamahunga Drive. If you are
starting on foot from the village
head towards Warkworth and turn
first right after the bridge into
Tamahunga Drive. The views from the
top of the paved hill are worth the
climb.
For information
on walks on Kawau Island
(and the historic mansion) go to
www.doc.govt.nz.
The brochures ‘Walking
tracks in Rodney District’
(PDF 1965kb) and ‘Auckland
Day Walks’ (PDF
1000kb)can be obtained from the information centre or
downloaded here.
Things to do on or near the water.
Please note most activities are tide
dependent. Check the tides
here;
www.metservice.co.nz
At the Beach
Swim at one of our beautiful
beaches. Larger beaches are Omaha
Beach, Snell’s Beach, Pakiri Beach.
Smaller beaches include Brick Bay,
Campbell’s Beach, Buckleton Beach,
Algies Bay, and Martin’s Bay.
Matheson’s Bay is non-tidal so you
can swim all day. The regional parks
in the area offer swimming.Check
their website.
www.arc.govt.nz/parks/
Good beaches for younger children
are Snells Beach, Brick Bay,
Campbell’s, Baddeleys & Buckletons
Beaches, and Sandspit.
Insiders tip; At Omaha when the surf
is up at high tide try the estuary,
just north of the boat ramp at the
northern end. Please be aware of the
protected area for the dotterels.
At Matheson’s Bay there are
excellent rock pools, filled with
kina (sea urchins) and other sea
life. You can walk out on the reef
at low tide, and there are fossils
to be found.
The Marine
Discovery Centre at Goat Island (The
Edith Winstone Blackwell
Interpretive Centre) gives visitors
an insight into the beauty and
richness of Northland’s coastal and
sea life and an introduction to the
world-leading work being done at the
South Pacific Centre for Marine
Science. Follow the signs from the
carpark to the centre.
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On the water
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There are numerous options
for kayaking. Puhoi
Canoe Hire can provide full
river adventures or hourly hire
kayaks.
www.puhoirivercanoes.co.nz.
If you have your own kayaks
there are many options. Of the 3 main harbours: Sandspit, Mahurangi and Whangateau,
Sandspit and Mahurangi each lead
to scenic rivers and streams.
You can paddle down the
Mahurangi River from Warkworth
or put in at Matakana for a
paddle to Sandspit. (Ice creams
at Sandspit optional!) And
of course the sea is all around
us........
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The Jane Gifford (www.janegifford.org.nz )
has recently been restored and
is currently docked in the river
at Warkworth. River sailings
on the Mahurangi River are
scheduled over the summer and
Jane Gifford is available for
public charters.
·
Kawau Water Taxis
have a range of
cruises in and around the
beautiful bays of Kawau Island.
Stop at the island itself to
visit Mansion House Museum or
take one of the many walks to
historic sites while watching
the wildlife.
·
Take
an exhilarating jet boat ride
with
Blue Adventures. Adventures
from an hour to all day. You can
also experience kitesurfing,
wakeboarding and stand up
paddleboarding from any location
around Matakana, Auckland and
Mangawhai. Phone Tony on 09 422
7938 or 022 630 5705.
·
Water ski lanes are
identified on the Rodney
District Council’s website
www.rodney.govt.nz
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View the giant snapper and
crayfish at Goat Island Marine
Reserve from the comfort of the
Glass Bottom Boat. Please
do check their website or phone
09 422 6334, as these daily
trips are weather dependent.
www.glassbottomboat.co.nz
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In the water
Snorkelling and diving opportunities
abound. Goat Island Marine Reserve
at Leigh offers unparalleled
proximity to sea life. There is easy
access to the snorkelling area from
the car park. Please note that
taking or disturbing any
marine life is prohibited in the
reserve. And please no feeding
the fish as it can affect their
behaviour and health. Visit
www.doc.govt.nz
You can hire snorkelling and dive
gear from nearby
Goat Island Dive
(lessons & trips also available)
and
Seafriends
where there is also
a sea life information centre and
cafe, with daily posts of the
weather conditions at Goat Island.
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Fishing
Great fishing tales abound in our
area! Some of our volunteers’
favourite spots are listed below.
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Wharf fishing is available at
Leigh Harbour, Ti Point
(Whangateau Harbour), Big Omaha
Wharf and Scotts Landing
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Most areas have good “off the
rocks” or from the beach
fishing. Some of our favourite
rock fishing spots are
Buckletons Beach, Scandrett and
Tawharanui Regional Parks, Ti
Point. The eastern end of Pakiri
Beach offers good rock fishing
but do allow for a half hour
walk.
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For
fishing charter
information contact us.
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For information on
fishing
rules;
www.fish.govt.nz.
Please note that shellfish
gathering is currently somewhat
limited in our area because of
recent die-offs.
Walking on or near the beaches
We are spoiled for choice when it
comes to beach walking.
Omaha Beach
is an approx 3.5km stretch of white
sand and protected dunes. At the
southern end of the beach there is
also a walkway behind the dunes.
Please take care at the northern end
of Omaha Beach where there is a
protected dotterel colony.
Pakiri
Beach
is another long beach
for walking. If you turn
right (south) when entering the
beach from the car park, you will
find a new ARC Farm walkway. Note
there is no vehicle access and dogs
are prohibited.
There are good beach walks (and many
other tracks) at the ARC Regional
Parks.
www.arc.govt.nz
At low tide you can walk around the
island at Scott’s Landing.
Snells Beach
has a paved pathway suitable for
walkers and cyclists which runs
almost the length of the beach.
Walking near beaches with dogs
Signs are posted on the beaches.
Also see
Rodney District Council for
current dog regulations, including
leash free areas. Some of our
volunteers like to take their dogs
to the dog friendly area at Omaha,
over the causeway on the right hand
side adjacent to the golf club.
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