Welcome to the riches of the Tutukaka coast, a unique combination of beach and bush, flora and fauna, and the gateway to our jewel in the crown, the Poor Knights Islands, below the surface a marine reserve and international diving treasure, above a nature reserve guarding many rare species.

Travel along the rollicking curves of Kaiatea Road, which will bring you to Sandy Bay, Northlands premier surfing beach. Make a right turn into McAuslin Road and up to a spur graced by a striking spiral seashell house where Calm Bay invites you to explore its solitudes and Poor Knights views. At the end of the road you can reach the Whananaki coastal walkway, which follows a well-graded farm track with excellent coastal views.

Don't forget Woolleys Bay as you cruise the headland coast southwards. From its car park you can stroll the dunes to a snug corner; a well concealed lagoon and a rock citadel where seagulls nest in season. Or walk the other way at low tide crossing Staffa Bay to rock hop under the shag colonies.

On to one of the other pearls of the coast; Whale Bay Reserve, where a network of tracks can lead you either to unforgettable Whale Bay, an idyllic white sand bush fringed beach, with pohutakawa boughs as seating; a west facing beach so striking at dusk. Walking access is through the car park at Matapouri Road, through groves of ancient Puriri trees and in October, Kowhai, heavy with bright yellow flowers. Over the ridge, there is east facing Cabbage Tree Bay for the more adventurous, with rock pools, caves and a Maori Pa; a profoundly spiritual adventure. You can even follow the cliff edge track to the north end of Matapouri bay, a spectacular white sand coastal beach plus restful estuary.

Follow the curving sea brink round to a low saddle through to Pebbly Beach and let its' semi-precious stones warm your body after a swim. Carry on around Matapouri beach to Marsden cove, (named after Samuel Marsden, the pioneer missionary) where a track leads to a tunnel, a rocky cove and an island, and leads out to the deep Mermaid pool on the headland. As you leave Matapouri, don't overlook the crystal clear estuary. At high tide an upstream snorkel from the bridge provides an experience like a coral reef excursion; very clear water and fishes swimming through mangrove tree branches.

As you head towards Tutukaka a "Private" road leads to a public reserve with another rich medley of beaches. From the car park out to the Lighthouse, a superb jaunt with well made steps in steep places, and, at the summit, panoramic views of the entire headland coast. The track offers a side path to a very private beach, Rocky bay, or, south of the car park, a tunnel track through bush to Beck's Bay, where kauri trees stand on the cliffs.

Tutukaka harbour itself offers a series of pleasantly sheltered little beaches, a handy one at the end of the marina, where you can rent a kayak and explore the harbour, then along the south side Church Bay with its grand old Pohutakawa, Kowharewa Bay with good car side picnic facilities, and Pacific Bay, which is pleasant for snorkelling.

The road leads on to Dolphin Place, a quick hike up the steps to the summit of Wellington's reserve trig station and you will find panoramic views of ocean and coastline, or down the "Beach access" right of way to Dolphin Bay, best at low tide, when a rich array of deep tide pools can be explored. Snorkelling here is at it's finest.

The road continues out to Whangaumu (Wellington's) Bay. At the west end a low tide walking track skirts an enchanted coast to Te Maika Road, Ngunguru, through a series of intimate coves and rocky citadels. But let us back track for a moment, descending into the bay, on the right is a "Tutukaka Estates" sign that leads you to a car park from where you have public access through the iron security gate to an impressive picnic spot at the summit, seats and a circular dais and nearby a loop track through spectacular wind compressed bush. From here, at sunset, experience the technicolour views across the Sandspit and up the Ngunguru estuary.

On the main road down into Ngunguru, take a quiet moment on the walking bridge across Mill Reserve in a mangrove glade where herons stalk. At dusk, low tide, all the Ngunguru estuary wading birds are easily approached as they probe and spear. By the library, an easily overlooked walkway skirts mangroves and a cavalcade of mighty pohutakawas, to a lawn where monarch butterflies hatch and dry their wings on the grass, pukekos graze and perching lilies bloom in the branches.

On the drive from Whangarei to the coast, you will pass Whangarei falls, an impressive waterfall dropping 25 metres into a beautiful bush fringed pool. Passing through Glenbervie, fertile farmlands with historic stone walls, orchards and roadside produce stalls, you will come to Scow landing, where sailing ships once tied up to trade and once a village of 2000 people servicing the coal mining at nearby Kiripaka. Now it is the perfect spot to picnic in superb native bush beside the river. The bridge across the river is a memorial to fallen soldiers. The road meets the coast at Ngunguru; a village nestled on the shores of the estuary.

Tutukaka also provides you with a hub to explore the north.

Cruise the Ngunguru River or explore Tahere falls, a river canyon of vertical forest, or ascend Parihaka Mountain from Dundas Road in the city (Whangarei) or spiral around mighty Manaia's forested flanks to its spectacular craggy summit. Abbey Caves are known for their abundance of glow-worms, and fascinating limestone formations. Ocean Beach at Whangarei Heads offers a challenge, as wild as an offshore island and very similar in vegetation. Drive out to Hikurangi, a small township developed around the coal mining industry of 1890. Nearby is the Waro Limestone Reserve with interesting limestone formations over 40 millions years old.

Just ninety minutes to the west, an easy day trip, you reach the warm gin clear waters of Kai Iwi lakes, the stark raw beauty of Manganui Bluffs and the richest forests on earth. Multiple tracks lead through the Waipoua kauri glades to meet the largest tree in the world, Tane Mahuta.

TUTUKAKA COAST WALKS - check this link

For information on Walks and Tracks in the Whangarei area, check out these links

Whangarei Walks and DOC Walks and Tracks