History
The Tutukaka coast was populated by the Maori people of the Ngatiwai Tribe. Their successors live along the coast today and are regarded as the children of the seas.

The first recorded European visit to the coast was an overnight stay in Tutukaka by the sailing ship Prince Regent in 1820. In 1837 HMS Buffalo spent two months on the coast, cutting kauri spears for use by the British Admiralty. Water wheel driven machinery set up at Ngunguru by James Busby and Gilbert Mair in 1843 is thought to have been the first fully mechanised timber mill in the southern hemisphere.

Today
A safe haven for mariners for centuries, the marina lies at the head of a beautiful natural harbour. These days it is a fishing port, a coastal waypoint for local and international yachties and home to a fleet of private launches and charter boats for diving and fishing. The Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club displays trophies for some world record catches and has a restaurant and bar overlooking the marina.

Tutukaka Head Walkway
A grassy track leads down to the beach where a short chain of rock stacks and shingle bars connects the mainland to Kukutauwhao Island (high tide can delay crossing at this point.) Follow the trail up the island slopes to reach the lighthouse at the top, which commands magnificent coastal views. Access is via Tutukaka Reserve Road. (Length 2km. Time - 1 hour return.