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From the door to the coast

Walks & Trails

Bush, river and coast

The walking starts at the door, on a track down through the bush to the river. Beyond the property, these are the walks we send guests on: a loop round the old cement works across the road, kauri and a waterfall a few minutes' drive away, farm and coast at Scandrett, and a day on the coast at Tāwharanui.

From the door

Walking distance
  • The scow Jane Gifford passing up the Mahurangi River, at the bottom of the property

    On the property

    The river track

    A private track winds down from the house through native bush, past kauri, tōtara and rimu, to the banks of the Mahurangi River, and a riverside trail runs along the boundary. Listen for kākā, tūī and kererū on the way.

    The river is tidal and the banks are unfenced: keep to the track, and keep children close.

    From the doorPrivate

  • The flooded quarry on the Cement Works loop, the ruins beyond the trees

    Just across the road

    Wilson Cement Works loop

    An easy loop of boardwalk, gravel and dirt track around the ruins of the oldest cement works in New Zealand. In summer the flooded quarry is the locals' favourite swimming hole, and a good spot for a picnic.

    Wilson Road1.5–2.5 km30–45 minMuddy in winter

Birdlife on the property Tūī, kererū, kākā, ruru, pūkeko and ten more, with photos.

See the birds

In Warkworth

3–6 min drive
  • The boardwalk through Parry Kauri Park One of the tall kauri in Parry Kauri Park The Parry Kauri Park sign Looking up into a tree fern in Parry Kauri Park

    Not to be missed

    Parry Kauri Park

    Home to two of the tallest kauri on the east coast. Peaceful loop walks wind through ancient bush, with signs to help you name the trees. Easy to get to and easy going, so good for families. The Warkworth Museum is in the park too.

    32 Tudor Collins Drive3 min driveDaily 10 am–3 pm

  • The riverside boardwalk The Mahurangi River and the bridge, from the riverside walkway The Jane Gifford at the Warkworth wharf The river from the riverside boardwalk

    Along the river in town

    Sesquicentennial Walkway

    The riverside walk through Warkworth. It follows the Mahurangi south from the historic Elizabeth Street bridge by The Bridgehouse and passes under State Highway 1, with plenty of seats along the way. Past Lucy Moore Park it carries on through bush, by the mossy 19th-century lime kilns, to the Showgrounds. At its best in spring and summer, with the longer days.

    Parking at 14A Pound Street6 min drive

  • Kōwhai in flower, the tree the park is named for

    Birds and bush

    Kowhai Park

    A long, narrow reserve of native bush on the edge of town, with several walking tracks and a bridge over the Mahurangi River. Listen for tūī, pīwakawaka (fantail), kererū, riroriro (grey warbler) and tauhou (silvereye).

    1 Matakana Road6 min driveSeveral short tracks

A short drive south

7 min drive
  • Pōhuehue Falls from the lookout above

    DOC's Waterfall Track

    Pōhuehue Falls

    A 10-metre waterfall tucked into native bush. DOC's Waterfall Track drops from the car park down to the Pōhuehue Stream, and a side track leads to the falls and a lookout. The walk itself is the highlight: the lookout sees the falls from above, so they are at their best after rain.

    For a longer walk, carry on round DOC's Beverley Price Loop Track instead of coming back the same way.

    Old State Highway 1, just north of the Pōhuehue viaductAbout 600 m return10–15 min to the lookoutSome steps and uneven ground

Scandrett Regional Park

20 min drive
  • Looking over the farm to the harbour at Scandrett The beach at Scandretts Bay Cattle grazing on the hill Sheep resting under a tree in the paddock

    Beautiful and remote

    Scandrett Regional Park

    On the north-eastern tip of the Mahurangi Peninsula, a working farm running down to the sea, with glorious views over the harbour. The tracks follow the fence lines through paddocks where sheep and cattle graze, past regenerating coastal forest, a lovely beach and the historic Scandrett homestead and farm buildings. New Zealand dotterels and oystercatchers live along the shore, and the dotterels nest in the sand, so give them room.

    114 Scandrett Road, Mahurangi EastWalks of about an hourPark map

Two of the tracks

  • Mullet Point Loop About an hour out along the point, with coastal lookouts and plenty of birdlife.
  • Kawau Bay Track About an hour over the farmland and back down to the bay, looking out across Kawau Bay.

Before you go. Scandrett Road turns off about 3 km past Algies Bay; cross the cattle stop and follow 1.1 km of gravel to the car park by the bay. There are toilets beside the car park, but nothing to eat or drink in the park, so take lunch. The water here is a High Protection Area, so no fishing or gathering seafood. It is a working farm: no dogs, and leave gates as you find them.

Tāwharanui Regional Park

30 min drive
  • Tāwharanui Regional Park

    Highly recommended

    Tāwharanui Regional Park

    A coastal open sanctuary of white-sand beaches, native bush, wetlands and working farmland, with tracks from half an hour to three hours. Kiwi and ruru live here: join an evening tour, or stay till dusk, when the kiwi come out on their own.

    1181 Takatu RoadTracks 30 min–3 hours

Three of the tracks

  • North and South Coast Track An 8 km loop, about 3 hours, on white markers along both coasts, with birdlife and ocean views all the way. Start at the Lagoon car park or the Sanctuary Hut at Anchor Bay, and add 2.4 km for the detour out to Tokatū Point.
  • Ecology Trail About 3 km and an hour to an hour and a half, easy to moderate, on yellow markers from the Sanctuary Hut: regenerating bush, pasture and wetland, with views of Anchor Bay. Walk the last stretch along the beach at low tide, or take the high-tide track.
  • West End Track 6 km, about 90 minutes, across the western end of the park through rolling farmland and coastal country.

Before you go. Pick up a trail map at the Anchor Bay hut. No food is sold in the park, so take lunch; there is drinking water at Anchor Bay and the Lagoon car park. The vehicle gate opens from 6 am to 9 pm in daylight saving and 6 am to 7 pm in winter, and lets cars out at any time. Looking for kiwi after dark: a red light only, no flash, and keep to the track.

Near Leigh

30 min
  • Ti Point Walk An easy 3.8 km coastal walk with views over Leigh Harbour and out to Little Barrier Island.
  • Matheson Bay A small beach for a picnic and a swim, with a short track beside it through native bush. One of our favourite spots.

Before you go

  • Clean your shoes for the kauri Kauri dieback is spread in soil on shoes and gear. Where a track has a cleaning station, scrub and spray on the way in and the way out, and keep to the track.
  • Sturdy shoes, water and a snack Most tracks here are part bush, part dirt, and muddy after rain.
  • Check the tide for any walk with a beach section, such as the end of the Ecology Trail.
  • Check the track is open on DOC's page for the Waterfall Track and the Council's page for Tāwharanui.

If you want a walk to suit the weather, the tide or your legs, just ask us. For beaches, food, wine and everything else nearby, see Welcome to Warkworth.

Mahurangi River Retreat

Photo credits: Pōhuehue Waterfall by itravelNZ, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, resized. Kōwhai flowers by Bernard Spragg, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons.