Portland has developed around the mining and processing of limestone to make cement. This historic process is still alive today with Golden Bay Cement using the Whangarei Harbour to ship cement around the country. The Portland track gives a good vantage point from where this industrial heritage, both old and new can be viewed.

The track is essentially surfaced, winding through mangrove swamp and out to a rocky point. There are great views over the harbour and a variety of birdlife to be observed.

The Portland Track is accessed from Wharf Road Portland there is limited parking here on the side of the road, the track entrance is on the left hand side a bit hard too see at first and follows a paper road hugging the estuary shoreline.

When the tide is in you will need to follow the track which is a mixture of metal road and grass track when the tide recedes you can walk on the sandy shoreline this walk is easy and there is little elevation change on the walk which will take around 40 minutes return the mangrove trees and calm waters make an interesting short walk.