Otuihau Whangārei Falls is a picturesque 26.3 metre-high waterfall, cascading over basalt cliffs. Enjoy a relatively short circular walk or for a longer walk start from the A H Reed Memorial Park or Hatea River Walkway.

Whangarei Falls is located inWhangarei Scenic Reserve. The classic curtain waterfall is part of the Hatea River and one of the most popular swimming spot in the area. Easy access and a well-maintained Scenic Reserve make this waterfall one of New Zealand Must See Waterfalls.

Wind your way through regenerating native forest to the summit of Mount Manaia, 420m above sea level.

As you climb, the landscape becomes increasingly spectacular, with views overlooking one of New Zealand's most dramatic harbour entrances. Along the way, check out the impressive stands of large tree ferns (punga) and natural rocky outcrops that are perfect lookouts for views of Bream Head and the Hen and Chicken Islands. To reach the mountain's true summit, you will need a strong head for heights, but the views from the top are well worth the effort.

The Abbey Caves Reserve features dramatic limestone outcrops, sink holes and three significant caves; Organ, Middle and Ivy.  A well-established native forest includes particularly fine specimens of puriri trees.

Access the abbey caves walkway over a steep wooden stile and down a series of box steps onto a circular walkway of mown grass. The three caves are signposted and lie just off this walkway. Only experienced cavers should enter the underground caves, as there are risks from rapidly rising water and roof falls. The Organ Cave entrance is dangerous due to a roof fall. The walkway comprises of naturally sculptured limestone outcrops, sink holes and three significant caves, Organ, Middle and Ivy.  Along the walkway, you will see two distinct areas of native bush, podocarp-hardwood forest, specimens of puriri trees, and site of the historic house of Nathaniel and Amelia Clotworthy.

Ruakaka Beach is popular with swimmers, surfers and fishermen alike. It has a modest but growing resident population and good facilities including a surf club, shops and motor camp. Given the heavy industrial development of the Marsden Point area beach usage north of the Ruakaka River mouth is minimal.

The award-winning Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre Incorporated has cared for and treated thousands of birds since 1st August 1992, when it was first established.

Centre founders Robert and Robyn Webb, who have over 30 years’ experience working with native birds, manage and run the centre with the help of a small committee of volunteers.

The centre takes in all injured birds, both native and non-native, and where possible nurses the birds back to health for release into the wild. More than 60% of the birds that are brought into the centre are successfully released again.

A special part of the centre is the Bayer incubation unit and kiwi recovery pens. This facility is used to incubate eggs found in the wild and also as a recovery area for injured kiwi.

In the Whangarei area, dogs are the biggest cause of kiwi deaths and injuries, followed by motor vehicles. Many of these injured kiwi end up at the Whangarei Native Bird Recovery Centre.

The centre’s diverse operations include:

Magnificent coastal views, a small rocky beach, Waipū pancake limestone rocks, native coastal bush, great fishing and picnic spots.  This walk has been developed by members of the Waipū Lions Club following the vision of the late Alan McKenzie, who was a local resident. 

The trail can be entered at either end where notices, stiles, orange markers and posts indicate the path. Following wet weather, the track becomes very slippery in areas. Part of the walkway is near a steep drop into the sea or onto rocks below, so take care and supervise youngsters. Alternatively, Langs Beach can be accessed by walking on the side of the road. This walk requires a reasonable level of fitness and agility. There are stiles, steps, ladders and rocks to climb.  The entry / exit points at both Waipū Cove and Ding Bay may require you to wade through water. Please be aware of high tide times before you begin your walk. Please stay on the track, follow the orange markers and do not trespass onto private property.

The entire loop circles the Hātea River, and is accessible for walking, jogging, pushbikes, mobility aids, scooters and push-chairs.  

The walkway connects Town Basin, Te Matau a Pohe, William Fraser Memorial Park, Kotuitui Whitinga, Canopy Bridge, Clapham’s Clocks, Town Basin playground, Reyburn House gallery, a sculpture and heritage Trail, Riverbank Theatre, Waka and Wave Millennium sculpture, and Riverside Park along the way.

• An easy, circular, surfaced walk around the Hātea River with spectacular views of the Marina, lifting bridges, heritage panels and sculpture.
• Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash at all times. 
• Numerous activities including Camera Obscura, a dog agility park, family-friendly skatepark and BMX track, playgrounds and parks.
• During business hours, there are also a variety of shops and cafes to enjoy.

You can view a map of the walkway which includes the location of activities, sculptures, public toilets, carparks and other facilities.

The A H Reed Memorial Park is a magnificent remnant of the original Northland kauri forest.

Maturing kauri trees known to be at least 500 years old can be easily viewed close up from a raised walkway through the forest canopy.

The  bubbling Wai Koromiko Stream runs through the middle of the park and the Paranui Falls, at over 23m high, are well worth a visit.

This walk begins at the end of Stuart Road in McLeod Bay and follows the coastline along a Department of Conservation (DOC) reserve.

Once you reach Darch Point Rd you have two options; One option is to walk to the end of Darch Point Rd and turn left onto Reotahi Rd which will take you back to Whangarei Heads Rd. The other option is to follow the Matuku St Link and Norfolk Avenue Link to Beach Rd to join up with the Reotahi Coastal walkway. This combines the two walks to form a longer coastal track passing by the Reotahi Marine Reserve and then the historic remains of the Meat Freezing Works with views to Marsden Point.

The walkway continues towards Little Munro Bay where you follow Bay View Rd up the hill until it meets Whangarei Heads Road. Turn left and follow the footpath back to where you started.

The Whangarei Heads in the Northland Region of New Zealand has a lot going for it, there are secluded beaches, beautiful native bush and stunning mountain walkways and the Mount Aubrey Reotahi Coastal Walkway loop is a stunning walk up through native bush to the Summit of Mount Aubrey.

There are two towering peaks on Mount Aubrey that are visible from sea level which are the remnants of an ancient volcano that once dominated the sky line here, the walk up Mount Aubrey is a loop walk that can be started from Reotahi Road and there is an easy way and a much more strenuous way to ascend the mountain.

The easier way is from a small carpark around one km along Reotahi Road on the left, there is a sign showing the start of the walk this accent is more maintained with gravel steps but there is only parking for five vehicles, the other way up the mountain is right at the end of Reotahi Road the carpark here accommodates more vehicles but the accent is more step and difficult this way.

From the midway carpark the steps dominate the climb up to the summit, there are stunning glimpses down onto the Whangarei harbor and Mcleod Bay through gaps in the trees, the summit will take around twenty minutes of moderate walking to reach the saddle at the top of the Mountain.

From the saddle and just as you finish the last step on the right side of the track is a diversion or side track this is a steep and rocky accent to the first look out and not for anyone scared of hieghts, up through the steep and loose rocky surface and a scramble up a barron rock face you get a 360 degree view of Whangarei Harbor and the east coast this is not recommended on a wet or windy day as the peak is very exposed to the elements.

Back down from the look out the saddle provides a great place to picnic there is an extensive area of grass here with stunning views down onto the Marsden Point refinery and the harbor entrance, with the more difficult part of the walk behind you the track passes along the side of the second rocky peak and there is a fork in the track the side track takes you up to the top of the second peak which is more or less the same scenario as the first peak and look out.

From the second peak the track winds around native bush and the odd rock or two before starting the steep decent down to the Reotahi Coastal Walkway, you will catch a glimpse of Busby Head through the trees and a little further along the track on the right side there is a pile of huge rocks walking out to the end of the pile is another stunning look out that looks back to the entrance of the harbor and down onto the beautiful bay below.

At the bottom of the decent the Reotahi Coastal Walkway starts and follows the coastline around the base of Mount Aubrey there are locations along the walkway with access to secluded beaches and rocky bays and the remnants of the Whangarei freezing works which was destroyed by fire in 1921.

The end of the walkway finishes at the second carpark and a short walk along Reotahi Road will take you back to the midway carpark, this is a great scenic walk suitable for all the family that will take around 1.5 hours to walk the full loop back to the carpark there are muddy sections on the decent even in the dry conditions we experienced so pick a suitable day to walk this track.

Looking for a great place to visit while in the Northland Region the Taiharuru Peninsula is one such destination, located around thirty kms North East of Whangarei city this area provides some stunning ocean views white sandy beaches and a walk up Kauri Mountain.

The Taiharuru Peninsula and Pataua are accessed from Pataua South Road on the way to Whangarei Heads this area is one big tidal estuary and a great place to explore the beautiful coastline on the Taiharuru Road there is a short coastal walk with stunning views, the walk sarts at the gap and follows the cliff top.

A little further along Taiharuru Road is a small coastal settlement and Taiharuru Bay this beautiful white sady beach is a great place to swim and take in the stunning views, you can also launch a kayak here in favorable conditions and explore the rocky coastline around to the tidal inlet.

Pataua South is at the very end of Pataua South Road and on the other side of the tidal inlet here there is a beautiful small estary with a sandy beach for swimming or head over the bridge by foot only to Pataua North and you have access to a wide sandy beach there is also a great short walk through the camping ground to the headland of Pataua South with fantastic views over the estaury.

Kauri Mountain Track is a short walk up Kauri Mountain with stunning views and is located just south of Taiharuru Peninsula and can be accessed from two locations the first is off Kauri Mountain Road and is not suitable for any large vehicle like a motorhome.

The second access point is from Harambee Road and a parking bay located by the post boxes the rest of the road is private, the walk is first up a steep metal road then through regenerating bush to the summit the views accross the extaury and North to Pataua are fantastic the walk is easy and will take around 1.5 hours one way.

Start from the Mahanga Rd car park and take a short walk along the Pataua Estuary and over a low hill to a lovely beach known as “Frog Town”.

If you turn left from Mahanga car park and walk along the water’s edge you will get to the Pataua Footbridge. This is a popular spot. The bridge takes you across to Pataua North and a further 20 minute stroll will get you to the Pataua North surf beach. You will have to return the same way but can do a loop walk by heading back on Pataua South Road and turning left into Mahanga Rd.

Pataua offers safe swimming in the estuary, although be careful of tidal pull. There is also fun for the older kids on the ocean side.

The 3-hour return walk along the Peach Cove Track requires skill and a reasonable level of fitness. The track has several steep climbs before it drops down to Peach Cove’s sandy beach. The track runs up one side of Bream Head Ridge and drops down the other side into Peach Cove, a pretty little sandy beach. You'll pass through attractive coastal broadleaf forest, and you can stay the night at the Peach Cove hut.

This track has lots of steep and narrow steps and is recommended for people who are reasonably fit and agile.

A section of the Peach Cove Track intersects with the Te Whara Track. There are alternative routes:

• You can return the way you came or along the main track to Urquharts Bay or Ocean Beach (3 hours)
• Returning via Ocean Beach creates a loop option, as it is approximately 10 minutes walk from the beach back up the road to the Peach Cove car park
• Returning via Urqhuarts Bay it is 3 km from the Urquharts Bay car park to the Peach Cove car park.

The nearby Mount Manaia Track is well worth a visit. The track has been upgraded and the views across the harbour are excellent.

    Follow in the footsteps of Northland's Māori ancestors. This challenging track climbs through coastal forest before revealing a                   spectacular 360-degree panorama. It's one of our best day hikes.