Things to do

The number one attraction is the many beaches, with a patrolled surf beach on one side and safe estuary beaches on the other. The surf beach offers fun for everyone, surfing, body surfing, boogie boarding, surf casting, swimming, paragliding, walking, or simply lazing on the beach with a good book. The estuary beaches offer sand or lawn area for young children and families to play or relax. For those wanting fun and adventure there are three boat ramps for whatever sport you are interested in. Fishing out in the ocean, diving and exploring the coastlines of the mainland or of the many islands off shore.


There is no shortage of places to wine & dine and to enjoy the award winning coffee and chocolates - all within a 10 minute walk from AL Derado.

• Barracuda Cafe

For the relaxing lunch, fresh food and award winning Atomic Coffee. They are fully licensed and available for evening dining from 6.30pm.
Ph: 09 431 5587

• Naja Garden Centre Cafe

Located within the Naja Garden on the causeway, this cafe offers wonderful food all day and tasty dinners.
Ph: 09 431 4111

• Sail Rock Cafe

Restaurant and Lounge Bar - Indoor and outdoor dining, Brunch, Lunch and dinners also with the option of gourmet pizzas to takeaway.
Ph: 09 431 4051

• Smashed Pipi Cafe - Bar - Gallery

Located at the Mangawhai village by the Mangawhai Heads turn off, the Smashed Pipi offers a fresh modern bar, cafe and art gallery.
Ph: 09 431 4847

• Stingray Matts - Takeaways

For the quintessential Kiwi meal, fresh seafood and a range of delicious kebabs, burgers and ice creams.
Ph: 09 431 4279

The Mangawhai estuary is right on your doorstep from your AL Derado accommodation and is bordered by a dunefield which changes constantly. For the photographer and artist this is a goldmine. The dunes and coastal foreshore are sites of numerous middens shell and refuse heaps. The oldest middens contain bones of the forest birds now extinct in the area, Maori axes and other artifacts have also been found.
The estuary is safe for swimming, but watch out for the outgoing tide near the mouth of the harbour. For the fisherman, the estuary provides mullet, Parore, flounder, good sprat, the occasional pan sized snapper, and kahawai. There are cockles on the estuary mudflats and pipi further up the harbour. Limit 150 per person.

BOATING
There is a ski lane in the estuary for all types of skiing. Small sail boats, wind surfing, row boats, canoes and any other small boating are all enjoyed by any age in the safety of the estuary.

FISHING
Good shore and boat fishing, as well as diving. The concrete boat ramp at the end of Alamar-Crescent can be used at all tides. It is advisable to seek local knowledge before attempting the bar at the entrance of the harbour, when venturing out into the big blue yonder. Offshore winds give the best sea conditions.
RnR CHARTERS Contact Stef Ph: 09 4237642  or 021 954 241

DIVING
Coastal diving around Bream Tail is ideal for spearfishing and cray fishing. McGregor Rock off Bream Tail sits in 27m of water rising within 11m of the surface.

SWIMMING AND SURFING
Swimming is great for the adventurous and the more sedate in either the surf beach which is patrolled in summer, or in the estuary beaches.
Body surfing, boogie-boarding, and surfing are generally pretty good, but this relies on the swell and the wind.

GOLF CLUB
Mangawhai Golf Club has an all weather 18 hole 5466m Golf course.
Ph:09 431 4807 David Barlow

TENNIS CLUB
Courts located on Mangawhai Kaiwaka Rd at the Mangawhai village. These are available for hire $5 per hour (honesty box)

MANGAWHAI MUSEUM
On the village side is the small attractive museum which is open Saturday mornings 10.00 to 12.30, or else by request

MINI GOLF
Opposite Scotty’s store in Wood-St is a lovely little mini golf course for all ages to have fun, however it is only open in the heart of the summer holiday season.

OCEAN BEACH
Mangawhai Heads. Surf patrol & flags in season. Toilets, change rooms.

EYRES POINT
A few kilometres past Pacific Beach turn off.. BBQ and picnic table.

TE ARAI POINT
North end of Pakiri Beach. BBQs, picnic area. At beach end - tables, change shed, toilets and BBQ (gas - 50c slot). Safest unpatrolled beach.

LANGS BEACH
10 mins north of Mangawhai by coastal scenic route. Truly magnificent when the New Zealand Christmas tree (pohutukawa) is flowering before and during Christmas. Lovely surf beach. Toilets, change shed at southern end of beach alongside the road.

WAIPU COVE
A further 5 mins north of Langs Beach. Open surf beach patrolled in season, toilets, change shed and dairy nearby.

THE KAIPARA
30 mins drive to the west coast from Mangawhai, a different type of beach.

TOMARATA LAKES
Continue on road past Te Arai Pt. Signposted. Safe swimming for young children and a popular place for water-skiing. Boat ramp, change shed, toilet, BBQ, picnic tables.

BIRD REFUGE
The sand dune is an internationally recognized wildlife refuge for four species of threatened birds, the Fairy Tern, Banded Dotterel, Variable Oystercatcher and Caspian-Tern. Care must be taken during the summer nesting season by those people interested in bird watching.

SURF BEACH HILL WALK
To the right behind the Surf Club is a path to the top of a hill, where there is an awesome vantage point. This is a good short walk that would be a great place for the enthusiast walker to start with. It will give the visitor a bearing on where they are.

LOOKOUT WALKWAY
Take the boardwalk along side the information map on Molesworth Drive. Panoramic views over the golf course, Mangawhai Heads area and surrounding district from east to West Coast. An easy ten minutes.

MANGAWHAI CLIFFS WALKWAY.
Walk begins up the ocean beach from the surf club. It is easier to climb the hill this end. The walkway returns along the beach if it is low tide. Spectacular views of the Hen and Chicken Islands, and a beautiful beach at the northern end provides a great spot to picnic, swim, or snorkel. The walk is about three hours return, maybe longer if the Kids want to play along the way.


MATAKOHE KAURI MUSEUM
At Matakohe is one of the best in the country. It covers the history of Kauri milling and the gum digging days around the whole area from east to west. Highly recommended. Open every day except Xmas. Entrance fee is Adults $6 Children $3.00. Tearooms and toilet.

WAIPU CAVES & WALKWAY
For a different type of adventure, Waipu Caves and walkway are situated at the North River Station in the Waipu Caves Scenic Reserve. 1hour each way with clear views of Bream Bay and north.

To see the Glow Worm caves you would need gumboots and a torch. It will cost $35 to take the charter bus tour every Monday and Friday leaving 1pm to 4pm which includes afternoon tea.

WAIPU MUSEUM
Open every day over summer. Closed Sundays in the winter.
Adults $7, Senior's $5, Children $4 for five to fifteen years of age, Family of two adults plus two or more Kids $12.
Wheelchair accessible. Cafes nearby.

PONY TREKKING & RIDES
Rides and pony trekking south at Pakiri Beach are fun. Phone (09) 422 6275 and they will provide horses to suit all.

Northriver Treks, Helmsdale Road, Waipu. Free pick up from Waipu. Bookings essential, Ph:(09) 432 0565
.

Do you suffer from Arthritis, Knee Pain, Back Pain, Insomnia, Depression & Anxiety..?

We want to share these Natural and Safe remedies with you as they have worked miracles for a friends young puppy who underwent extensive surgery!

Read Khanas story and find about her amazing remedy

www.shockd.wordpress.com/