Best Things To Do In Mangawhai, NZ

Best Things To Do In Mangawhai, NZ
Darryl
Darryl 
Updated
| 6 min read

There are a lot of things to do in Mangawhai, a suburb in the Northland region of New Zealand near the Mangawhai Harbor. Mangawhai is nestled between the Pacific coast and the farmland around the Mangawhai Harbor, so you are offered a choice of seaside experiences here — a surfing beach on one side and safe harbor beaches on the other — to astonishing golf courses that are globally known for their landscape designs and all year playability. There is a wide range of eateries from the basic fish and chips to the fine dining restaurants that suits all budgets and palates. The restaurants, cafes, and takeaways all have their own exclusive flavor with individual menus that give them their own identity.

1. Fishing expedition

New Zealand fishing boat
Source: Pxhere

When you reach Mangawhai it is highly recommended to book a fishing lodge and charters that will set you up in locations where catching a fish is like a walk in the park. There are many charters in Mangawhai that offer services in fishing charters and guarantee a memorable experience. Kingfish and snappers are in abundance in this region and you are bound to catch one if you are adventurous enough. First timers can also utilize this facility and get some hands-on fishing experience and make the most of their trip in Mangawhai while learning some cool tricks.

There are a couple of quality fishing charters you can opt for. Offshore Adventures and RnR Charters can be consulted for booking your fishing expedition as they provide various services depending on the client’s requirements and are revered in the region. Offshore Adventures - Day Fishing Charters are one of the best fishing expedition organizers with a stellar record of accomplishment. Whether you are a professional, an amateur, or even attempting this for the first time, you must experience the services they offer. Their experience and expertise is visible as onlookers watch. Offshore Adventure staff reel in fish after fish. You are going to enjoy your fishing expedition when you charter the best that Mangawhai offers.

Offshore Adventures

Website:Offshore Adventures

RnR Charters

Website:RnR Charters

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2. Mangawhai Estuary surfing

Mangawhai Heads Beach. NZ
Source: Photo by Flickr user Bernard Spragg. NZ used under PUBLIC DOMAIN

Mangawhai consists of several good beach breaks and you can find yourself among many a beach for yourself. Relish an entire day at the beach soaking up the sun, learning to surf, and exploring the coastline. Located on Auckland’s east coast and just over an hour’s drive from Auckland city, the Mangawhai surfing coastlines are easy to get to and are famous for their safe conditions, dependable surfs, white sands, and crystal clear water.

First time surfers, beginners, or amateurs who are on the lookout for honing their techniques can sign up for lessons offered here at the coastlines for the day, week, or weekends. If you are travelling in groups, many such surfing schools offer group discounts. So, make sure to avail these offers and get the best out of Mangawhai. Also, be prepared to bring in your own beach wear, towels, drinking water, and waterproof sunscreen. Wet suits can be hired at the beach if you don’t own one.

Want more? You can register for complete surfing packages that are a mix of surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, and snorkeling! At the Mangawhai Estuary experience, enjoy surfing that challenges you and gets you surfing on unbroken waves and learning to surf like a pro.

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3. Mangawhai Golf Course

Golf course

The Mangawhai Golf Course is one of the top golf courses in New Zealand with 18 holes, and club rooms overlooking the course makes every golfer’s dream come true. The Mangawhai Golf Club in New Zealand is a stunning, sand-based championship course with tests and challenges created for every golfer. One of New Zealand’s finest, an unbeatable golfing and holiday experience is an hour’s drive from Auckland and rated one of the best courses in New Zealand.

The Mangawhai Golf Course gives the golfer an enormously entertaining experience presented on landscape created specifically for golf by Mother Nature: an ever-varying mixture of wide and narrow fairways; rippling greens of exceptional speed and roll; spectacular views of coast and countryside; and natural marshes that are home to a wide array of fauna. Developed on a sandy base, the course handles the nastiest of weather; even through the wettest winters, visitors aren ensured the game goes on due to the excellent drainage system.

This is a splendid, championship course allowing golfers to play during summer and winter providing an outstanding balance of risk and achievements. Globally esteemed as a “must play” course, Mangawhai offers its all-weather golf courses with open doors for the ultimate entertainment.

The club comes with a completely stocked Golf Shop presenting an extensive range of equipment for hire or purchase. A fleet of Yamaha golf carts are available for hire as well. For those who like golf as a visual entertainment can do so by utilizing the facilities of Bar & Café overlooking the golf course.

Mangawhai Golf Course

Website:Mangawhai Golf Course

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4. Mangawhai Cliff Walkway


The Mangawhai Cliff Walkway is a well preserved simple surface path, while the steps near the beach ensures a good cardio workout. This is really a must do when in Mangawhai with lots of steps and walking on the beach, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. Walking back past the beach at low tide will be a stimulating progression over rocks and pebbles and will involve some climbing, but will not be difficult. Make sure you check the tide when you plan your Cliff Walkway since you will be returning via the beach. Also, make sure you have packed plenty of water with you as it is quite a hike at the start and for later if you are packing a picnic lunch!

Be prepared for some amazing views all the way along the ridge, which takes about an hour. Make sure you go on a clear sunny day to take full advantage of this walk and you can see all the way out to the islands and down the coast. The views to Whangarei Heads, the Hen and Chicken, and other islands are simply stunning. It is recommended that you to choose low tide if you intend to do the round trip instead of going back the same path. The track on the adjacent of the cliff is remarkable. One warning though, watch where you are walk, as the view along the way can easily mesmerize you and you can fall off the track. So, don’t rush and take your time while on the track. Even better, pack yourself a picnic lunch and leisurely soak in the ambiance of the Mangawhai Cliff Walkway on the beach walk.

On the way home, devote time to searching the rock pools for sea urchins, star fish, and heaps of crabs. The Mangawhai Cliff walk can be done multiple times and still be an exciting experience; however, it is advised that people with knee and leg ailments do not try for medical reasons.

Mangawhai Cliff Walkway

Website: Mangawhai Cliff Walkway

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5. Mangawhai Museum

Editor's Note: There's no photo available at the time of writing

The Mangawhai Museum offers a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel back in time to encounter the earliest settlers of the area of which many descendants are still actively involved with the Mangawhai community as they will show you how they developed the area from a wild bush country into a lush dairy grazing country.

On the right of the museum, you will find a small old building, the Te Arai and Mangawhai Library, which currently is not open for public access. While visiting Mangawhai it is definitely worth the visit here, as you will get loads of information on the locality that will captivate your interest and can be seen in the efforts spent on making the displays in this museum. The museum seems to be in its development phase and is visible by the empty spaces; however, this should by no means discourage you from visiting.

There’s a lot to learn in this amazing and quaint museum filled with pictures and information and is well worth your time. You can head over to the café in this museum for some excellent coffee, tea, and lunch following your visit.

Mangawhai Museum

Website: Mangawhai Museum

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Surf, play & relax

Mangawhai is a gem of place to come and enjoy a leisurely lifestyle. Spend a romantic evening at the pristine beaches watching the harbor. Get out and enjoy some of the varied walks that are amazing and provide scenic views, or if you fancy a game of golf, you have many golf clubs to choose from that welcome tourists with open arms. Mangawhai is truly a place to be where you can enjoy life to the fullest.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Darryl Gonsalves is a serial entrepreneur and owns Syena-Tech.com a business intelligence consultancy company and Nidago.com a web content solutions providing company both based in Mumbai, India....Read more

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