Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway
Your Nature Guide
Marios Gavalas
Author And Researcher
Nau mai, haere mai
Nau mai, haere mai
I'm Marios, delivering the best of Aotearoa's nature walks to your device.
I've personally walked hundreds of New Zealand's tracks and spent months in libraries uncovering interesting information on New Zealand/Aotearoa. And you'll find a slice of that research on this page - enjoy!
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Information
Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway
9 km return | 3 hours return
Steep cliffs clothed with stunted tea tree and flax have pied shag filled pohutukawa at their bases. High pingao covered dunes are near the carpark.
A pleasant walk of about 40 minutes gets you from the leaning rock to the Surf Club.
Walking Track
Track
This is an excellent beach and cliff-top walkway through farmland and bush areas. The high quality grading of the track has made it one of the top attractions in the Whangarei area. You will enjoy outstanding views of Bream Head and all the way down to the Hauraki Gulf including the Mokohinau Islands and Great/Little Barrier.
The walk heads north along the beach for about 30 minutes, until you see signs. Follow the track that leads quite steeply up onto the first knoll. Here, the first views of the coast emerge.
As the track progresses upward towards the top of the cliff and farmland, the views expand and diversify becoming more breathtaking the higher you climb. Then after the 20 minute ascent, the walk becomes a little easier, winding above almost sheer slopes where nikau, pohutukawa and taraire cling for life among the rocks above the stony beach below.
Gaps in the tree line by the road reveal yet more views that are stunning. It pays to keep looking around as you progress along the now almost level track. One of the more interesting features is a natural formation called “the giant staircase”, a natural amphitheatre just below the track carved from the hillside.
The track meanders through private property and trampers must keep to the marked track. Beach access is at the beginning and end of the track.
Then, after climbing steeply, you get another outstanding view from a resting point. The top end of the track is signposted to the beach or back where you came from. You must do the beach walk at low tide.
The track drops from the high point through long grasses and forests of nikau and pohutukawa by a steeply descending path to the rocky beach. On the beach, turn right and note the leaning rock of massive proportions just 50 metres away. If there is water surging through the gap, you have misjudged the tide and you must return via the cliff.
Many small pebbles filter into your boots along the coast, so bring gaiters to avoid having to constantly stop and remove the annoying stones.
Geology
The variety of rocks at the foot of the cliffs range from hexagonally jointed andesite volcanic rocks to rogue boulders of honeycomb weathered sandstone.
Fauna
The track weaves over pebble beaches and extensive promontories filled with rockpools. Black nerita snails speckle the multicoloured rocks and barnacles and mussels inhabit the upper tidal reaches.
Details
| Feature | Value | Info |
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Organisation |
DOC NorthlandCentral government organisation |
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Location |
North Island ▷ Northland ▷ Mangawhai |
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Directions To Coordinates |
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Coordinates |
Walking
Nearby
Reviews
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3.5/5
20May24.
Wasn’t sure what mark to give as it is currently closed due to damage during Cyclone Gabrielle.
According to Google Maps you can start from the car park at the end of Wintle Road.
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5.0/5
Beautiful walk with amazing views, birds, and stunning coastline.
Starts and ends 15 mins along the beach clearly signposted to turn left up the cliffs by holiday homes. Lots of steps to tackle on either end of walk but steeper coming back down to the beach from cliff . Middle is a lovely pathway with amazing views. Important to get tides right if doing the loop - download NZ tides App. We had to climb a bit to avoid water on very first part of return beach walk although tide had been dropping for three hours so don’t know if that’s normal. Dry feet tho after that. Beach walk is initially rocky and needs care. We are two 58 year olds of moderate fitness.
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4.0/5
Really nice track.
The entire walk is about 2 hours if you come back through the beach. Just be sure you verify the tides, because this return is only possible with mid to low tides. Otherwise you will have to come back through the same way.
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3.5/5
Beautiful walk with a great view, but the walk needs better marks and explanation.
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4.0/5
A really nice walk.
Just a little bit sad that there was a high tide and I could not walk back through the beach.
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4.5/5
Really easy three hour loop, everybody can do it.
The beaches were awesome. Hot weather, take a lot of water, especially on the beaches where the wind is present.
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4.5/5
Walk the low tide beach part first and come back for stunning views over the cliffs; easy walking but need shoes!
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3.5/5
20May24.
Wasn’t sure what mark to give as it is currently closed due to damage during Cyclone Gabrielle.
According to Google Maps you can start from the car park at the end of Wintle Road.
-
5.0/5
Beautiful walk with amazing views, birds, and stunning coastline.
Starts and ends 15 mins along the beach clearly signposted to turn left up the cliffs by holiday homes. Lots of steps to tackle on either end of walk but steeper coming back down to the beach from cliff . Middle is a lovely pathway with amazing views. Important to get tides right if doing the loop - download NZ tides App. We had to climb a bit to avoid water on very first part of return beach walk although tide had been dropping for three hours so don’t know if that’s normal. Dry feet tho after that. Beach walk is initially rocky and needs care. We are two 58 year olds of moderate fitness.
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3.5/5
Beautiful walk with a great view, but the walk needs better marks and explanation.
-
4.0/5
Really nice track.
The entire walk is about 2 hours if you come back through the beach. Just be sure you verify the tides, because this return is only possible with mid to low tides. Otherwise you will have to come back through the same way.
-
4.0/5
A really nice walk.
Just a little bit sad that there was a high tide and I could not walk back through the beach.
-
4.5/5
Really easy three hour loop, everybody can do it.
The beaches were awesome. Hot weather, take a lot of water, especially on the beaches where the wind is present.
-
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4.5/5
Walk the low tide beach part first and come back for stunning views over the cliffs; easy walking but need shoes!
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5.0/5
Medium/easy walk along the shore - most stunning and beautiful walk on the whole island.
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