Mangawhai Heads Beach is a beautiful sandy beach located in the Northland region of New Zealand.
It is part of a scenic natural harbor and offers a wonderful place to relax or get active in the outdoors. The beach is perfect for swimming, diving, fishing, and surfing when the waves are good. The two South Pacific Ocean beaches provide the best of worlds for quiet swimming and kayaking in the estuary and harbor, and the raw natural beauty of the surf beach. The harbor has a boat ramp and jetty with a long stretch of white sandy beach. One of Mangawhai’s three campsites sits directly at the harbor water’s edge. Kids love the white sandy beach and calm water.
Mangawhai Heads Beach is an intermediate-level surf beach. The waves are perfect for beginner surfers, and the beach offers good parking, toilets, showers, and changing facilities. The volunteer Mangawhai surf life savers are amongst the best in the country trained and organized by a dedicated team. The one thing this beach might be missing is shady spots, so it is recommended to bring an umbrella if you want. Mangawhai Heads Beach is lined by dramatic sand dunes, lush pohutukawa trees, and the lagoon-style harbor that is perfect for exploring. Sand mining began in Mangawhai in the 1930s, and from 1978-1983, the harbor was closed due to collapsed dunes. In 2004, the Mangawahai Restoration Society won a case preventing the issuing of new mining licenses.
If you enjoy walking, the Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway, north of the township, is a 4.5-kilometer long walk to Paepae-o-Tu / Bream Tail, and has a lookout point. Mangawhai Heads Beach is an absolutely stunning beach, fantastic for sunbathing in the sun, swimming, surfing, and fishing. It’s great on a nice summer’s day, but also very popular. Though there is a big car park, it will fill up quite fast during peak times, and the road connecting to it has yellow lines along it so you can’t park along there either. It is recommended to go early or later during these times so you don’t have to wait for a park.
In summary, Mangawhai Heads Beach is a beautiful and popular beach located in the Northland region of New Zealand. It offers a variety of activities such as swimming, surfing, fishing, and kayaking. The beach is surrounded by dramatic sand dunes, lush pohutukawa trees, and the lagoon-style harbor that is perfect for exploring. The Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway is a great option for those who enjoy walking. The beach is perfect for a nice summer day, but it is recommended to go early or later during peak times to avoid waiting for a park.