Mangawhai Walking Weekend

The Mangawhai Walking Weekend is a fun weekend of guided walks, exploring our beachside community.

With a 2021 theme of beach, bush and beyond, The Mangawhai Walking Weekend showcases the very best of Mangawhai’s ocean, estuary, bush and wider hinterland.

Joining the most popular walks from previous years, two new walks have been added highlighting the stunning Mangawhai estuary.

Mangawhai Harbour Restoration Society will host a fascinating boat trip to the spit to share their stories of the history of the Big Dig, the bund wall, the planting programme, and the on-going efforts to secure a functioning harbour and protection for birdlife.

The other new estuary walk will follow as close as possible the ‘round the harbour’ walkway that so many have long dreamed of. At places where it’s not possible to trace the coast, the walk will navigate local tracks and walkways.

Three bush walks profile the pristine native bush found at Tanekaha tracks network.

The fertile hinterland of Mangawhai is showcased on the Tastes of Tara and King where the owners of avocado, wine and olive orchards share their passion, practice and knowledge.

A short history of Mangawhai entertains and informs, while those who have wondered about geological formations can find all the answers on the aptly named Geology walk. Five other walks profiling beach, bush and beyond make up the total of 13 walks on offer this year.

Unfortunately due to the risk of cancellation from a change in COVID levels, the Food & Wine Festival, usually held in association with the Walking Weekend, has been put on hold for another year.

The weather is always fine and sunny in the golden north so come along and visit Mangawhai and check out New Zealand’s oldest and most exciting walking weekend.

Bookings are essential as numbers are limited.

Bookings open midday Friday 19 February.