Forestry Beach is at the Northern end of Te Arai Beach. Grab the beach towels from your room, pass by concierge to retrieve a Walking Map to guide you down through the dunes. This beach is a long stretch of white sand, ideal for running, swimming, and surfing. If you head north along the beach, you can meet the start of the hike up to the top of Te Arai Point where you will have unadulterated views north towards Mangwhai and south towards Pakiri.

Experience the Mangawhai Board Walk where you can meander out across the estuary through the mangroves and meet the footpath that will take you right to the Mangawhai Museum. Mangawhai’s stories and characters come to life in the modern, vibrant museum. With the harbour as a focal point, learn about diggers converging on the sand, gum digging, gold lost at sea, natural history and more.

The Sawmill Brewery has been crafting quality beer for over 20 years. At the on-site Smoko Room, you’ll find warm hospitality, great food, and 14 beers on tap. With inviting indoor and outdoor seating, it’s the perfect spot to settle in and enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. The drinks list also features standout organic wines and a curated selection from top local producers.

A 30-minute drive from Te Arai Links, Bennetts Chocolate Shop has been hand-crafting their exquisite chocolates in Mangawhai Village since 1998. Visit to experience their fine chocolates, made from sustainably sourced cocoa, and stop for a drink at the café which is open until 3:00pm daily.

Explore a purpose-built journey through nature and art as you explore the Scultpureum in Matakana. This location is a great place to see outdoor scultpures, both man-made and natural. Your outside exploration will take you to the entrance to the indoor art gallery and an option for a wine tasting. A great way to spend half the day, finish your experience off with exploring the quaint town of Matakana, with its famous weekend markets, and artsy main square.

Located near the beautiful Langs Beach about a 45-minute drive from Te Arail Links, this trail is a great walk with native birds and ocean views. This walk is recommended for individuals with a reasonable level of agility with styles, steps, ladders and rocks to navigate. Start from Waipu Cove where the start of the trail is easier to find.  You are required to return along the same path as this is not a round trip.

This is not for the faint-hearted. The caves are approximately a one-hour drive north of Te Arai Links. Access to the cave is through an entrance where you are required to maneuver your way down into the body of the cave across rocks and tree roots to the waterline. As you walk further into the cave, you will start to see glow worms on the cave ceiling. The track can be slippery and wet and you are required to walk in water, so great care must be taken.

A 2 – 3 hour walk which includes a climb up various steps to access the path along the clifftops, then descend down to the rocky shoreline where you can explore the rockpools and search for the perfect shells back along the beach. The initial part of the return journey does require you to rockhop at certain points so good footwear is essential.

Located a 40-minute drive from Te Arai Links, the Tanekaha Walks has an array of walks to suit hikers with a reasonable level of fitness. These walks will take you through native bush, along a river and depending on which path you decide to take, there are beautiful views of the surrounding landscape and the option to visit up to three waterfalls. The upper trails are recommended for those who are fit as the climbs are challenging. This walk can be very slippery after rainfall.

4 kilometres | 2.5 miles

The start of this track is a one-hour drive north. You will park in the same carpark as the entrance to the glow worm caves. This hike is an hour long return hike that takes you across farmland and through native bush.