Mana Bay - Coastal Garrison of the British Army - River Queen filmset

Although this is the town beach of Patea, its energy is as wild, wind-driven and lonesome as any of Taranaki's black sand beaches. Visitors are often stunned by the appearance of ever-changing sand dunes in a shade of black not known elsewhere, and of the clash between river and sea. The Patea Beach Motorcamp is nearby and Patea Domain a little to the north is set aside for enjoyment of this unique coastal environment. There are facilities for camping, swimming, fishing and boating, including a boat ramp.
Vincent Ward chose this place as the home of his 'Coastal Garrison of the British Army' in the filming of the 2004 drama series 'River Queen'. His choice was not random, nor was the set, it was in fact a careful reconstruction of the exact same camp which had been built here during the New Zealand Wars by the British under General Sir Duncan Alexander Cameron. This was to secure the mouth of the Patea in times when coastal shipping was of paramount importance to the interests of the settlers and Maori alike.