Tutukaka Coast Scenic Drive

The Tutukaka Coast is a loop road from Whangarei to Hikurangi. On the way, the route passes through stonewalled farm and orchard country before arriving at the upper reaches of the Ngunguru River at Kiripaka. The bridge across the river at this point is a war memorial and also marks the landing where small ships traded to and from Auckland in the 1800s. The road meets the coast at Ngunguru, a seaside satellite suburb of Whangarei.

Then comes Tutukaka, a deep-sea game fishing base and gateway to the Poor Knights Islands, a wildlife and marine reserve and one of the world’s top five recreational diving venues. Nearer the coast are other dive attractions, two sunken ships – the former HMNZS Tui and HMNZS Waikato – placed there as artificial reefs; now favourite diving spots. From Tutukaka the road leads to Matapouri, Whale Bay, Woolleys Bay and Sandy Bay, all beautiful bays typical of the Northland coast. From Sandy Bay the road continues through bush-fringed hills and productive farming country to rejoin State Highway One at Hikurangi.

The route overall affords some of the most varying and picturesque scenery in the country. To find the loop road from Whangarei, head along Hatea Drive and into Mill Road for the suburb of Tikipunga and turn right through the roundabout. The road is signposted from there. Alternatively, follow State Highway One until you see the sign “Tutukaka Coast” at the Kensington Sports Centre. Turn right and go straight ahead at the first set of traffic lights and turn left at the second set into Mill Road (see above). From Whangarei back to Whangarei is a total of about 80 kilometres.

Tutkaka Heads by Peter Morath

Church Bay Gannet Print by Shane Hansen