Whananaki and the Whananaki Coastal Walkway

SANDY BAY TO WHANANAKI WALKING TOURWhananaki's foot bridge claims to be the longest in the Southern Hemisphere and there doesn't seem to be anyone arguing. All 395m of this wooden footbridge over the Whananaki inlet seems delicately balanced between it's ups and downs, the published story by a local boy explains.

Whananaki North is at one end of the 6km Whananaki Coastal Walkway. There are roads to both Whananaki South and North, but the walkway from Sandy Bay is a popular recreational coastal alternative.

Along the route is a memorial to the 1975 Capitaine Bougainville tragedy, when a freighter was wrecked. A monster of a winter storm had whipped up the seas into an unusual easterly frenzy on September 3rd, creating a swell of 12 metres. The Captaine Bougainville, a freighter with refrigerated meat and dairy and a few passengers, was headed from Auckland to Sydney and on to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands. Fire was the first troublemaker for the crew on the night, breaking out in the engine room, unfortunately located just below the lifeboats. Captain Jean Thomas was without power in massive seas and currents, calling to abandon ship at 0340hrs. Though they managed to launch the lifeboats, these were battered by waves on the way to shore, people were flung out and some scrambled back aboard. Sixteen lives were lost in the disaster. Captain Thomas's wife and children were amongst those drowned. He survived and returned to Whangarei for the 40th anniverary of the event.

A colourful artwork by John Speedy related to this tragedy was gifted to the Whangarei Museum by shipping company Sofrana Unilines in 2016.

As well as visiting the monument, the walkway meanders along clifftops which afford magnificent views of the Poor Knights Islands and past several pretty beaches, cementing it's reputation as of the highlights of Te Araroa.

In the general vicinity of Whananaki are ten great beaches, good fishing, diving, kayaking and surfing, a collection of iconic Kiwi baches and unspoilt coastline. It has it's background, like most of Northland, the economic background here is in Kauri Logging and then grazing. Galbraith Brothers Mill was the main employer in Whananaki. Though the population is small, the township is home a few interesting legends, that of the surprise Maori-American millionaire heir, and the local lady who won a horse race which the Police later determined was illegal. Maybe the next visitor to Whananaki can find out more for NZPlaces?

Supposed heir to millions: Mr. Horace Bennett, of Whananaki. It is believed that an heir to an American fortune, computed in millions, has been found in Mr. Horace Bennett, a half estate native of Whananaki. His father, a sailor on a whaling ship, married the daughter of Maori chieftain and has since died. The fortune is reported to have been bequeathed to the younger Bennett by his grandfather. Taken from the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News 19 JUNE 1913 WINNER OF A RACE WHICH OCCASIONED A POLICE PROSECUTION: THE LADY RIDER, WHO CAME FIRST IN THE RECENT WHANANAKI CUP (WHANGAREI DISTRICT), WHICH THE POLICE DECLARED ILLEGAL Taken from the supplement to the Auckland Weekly News 21 MAY 1914

SANDY BAY TO WHANANAKI WALKING TOUR

Image Credits: Philip Capper and John Speedy