Mahurangi regional park is divided into three "fingers" - Mahurangi West, Scott Point and the remote Mahurangi East that is only accessible by sea.

Mahurangi West is our destination for the day, but on our way we discover and explore places of historic and purely visual and photogenic interest that truly deserve a slice of our time and attention.

This Tour it's a beautiful day out. We drive North, cross the Harbour Bridge and go off the highway at Silverdale.

Our first stop is the Silverdale Pioneer Village and particularly the Wesleyan Chapel which is thought to be one of New Zealand's oldest remaining churches and Auckland Methodism’s mother church.

Next we are off to Orewa and Hatfields Beach. Orewa boasts a magnificent three kilometres golden sand beach. We may take a stroll, as depending on the weather of the day it can be very photogenic. At the Pohutukawa lined Hatfields Beach with some imagination you can just about discern the figures of pre historic animals on its high stone cliffs.

Historic Puhoi is our next stop. Puhoi is an attractive little village founded by Bohemian immigrants in 1863. The Catholic Church of St Peter and Paul is the most prominent of the old buildings that remain as well as the Pub to which Auckland's Bikers converge on weekends. The Library is possibly the smallest one that I have ever seen... An antiques shop that is a pleasure to browse complete the picture.

Photo Opportunities: Silverdale Pioneer Village Orewa and Hatfields beach Puhoi Village Cheese making factory Mahurangi sea views and landscapes

Mahurangi West nests three pohutukawa-fringed bays - Otarawao (Sullivan's) Bay,Otuawao (Mita) Bay and Te Muri Bay. The road to Sullivan's bay offers excellent almost bird's eye views towards the bays with seas of an unbelievable shades of blue. The park is a favourite stop for yachts and sail boats all year round and the white sails sparkle as jewels on the blue waters.

There are 2 available trails at the park to choose from. Either of them will take about 2 hours and will provide great views and photographic opportunities, so depending on light conditions and weather we'll decide which one to tackle. These are easy to walk trails, So don't worry about your fitness level...

I'm sure you won't want to leave, but at some point we must take the journey back to Auckland...

Depending on season, weather and your personal preferences our itinerary may change.

Additional Information

The Weslean Chapel

The Weslean chapel was built in Parnell in 1845 and then in 1856 transported to Wade - Silverdale's old name. A bit of mystery remains as there are conflicting account of the size of the original Church. In any event its a beautiful Kauri Church built in a hurry to accommodate the new immigrants.

Puhoi

Puhoi means "Slow Waters"
On June 29, 1863 the early settlers of Puhoi arrived on the "War Spirit" to Auckland and transferred by sailing cutter to the mouth of the Puhoi River where they were taken by Maori canoes for the last four miles of their journey. These Bohemians had spent 124 days (over 4 months) traversing more than half way round the world to a far away strange land.

Mahurangi

Maori lived here in large communities. The park was the ancestral domain of Ngati Rongo. There are four fortified pa sites at Opahi, Cudlip and Te Muri Points and above Sullivan's Bay.

More than 100 Maori and European settlers are buried in the Te Muri urupa (cemetery) on the park.

A sea captain, John Sullivan, married Merehai Kaipuke, one of the owners of the land, and settled at Otarawao in the 1870s. Their descendents farmed the land for nearly a century.

A "Pa"
A pa is a fortified place built by Maori. Pa are associated with a group of related people. They were built as refuge from attack during times of war, but also had many other uses.

They were secure places to live and store food, they were residences for important people and centres for learning, crafts and horticulture