Waimamaku Coastal Track

The Waimamaku Coastal Track follows a rugged and dynamic coastline from Arai Te Uru Recreation Reserve south to the Waimamaku River. Historically significant, this route used to be the main route for traffic before roads were built inland for travellers heading up the coast from further south.

The track branches off Signal Station Track. It heads down to the open coastline, then climbs up onto the high bluffs which extend southwards down the coastline.

From there the track heads down to wide open sandy beaches and over small headlands, skirting along the clifftops. It eventually heads down onto Waimamaku Beach and the mouth of the Waimamaku River and back inland alongside the river to Waimamaku Beach Road.

The views of the coastline and the Hokianga Harbour are exceptional, as are the many opportunities for fishing.

The track starts in the Arai Te Uru Recreation Reserve, at the end of Signal Station Road. The track ends on Waimamuku Beach Road, off SH12, 10 km south of Omapere.

Arai Te Uru Recreational Reserve is at Hokianga Heads, 56 km west of Kaikohe. From Kaikohe, travel west along SH12 through Omapere. Take a right into Signal Station Rd. The reserve and carpark is at the end of the road.

Keep to the track 

This track crosses private land − keep to the track and follow the track markers.

Where the track follows the beach, you can only walk on the intertidal zone (ie, wet sand). Some areas above high tide are private land and tresspassers could be subject to prosecution.

Avoid walking along this track during very high tides

The route from the Waimamaku River mouth to the end of Waimamaku Beach Road follows the river shoreline and during high tides and flood events the river can rise to over 1m depth along this stretch.

Track users need to be aware and plan the trip to avoid having to wade through water.  The flow rate is very slow but the water can be murky and difficult to see the bottom.