Pataua is 30 km east of Whangārei. Leave Whangārei on Riverside Drive, which turns into Onerahi Rd. At the roundabout turn into Whangārei Heads Road and follow this into Pataua South Rd. At Pataua, turn left into Mahanga Rd.

A rāhui (cultural closure) has been placed on the pā and fenced off back dune area at Pataua south. Visitors should not use Pataua pā as a recreational site.

The site is a culturally significant landmark to the local tangata whenua and is considered wāhi tapū (sacred and subject to restriction).