This is just a short access track that takes you to a lovely beach, and skirts the Pataua estuary.

The track is almost flat and easy, but there is no wheelchair access.

Pataua is a very popular beach that offers safe swimming in the estuary and the ocean side.

The Pataua South community is a 45-minute drive east of Whangārei. Pataua South road is off the Whangārei Heads Road. The car park is located down Mahanga Road.

There are no public toilets at the DOC carpark accessing the Pataua Island Track. There are council maintained toilets near the footbridge at the end of Pataua South 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).