While north-of-Auckland destinations such as Warkworth and Matakana attract the weekend crowds, Mahurangi Peninsula, just an hour and ten minutes from Auckland Harbour Bridge, is a country haven with so much to see.
Pack the carrots!
Leave the main road at Warkworth, turn onto Sandspit Road, and follow your nose for 10 kilometres to Highfield Garden Reserve. Have your carrots at the ready for the herd of donkeys waiting to greet you. Donkeys have been living at Highfield since 1969, and the sociable animals are now under the care of the community-led Highfield Donkey Society. Check out the Donkey Serenade newsletter for opportunities to take part in community events at the sanctuary. If you have grandies with you, there may be an opportunity for a ride!
Stroll to Scott’s homestead
The ridgeline drive from Highfield Reserve to the tip of the Mahurangi Peninsula is not to be hurried. Once you reach the bush lined section of Mahurangi East Road, you are surrounded by myriad quaint and quirky homes that peek out from kanuka fringed properties. In the water below, painted yachts bob on their moorings or lie beached on the mudflats at low tide.
At the very end of the peninsula, the narrow lane comes to an abrupt halt and you find yourself at Scott’s landing, a shipbuilding site from the 1850s when Mahurangi was a hub of timber milling and trade. In 1877 the Scott family shipbuilders constructed their Georgian-style home just a short distance away, and today, a 5 minute stroll from the car park takes you along the beach to where the building has been restored. If it takes your fancy, contact the Auckland City Council about hiring it for a family picnic!
Blast from the past
On your return to Warkworth, call in at Scandrett Regional Park (off Martins Bay Road) which is full of opportunities and a chance to stretch your legs while you soak up the history of this once popular farm camping spot. The farm homestead which can be seen today was built for the Scandrett family who arrived in 1863. Unlike many buildings of its time, it is made of a primitive concrete manufactured from beach pebbles and burnt lime. The best way to appreciate the associated collection of historic farm buildings and the site of the old farm orchard is to follow Scandrett’s Bay Loop walk (50 minutes return). Be sure to side track onto the Lookout Track at the top of which you’ll gain excellent views of the settlement.
Art with a hint of vino
End you Mahurangi adventure at Brick Bay, east of Snell’s Beach, where a 2km trail leads you past 45 outdoor sculptures by leading New Zealand artists. Framed by trees and with a backdrop of native bird calls, it’s like no other art ‘gallery’ you’ve seen before. When your stroll is over, more art can be found in the courtyards close to the Glass House. This modern, airy building overlooks a tranquil lake filled with water lilies and offers excellent food, and wine tastings from local Brick Bay Winery. If you’re the driver, enjoy their full bodied coffee.
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