Auckland Adventures - What to See and Do

Riverhead Forest

Riverhead is a large pine forest 15 km west of Browns Bay (North Auckland), which has some of the best mountain biking close to Auckland. It’s criss-crossed by gravel roads, 4WD tracks and single track through rolling hills, up to 180 metres high. Most riders cycle up the roads to a high point and then make their way down on the single tracks. Watch out for forestry trucks, motorbikes and war game soldiers. Riverhead Forest is large enough to get lost in for a few hours so get into the exploring spirit of things.

Mount Eden Quarry

Smack bang in the heart of Auckland City, amidst factories, a prison, and a motorway, is one of New Zealand’s best rock climbing areas. The Quarry is a series of jointed volcanic columns towering 20 metres above the Auckland Grammar footie field. These climbs are a real test of rock climbing technique and rely mainly on natural protection; however, bolted climbs are becoming more common. Around the corner, to the right of the main cliff (the Long Wall), are a series of smaller cliffs (the Short Wall).

To get there from the city, go over Grafton Bridge towards Auckland Hospital. Continue along Park Road into Mountain Road, until you reach Auckland Grammar on your right. The cliffs are within the school grounds.

Great Barrier Island

For the adventurous beginner a trip to the Great Barrier Island in the outer Hauraki Gulf would be out of this world. There is so much to do here. Mountain biking, fishing and diving are the main sources of adventure on the island. For the very adventurous, paddling in and around Port Fitzroy is great fun, exploring secret spots, secluded beaches, and interesting historic sites. There is abundant bird and marine life in the coastal nooks and crannies. Onshore you can explore Mt Hobson and the remains of mighty kauri dams, which in days gone by released floods of logs to the coast.

Stony Bay

At the tip of the Coromandel Peninsula, a technical single track connects Stony Bay and Fletchers Bay. This 7 km gap in the road around the peninsula takes 2 to 4 hours to ride each way. Unless you’re cycle touring, head back to Stony Bay on the same track. Avoid riding this track in the middle of summer when it’s crowded. There are camping areas at both ends of the track. Cycle tourers with heavy panniers will find they have to walk some of the track. DOC is at present trying to open up a 4WD alternative to connect these two beautiful bays.

Hahei Marine Reserve

The proposed Hahei Marine Reserve is on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula near Hahei. It stretches from the western end of Hahei Beach to Cooks Bluff, and includes about half of Mahurangi Island. Plans are afoot to set up an underwater trail for snorkellers and divers. This will be an increasingly fine place to explore as the marine life recovers.

Waiwawa River

This is a short scenic trip with about six playful rapids (grade II maximum). Coroglen is on Highway 25, 20 km south of Whitianga on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula. From here take the Tapu Coroglen Road, which follows the Waiwawa River west. On your left, 3 km from Coroglen, there is a 4WD track leading through a few metres of bush to an old concrete-bottomed ford. This is the get-out point and is used as a river-level gauge. If there is enough depth over the ford (10 cm), then you can comfortably tube the short section up river. If the water is brown then it’s too high. Start 3 km up river where the road crosses Taranoho Stream. Immediately on the left after the stream is a gate leading into a grassy area. Put-in at the river 60 metres away.

Hot Water Beach

If you are on the east side of the Coromandel Peninsula, look out for Hot Water Beach. At low tide you can scoop out a hole in the sand and intercept thermally heated water on its way to the sea. Plonk yourself in the hole and enjoy a natural hot water bath. Hot Water Beach is signposted off Highway 25, about 30 km southeast of Whitianga.

Tairua River

The Tairua is a scenic river on the eastern side of the Coromandel Ranges. This grade I+ river is no good for tubing in low summer flows. To get there from Thames, head 6 km south to Kopu and take Highway 25a across the Coromandel Range towards Tairua and Whangamata. Start paddling where the highway bridge crosses the Tairua River, about 23 km from Kopu. Get out 5 km down river, at the Broken Hills camp site (200 metres before passing under a bridge). You can also continue for another 8 km to Hikuai. In this last sedate section there are only a couple of places where the road and river meet. There are some old mine shafts to explore at Broken Hills. As the southern section of Puketui Road has been washed out, access to Broken Hills is gained via Hikuai.

Thompsons Track

This 20 km crossing of the Kaimai Range takes intermediate riders 2-3 hours. Turn off Highway 2 onto Thompsons Track Road, about 30 km west of Tauranga. You can cycle right over the range to Shaftesbury, or just to the top and back. There are a few big bogs, including one real bike-gobbler at the start. It is mostly 4WD track with the only turn-offs being walking tracks, so navigation is easy.