Guidebook for Makarau
Drinks & Nightlife
Kaukapakapa Pub offers good food and drink. Recently under new ownership/management. Darts, pool. Some evenings they have themed entertainment.
Kaukapakapa
Kaukapakapa Pub offers good food and drink. Recently under new ownership/management. Darts, pool. Some evenings they have themed entertainment.
Food Scene
Casablanca
336 Hibiscus Coast HwyGreat food, ambiance, iced coffee and Turkish delight!
Best Tavern location - on the Ranitopuni Creek. Great food, great service. Eat at the Landing Restaurant but call to book just in case. One of John Key's spots.
56 locals recommend
The Riverhead
33 York TerraceBest Tavern location - on the Ranitopuni Creek. Great food, great service. Eat at the Landing Restaurant but call to book just in case. One of John Key's spots.
Puhoi Pub may not be the greatest food you'll eat but you will find some interest in the memorabilia inside the pub. There are also some cute local boutique style shops. Puhoi is steeped in hisroty.
22 locals recommend
The Puhoi Pub Hotel & Stables...Est 1879
5 Saleyards RdPuhoi Pub may not be the greatest food you'll eat but you will find some interest in the memorabilia inside the pub. There are also some cute local boutique style shops. Puhoi is steeped in hisroty.
Entertainment & Activities
Go cycle the Orewa Reserve track. Only 8km's easy rode. Lots of fun an end it off with a smoothie at the local cafe at the end.
Orewa Reserve
Hibiscus Coast HighwayGo cycle the Orewa Reserve track. Only 8km's easy rode. Lots of fun an end it off with a smoothie at the local cafe at the end.
Destination Orewa Beach
350 Hibiscus Coast HwyGreat surfing beach.
Red Beach
A lovely beach to swim and picnic.
Waiwera Thermal Resort
21 Waiwera RdGreat place to unwind.
Woodhill Mountain Bike Park
Restall RoadIf you're into mountain biking this is the place!
Parks & Nature
Great place to have a picnic. Take a walk down to the waterfall and jump into the natural pool. Or jump from the rocks. Not for the faint hearted.
Omeru Reserve
1849 Kaipara Coast HwyGreat place to have a picnic. Take a walk down to the waterfall and jump into the natural pool. Or jump from the rocks. Not for the faint hearted.
This is a beautiful plant centre with a cafe. The treat here is to pay the $10 per person to do the walk through the Sculpture Gardens. These gardens were initiated and implemented by the owners and our local Art Curator, Sally Lush. They change the sculptures annually so every year is a refreshing new look.
9 locals recommend
Kaipara Coast Plant Centre & Sculpture Gardens
1481 Kaipara Coast HwyThis is a beautiful plant centre with a cafe. The treat here is to pay the $10 per person to do the walk through the Sculpture Gardens. These gardens were initiated and implemented by the owners and our local Art Curator, Sally Lush. They change the sculptures annually so every year is a refreshing new look.
Everything Else
It's a rough surfing beach with black sand. It has a caravan park, walking trails, a cafe and a Gannet Colony. It's quite unique!
115 locals recommend
Muriwai
It's a rough surfing beach with black sand. It has a caravan park, walking trails, a cafe and a Gannet Colony. It's quite unique!
Helensville is a small town with down to earth people. It has your usual shops, one bank, post office, some take-away places, a medical centre, plunkett, library, art centre. It has an old railway station whcih has been converted into galleries and cafes. This is where you will really meet a true local.
7 locals recommend
Helensville
Helensville is a small town with down to earth people. It has your usual shops, one bank, post office, some take-away places, a medical centre, plunkett, library, art centre. It has an old railway station whcih has been converted into galleries and cafes. This is where you will really meet a true local.
This is quite a unique little spot. The Kaipara harbour is the largest natural harbour in the Southern Hemisphere. The harbour is also a Fisherman's paradise. If no boat, then just take a drive out there, have a meal at the local cafe (good fish and chips), and go for a walk up the hill and over the other side.
Shelly Beach
This is quite a unique little spot. The Kaipara harbour is the largest natural harbour in the Southern Hemisphere. The harbour is also a Fisherman's paradise. If no boat, then just take a drive out there, have a meal at the local cafe (good fish and chips), and go for a walk up the hill and over the other side.