Te Araroa Trail http://www.teararoa.org.nz/northland/
http://www.teararoa.org.nz/northland/bream-tail-mangawhai-walkway/
Mangawhai is approximately 110 kms north of Auckland.
There are NO buses going directly to Mangawhai -
Northbound InterCity buses stop 14 km west of Mangawhai at the cafe just north of Kaiwaka on State Highway 1 which is 100 kms north of Auckland .
From there you'll need to either arrange to be picked up - or hitch-hike.
Southbound InterCity buses coming from Whangarei stop outside the Three Furlongs Tavern 100metres south of the Mangawhai intersection on State Highway 1.
Driving to Mangawhai:
( approximately 110 kms north of Auckland and usually takes about 90 minutes )
Direct route: Northern Motorway > Warkworth Intersection> Wayby Valley Road >Waiteitei Road, Mangawhai Village ( takes approximately 90 minutes )
Click here to see this route marked on Google Maps
Scenic route: This route is longer but more interesting and more relaxed.
If you're on a bicycle, this is the best way to travel north.
There is a ferry from downtown Auckland to Gulf Harbour at the end of Whangaparoa Peninsula, south of Orewa : https://ferrytimetable.co.nz/gulf-harbour
The road is unsealed in some places north of Goat Island but there is much less traffic and is okay if you drive slowly.
Auckland to Orewa> Waiwera> pass Wenderholm Scenic Reserve> Puhoi Village > keep going west to ride over the hill to Ahuroa and turn back east on Woodcocks road to Warkworth >then head out to Matakana > Leigh >
Goat Island > Pakiri > Te Arai > Mangawhai ( takes about 3 hours by car - but take as long as you want on this route as there are lots of interesting places to stop on the way - especially in the summer and on weekends and holidays.
Click here to see this route marked on Google Maps
Cycling to Mangawhai from Auckland
If you want to avoid State Highway One, there are some alternative routes.
You can catch a ferry from downtown Auckland up to Gulf Harbour on the Whangaparoa Peninsula and ride from there via Orewa, Hatfields Beach, Waiwera and Wenderholm to Puhoi Village.. The new Puhoi-Warkworth motorway has taken a lot of the traffic off the old State Highway 1 since March 2023 so cycling this route might not be too bad now - there are some very big hills. Alternatively keep going west to ride over the hill to Ahuroa ( N.B. This road was badly damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle in early 2023 and might still be closed to MOTOR VEHICLES ) and turn back east on Woodcocks road to Warkworth >then head out to Matakana > Leigh >Goat Island > Pakiri > Te Arai > Mangawhai . This route is mostly on unsealed roads - but still watch out for speeding drivers .
Get out of Auckland on the North Westerly direction to Highway 16 . Here's a route you could follow:
View To Mangawhai from Auckland for cyclists in a larger map
See 'Pedallers Paradise' - a guidebook for cycle-touring in New Zealand.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/bikepackingnewzealand/