Whangarei the long way round

Along the coast road – Whangarei to the North Shore

They say the best way to see New Zealand is to leave the highway and go and find your own path.

I’m not sure who they are but if someone ever said that they were definitely right.

With a solid five hours to kill before meeting family and only a two hour drive between destinations I took my spritely Miitsi RVR, affectionately dubbed Big Red and set out to explore the in-betweeny bit starting in Whanagarei.

A few minutes down the road at Waipu I turned off to the coastal highway which I had been advised was the best way to travel with only the dashboard compass and a teeny bit of local knowledge to guide me.

You first travel through farmland but are eventually shot out at Waipu cove, just a few baches and acres of achingly beautiful waterfront.

It’s the sort of place I can imagine packs out with Auckland holiday makers during the summer but on a November Monday it was pretty quiet.

I can imagine the locals love it here and for the most part feel they can be anonymous in between the tough twisty roads and scrub with only the gulls to judge.

Rounding a corner I was struck by a tremendously kiwi sight of a deeply tanned woman surf casting in a white bikini.

Be yourself indeed.

Heading south(ish) by the compass there are plenty of one-lane bridges, tight turns and gravel to keep you enthused and plenty of friendly road workers who offer a smile.

Arriving further south I arrived at Mangawhai heads which was pretty quiet except for a couple of trade vehicles so I headed to the beach.

Upon arrival I was surprised to find it packed with people, mostly older who had tramped off tour buses and backpackers lazily snoozing in the back of vans waiting for the surf to pick up

I think they must have come the easy way.

Somewhere I made a wrong turn as I ended up at Kaiwaka on the side of the highway which was fine because I was starving and stopped for lunch among one of the awesome little shops they have there.

Heading back out on the coastal road I was once again lost in the sun and loving it and stumbled upon one of the most fun gravel roads I have ever found with big red skipping all the way and was spat back out at Pakihiri Beach - fantastic.

Only a quick moment to take a snap and enjoy possibly the most spectacular beach in the country and I found myself on the road to Leigh.

The tough road.

There are signs warning the road is only one lane and a 35 kilometer speed limit and it was advisable not to take a caravan.

It was pretty evident why but one of the best workouts red has had as we skimmed along tough, tight gravel and bumped along corrugated sections before cresting a hill where Leigh, holder of the famous Goat Island reserve, was spread before us.

It’s worth taking your time here.

There are signs for beaches all along the route and stopping can wield some tremendous prizes as you play a sand, rock or iron beach game of roulette with side roads.

There is truly something for everybody and seemed to be plenty of space for all.

Cruising through Warkworth and turning off at the big tunnel to take the long way around it was just small jump from Orewa to the North Shore for my next stop.

With all the Christmas rush and travel during the silly season, maybe take a bit of time to enjoy the journey as I did and not just your destination.