Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Whananaki Coastal Track
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 15
Gnarl Factor: 31
12.0km
390m
390m
87m
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Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Last Updated: 21st Sep 2023
Open
Grunt Factor: 15
Gnarl Factor: 31
12.0km
390m
390m
87m
Login as a VIP to see driving directions, distance and time.
Front country - easily accessible
Out and Back
Undulating, small hills only
Plantation/exotic forest
Beach
Coastal
Gravel Road
Farm Road / 4WD Track
Easy Single Track
Moderate Single Track
Technical Single Track
Untracked / Route only
Average Uphill Gradient: +10.1%
Average Downhill Gradient: -9.8%
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2:00
Slow
1:10
Moderate
0:50
Fast
Feb 2021: Access to Bougainville Memorial is now only possible from the beach. Landowner has removed access and signs at the stile now are changed to "Private No Access".
Starting from McAuslin Road, jump over the stile and follow the track. The track goes over private land so please stick to the gravel road / farm track and leave gates as you find them. Follow this track for about 4.3 kms when you reach another stile where the track forks. Turn right and follow signposts to the Bougainville Memorial.
From the Bougainville Memorial, provided the tide is not too high, you can head down the hill towards the white sands of the beach, hopping over some rocks. Head north along the beach to the point where you can pick the track back up (where Pukekawa Road meets the beach). From that point, start heading back south along the track. However, if the tide is too high, from the Bougainville Memorial retrace your steps back to the stile mentioned earlier and take the other track to the point that Pukekawa Road meets the beach in order to access the beach at the north of this run and return the same way.
Great views of the coast with a couple of opportunities to access the coast and go for a cooling swim.
Some parking at trail head. Otherwise park in Sandy Bay beach carpark and can include the McAuslin Road as part of the run.
24 km
29 minutes
Unknown
No
Easy.
Hard to go wrong. Follow the track / road and orange markers.
Patchy.
First aid kit, Cellphone.
Take your own
none
Livestock in paddocks - treat with respect.
Salt Air Cafe
Ngunguru
https://www.tripadvisor.co.nz/Restaurant_Review-g1747761-d3219620-Reviews-Salt_Air_Cafe-Northland_Region_North_Island.html
Nice cold drinks, pies and pumpkin Soup
Trail Legend
Fastest Known Times (FKTs)
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A very runnable and accessible trail with stunning views around every turn.
In warm weather make sure you have water, and towel and togs for a swim. You can extend this run out to Whananaki camp ground for an even more epic Northland coastal experience!
The track to the Bougainville monument is no longer open as land owner has removed access -so to reach ther monument, you have to head right along the beach once you get to the main track turnaround: you need to get out there at lower tide.
There are other shorter but very scenic coastal runs back along the coast at and around Matapouri. In summer there's yummy kai at food trucks parked along the coastal strip at Sandy's bay and other spots nearby
April 14, 2021
Nice run, great coastal views. Land owner has removed access to Bougainville Memorial, only way to access it now is out and back from beach.
February 5, 2021
Beautiful run, awesome scenery. I couldn't see any signposts to the Bougainville Memorial at the trail fork - you'll need to keep an eye out for where the trail leads off into the pine forrest.
December 23, 2020
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