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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -35.16877, 174.09325. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 1.1 km one way
- Walking time
- 40 min
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Kerikeri area / Rangihoua Heritage Park
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
This walk, suitable for kids, leads across farmland to the site of the first mission settlement in New Zealand.
This DOC directory entry covers Marsden Cross Track in Northland, within Kerikeri area / Rangihoua Heritage Park. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 1.1 km one way
- Walking time: 40 min
- DOC grade: Easy
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
From the stile at the roadside, the track leads you through farmland to Oihi Bay and the Marsden Cross. This stone monument marks the first mission settlement and first Christian service conducted in New Zealand.
Once at Oihi Beach, there is a small stream to cross, which runs dry most of the year.
You can also take a short bushwalk through the remnants of New Zealand’s first European orchard to another memorial commemorating one of New Zealand’s pioneering families, the Hansens.
Getting there
Marsden Cross Track is within the Rangihoua Heritage Park, 36 km from Kerikeri and signposted from Rangihoua Road. Turn off Rangihoua Road, and travel 2.8 km along Oihi Road to the start of the track.
You can also access the other end of the track from the sea, towards the western end of the beach.
Know before you go
No dogs or fires due to risks to wildlife, especially kiwi.
Before leaving for your walk, make sure your vehicle is locked and any valuables out of sight.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
