Smugglers Bay Loop Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

Route overview

With coastal forest, spectacular views and WWII gun emplacements as well - there is plenty to keep kids interested on this short, easy walk.

This DOC directory entry covers Smugglers Bay Loop Track in Northland, within Bream Head Scenic Reserve / Whangārei Heads area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.

Distance, time and grade

• Distance: 3 km loop
• Walking time: 1 hr 30 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 Urquharts Bay car park, the loop track takes you around Busby Head to the lovely Smugglers Bay and back to the car park.

The offers a fairly easy walk encompassing coastal forest, spectacular views, and a WWII era gun emplacement. The short one-way detour to the end of Busby Head is well worth the effort.

Alternatively, there is a direct route over the hill to Smugglers Bay, which takes about 15 minutes.

Getting there

Located in the Bream Head Scenic Reserve. The track starts from the Urquharts Bay Rd car park.

Know before you go

• Do not interfere with pest traps.

• This area is grazed, you may encounter cattle on or near the track. Move calmly, give animals plenty of space, and don't run or make sudden movements. Do not approach, feed, or touch animals.

• Farm vehicles may operate in this area.

• To minimise disturbance to the area and out of respect to local iwi and their ancestors, keep to the marked tracks.

• Be careful of protruding tree roots.

• This track is not suitable for bikes. Mountain biking is not permitted.

• The rocky outcrops have steep drop-offs. Children should be well supervised.

• Northland reserve bylaws apply to Bream Head Scenic Reserve.

Water safety

If you plan to enjoy the water, learn how to stay safe when swimming, boating and fishing.

History and culture

You will walk past the gun emplacement at Home Point. This was built during World War II as a defence against possible invasion. The six-inch naval gun was aimed with the help of a camouflaged radar station on the ridge above Ocean Beach. Inside the remote control room is a landscape painting of the Bream Bay area. It offers a unique interpretation of what the area look like before the construction of the Marsden Point Oil Refinery.

Read more about Bream Head gun emplacement.

The area from Home Point – Smugglers Bay contains dense evidence of Maori occupation, including a defensive pā on Busby Head, many house terraces, pātaka kai/food storage pits and an almost continuous midden reflecting the wealth of kai moana/seafood resources in the harbour. There are a number of these sites along the ridge to Te Whara/Bream Head. An archaic midden at Smugglers gives in indication of the length of time Māori have occupied this area.

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.