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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: -35.85325, 174.56166. 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
- 7.5 km one way
- Walking time
- 5-6 hr one way
- Track grade
- Intermediate tramping track
Checked against official sources on 26 September 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
A demanding coastal ridge traverse between Ocean Beach and Urquharts Bay, with substantial climbing and exposed drops.
Arrange the other end
Use Ocean Beach on Ranui Road or Urquharts Bay at the end of Urquharts Bay Road. This is a traverse, not a circuit: organise the pickup before starting. The published walking time covers one direction only. Work backwards from the agreed pickup time, leaving room for a slower descent and rest stops. Confirm that everybody has the same destination saved, rather than simply telling a driver to meet at Whangarei Heads.
Expect a sustained ridge day
The route climbs through coastal forest to Bream Head, follows the ridge past the Peach Cove junction and Mt Lion, then descends towards Urquharts Bay. Stairs, roots and slippery ground make distance a poor measure of effort here. Assess the group on the initial ascent; arriving at a viewpoint is not a commitment to finish the traverse. Carry enough water for the whole outing and keep a substantial daylight margin for the later descents.
Respect the headland
Bream Head is a culturally significant reserve with archaeological places and active ecological restoration. Stay on marked tracks, leave pest-control equipment alone, and leave dogs at home; open fires are prohibited. Give cliff edges a wide margin and keep children close. A dry forecast is a useful starting condition, not permission to ignore wind or wet footing on arrival. Choose sheltered places for breaks so the group does not spread across narrow ground. If someone becomes uncomfortable with the exposure, make a conservative turnaround decision while the return remains manageable. Do not improvise a descent to the coast.
Read the official track description and notices immediately before travelling. The source-check date is not a live access or safety report.
