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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: -35.56597, 173.38429. 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
- 10.1 km one way
- Walking time
- 4 hr
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Hokianga Heads area
- 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
Discover wide open beaches and rocky headlands on the rugged coastline between the Hokianga Harbour and the majestic Waimamaku River.
This DOC directory entry covers Waimamaku Coastal Track in Northland, within Hokianga 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: 10.1 km one way
- Walking time: 4 hr
- 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
The Waimamaku Coastal Track follows a rugged and dynamic coastline from Arai Te Uru Recreation Reserve south to the Waimamaku River. Historically significant, this route used to be the main route for traffic before roads were built inland for travellers heading up the coast from further south.
The track branches off Signal Station Track. It heads down to the open coastline, then climbs up onto the high bluffs which extend southwards down the coastline.
From there the track heads down to wide open sandy beaches and over small headlands, skirting along the clifftops. It eventually heads down onto Waimamaku Beach and the mouth of the Waimamaku River and back inland alongside the river to Waimamaku Beach Road.
The views of the coastline and the Hokianga Harbour are exceptional, as are the many opportunities for fishing.
Getting there
The track starts in the Arai Te Uru Recreation Reserve, at the end of Signal Station Road. The track ends on Waimamuku Beach Road, off SH12, 10 km south of Omapere.
Arai Te Uru Recreational Reserve is at Hokianga Heads, 56 km west of Kaikohe. From Kaikohe, travel west along SH12 through Omapere. Take a right into Signal Station Rd. The reserve and carpark is at the end of the road.
Know before you go
This track crosses private land − keep to the track and follow the track markers.
Where the track follows the beach, you can only walk on the intertidal zone (ie, wet sand). Some areas above high tide are private land and tresspassers could be subject to prosecution.
The track from the beach at Waimamaku River mouth to the carpark at Waimamaku Beach Road follows the river shoreline. During high tides the river can rise to over 1 m deep along this section.
Plan your trip to avoid high tides.
Be aware that the beach is a challenging place for swimming and can be dangerous. There are rough seas, strong currents, hidden obstacles and it gets deep quickly.
Cell phone coverage is patchy and the nearest surf lifesaving and coastguard stations are over an hour away, so if you get into trouble it can take a long time to get help.
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.
