Bream Bay Walk

  • Walking
Difficulty
Easy
Length
24.7 km
Journey Time
7 hours
Region
Northland
Sub-Region
Whangārei
Part of Collections
Te Araroa - New Zealand's Trail , Te Araroa - North Island
Track maintained by
Te Araroa Trail Trust

Te Araroa section: Bream Bay stretches along Northland’s east coast and includes many sparkling beaches such as the Ruakaka, Waipu and Waipu Cove. The bay has great swimming, fishing, surfing, walking and sunbathing.

For bookable DOC facilities (such as Uretiti Beach Campsite) you need to make sure that your Trail Pass and DOC Bookings account are linked – so that when you make the booking, the DOC system knows you have a Trail Pass and the discount is applied. When you registered we provided you with instructions of how to do this, to make sure you didn’t experience delays in accessing the discount on bookable facilities. If you haven’t created your DOC bookings account you must do so now. Once you have made an account, email booking@doc.govt.nz with a copy of your Trail Pass and they will connect the two. This may take 3-5 days.

 

Bream Bay Walk - 16km / 4 hours

From Marsden Point, walk south along the beach (low tide is best).

Tide information for Bream Bay

If you want a respite from an easterly wind, there is a 3.5km inland DOC track which starts beyond the oil refinery (end of Mair Road) & follows a pipeline to end behind the Mighty River Power station at Ruakākā (end of Sime Road).

9km down the beach is the Ruakākā River mouth, which can be hazardous to cross on foot and should only be done at low tide.

Do not attempt to cross the river at the beach, instead turn west and walk 400m along the estuary shoreline. This is a wildlife sanctuary with many migrant and wading birds, so please do not walk inside the fenced-off nesting areas, and please keep moving to limit disturbances to the birds during nest season. Opposite the rock/concrete wall (on the south side) is the best place to cross.

(For assistance, you can contact Simon Ellison, who can help with a kayak crossing. Please arrange a day in advance, and a koha — donation — is appreciated. Phone: 021 233 6748)

Another 6km brings you to a sign on the sandhills for a track leaving the beach and going over the dunes to Tip Road.

From the beach, follow Tip Road west. Turn south onto Uretiti Road, and south again onto Nova Scotia Drive. This will take into the heart of Waipū. To leave Waipū township, take Cove Road to the southeast and follow it 6.5km to the junction with Cullen Road.

Waipu to Waipu Cove (8km)

An off-road trail is under construction with 5km now completed and available to ensure safe walking along this narrow high-speed local road.
Known as the Waipu Cycleway and Walkway, the completed sections are:

  1. Cove Road, from Waipu Village to Riverview Place. This section provides welcome shade during summer months with seating available.
  2. Cove Road, from McLean Road to Cullen Road. There are attractive spots to rest with views of Bream Bay, offshore islands and local wetland restoration planting.
  3. Cullen Road to Waipu Cove

For those staying at the Waipu Camp overnight or replenishing supplies at the Waipu Store — this section provides a flat, easy, safe walk

Conditions

Potential Hazards

  • Vehicles on road or track
  • Tides, waves & rivers - safer at low tide
  • River crossings - Never cross flooded rivers
  • Track exposed to sun, wind or cold
  • Note: For hikers heading north from Marsden Point to Reotahi, the marina at Marsden Cove is a good point to organise a trip across the harbour.

How to get here

Northern Start: Marsden Pt (beach)

Southern End; Corner Cove and Cullen Roads, Waipū

Transport

Ruakaka

Detour option available

  • The Marsden Point Oil Refinery Visitors Centre, Marsden Pt, Ruakaka - P: 09 432 8194
  • The display includes a 130sqm working scale model and an impressive 20 minute light and sound show. Photographs, records and models show the huge pipeline that stretches from Marsden Point all the way to Wiri in South Auckland.
  • Detour off the beach to Ruakaka Town Centre, Marsden Point Rd.For more information log onto - Ruakaka Visitor Information

Waipu

Accommodation

Trail Pass

Private_Campsite Uretiti Campsite - km 414.9 - Included in The Trail Pass (Bookings required). Register at the camp office on arrival.

Ruakaka

  • Ruakaka Reserve Motor Camp - 21 Ruakaka Beach Rd, located on the beachfront/estuary - P: 09 432 7590 - E: ruakaka@motorcamp.co.nz - Tent sites and cabins
  • Bream Bay Motel - 67 Bream Bay Drive - P: 09 432 7166 - E: enquiries@breambaymotel.co.nz
  • Karawai Lodge - 24 Karawai St, Ruakaka - P: 027 570 0600 - E: karawailodge@gmail.com - ask for the "Te Araroa rate".
  • Uretiti Beach DOC Campsite - located between the beach and SH 1, 5km north of Waipu - P: 09 432 1051 - Campsites, toilets, water, cold showers. $15 per night per adult. We also have hot showers for $2. Please pre-book on line, and then it is essential to register at the camp office before placing your tent.

Waipu

  • Camp Waipu Cove - 869 Cove Rd, Waipu - P: 09 432 0410 - Cabins and camping available. Mention you are walking Te Araroa for a 20% discount on a tent site (doesn't apply to cabins).
  • Zany B&B - Coralie Betts - 298/11 Cove Rd, Waipu - P: 09 432 1517 or 027 658 5217
  • DragonSpell Retreat - Dragonspell. Can be found 7.5 km south of the turn-off before Waipu, at the very end of Cullen Road (435.4 km on trail map). Must contact first 027 507 7750 or cosmickali@gmail.com. “Koha” run :)

Food And Supply

Ruakaka

  • Freshchoice Supermarket - Town Centre, Marsden Road, Ruakaka - P: 09 432 7400
  • 4 Square Supermarket - Town Centre - Marsden Road, Ruakaka - P: 09 432 7873
  • Bream Bay Medical Centre - Shops 8-9 Marsden Point Road, Ruakaka - P: 09 432 8060

Waipu

Track Elevation and Map

Total 1 photos. Click image above to view them all.

More information

Before starting Te Araroa either as a through-walker of the whole country or a section walker, please register on Te Araroa website. Please also visit the website or download the app for detailed maps, trail alerts and other relevant information.  

This track is part of the Herenga ā Nuku Aotearoa track database. Herenga ā Nuku has maps and advice about public access to the outdoors.

We encourage you to continue gaining the skills and knowledge required for a safe trip. The NZ Mountain Safety Council has lots of free resources and information you can use. These can be accessed via www.mountainsafety.org.nz.

We recommend trying these online learning tools:

Additionally, check out the range of helpful videos available from the NZ Mountain Safety Council YouTube channel.

Mountain Safety Council Plan My Trip
Page last updated: 25/11/2024, 10:30 am