Walking Te Araroa through Mangawhai? Here's how we can help
Every summer, Te Araroa walkers pass right through Mangawhai on their way between Northland and Auckland. It's one of the prettiest stretches of the North Island leg, with the Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway, the long sweep of Te Ārai and Pākiri beaches, and the first proper café and supermarket stop in a while.
It's also a stretch where a lift can make a big difference. Whether you're a through-walker, a section walker, or someone walking a day or two of the trail, we're local and happy to help you get where you need to be.
The trail around Mangawhai
Heading south, the trail comes down the coast from Waipū Cove and Bream Tail, follows the Mangawhai Walkway and Cliffs Walkway to the surf club at Mangawhai Heads, then heads through the village, across the estuary and out to Te Ārai and on down the beach to Pākiri. Northbound walkers do the same in reverse.
A few things worth knowing before you arrive:
The beach section below the Mangawhai cliffs is impassable at high tide, so check the tides and use the cliff track if water is coming through the rock arch.
The link track between Cove Road and the Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway closes every year from 1 September to 31 October for lambing and calving.
Te Araroa advises walkers not to try crossing the Waipū River at the mouth, and to use the road bridge inland instead.
The Mangawhai Heads car park gets very busy from November to April, which matters if someone is dropping you off or picking you up.
Always check the official Te Araroa trail notes and app for the latest alerts and route changes.
How we can help
We're not a scheduled trail service, but we do one-off transport for walkers when you need it. Common requests include:
Skipping a road-walking section and getting dropped further along the trail.
Getting to or from the InterCity bus stop at Kaiwaka, which is around 14 km from Mangawhai village by road.
Trailhead drop-offs and pick-ups for section walkers, including Waipū Cove, Bream Tail Road, Mangawhai Heads, Te Ārai and Pākiri.
A run into the village for supplies, a rest day, or getting to accommodation off the trail.
Airport transfers from Auckland for walkers starting or finishing a section here.
If you're walking with friends or a group, our 7 and 11-seat vans make sharing a ride easy and keep the cost per person down.
Request a lift
If you can, send us your request a couple of days ahead. That said, we're often able to help at short notice, so if you're already on the trail and need a lift soon, send it through anyway or give us a call. Fill in the form below and we'll come back to you with availability and a price.
Prefer to talk? Call us on 022 626 4295 or email mangawhaitaxis@gmail.com.
Kia pai tō hīkoi, and enjoy the walk.