Mangawhai

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Mangawhai is a quiet beach town around the Mangawhai Harbour in the Northland region of the North Island, New Zealand. The township of Mangawhai is at the south west end of the harbour, and the township of Mangawhai Heads is 5 kilometres north east.

Mangawhai has a surf beach on one side and safe harbour beaches on the other. Charter boats can take visitors fishing or diving; you can also surf cast off the beach. Other fun activities include mini golf and donkey rides. The town also has an internationally recognized wildlife refuge for threatened bird species.

In Mangawhai you can get the best of both world in two diverse areas, Mangawhai Village is a booming collection of shops, galleries and cafes and Mangawhai Heads has the serene lagoon-style harbour, dramatic sand dunes and thrilling surf beach.

Mangawhai History

In the early and mid 19th century, Mangawhai Harbour was one of the main enter points for the Kaipara. Ngati Whatua used to drag waka from Kaiwaka to Mangawhai. An Nga Puhi war party landed at Mangawhai in 1825 and moved 12 kilometres inland to confront the Ngati Whatua at Te Ika-a-ranga-nui near Kaiwaka.

Later in the 19th century, settlers travelled by boat from Auckland to Mangawhai, walked to Kaiwaka, and then travelled on the water again across the Kaipara Harbour. By the early 1860s, a dray road existed between Mangawhai and Kaiwaka.

Main Towns in the Northland Region

Other Towns in the Northland Region