What are the best scenic drives from Ruakākā? The two essentials are the Whangārei Heads road, tracing the harbour beneath Mount Manaia to Ocean Beach with constant sea views, and the southern run through Waipu Cove to Langs Beach, one of the prettiest short coastal drives in New Zealand. The Tutukaka Coast makes a superb full day loop.
The Whangārei Heads road
Cross the harbour's southern shore and follow Whangārei Heads Road as it winds beneath a skyline of volcanic peaks, Manaia chief among them, with the water rarely out of view. The drive strings together a series of reasons to pull over: the McLeod Bay waterfront, the Parua Bay tavern on its point, and the lookout beneath Mount Manaia where the whole of Bream Bay spreads out below, with Ruakākā's long white beach clearly visible across the water.
Push on to the end of the road and Ocean Beach delivers a wild, cinematic finale of white sand and rolling surf. Allow half a day return from Ruakākā with stops, and aim for late afternoon when the low sun models the peaks beautifully.
South to Waipu Cove and Langs Beach
Heading the other way, the coast road south is short, sweet and absurdly photogenic. Waipu Cove arrives first, a perfect arc of swimming beach with a good cafe, then the road climbs along the cliffs through tunnels of pōhutukawa to Langs Beach, where white sand meets turquoise water beneath some of the most coveted real estate in the north. In December, with the pōhutukawa in crimson flower, this stretch is as pretty as any coastal kilometre in the country.
The full run from Ruakākā takes about 35 minutes without stops, which nobody manages. Carry on a few minutes further to the Mangawhai cliff top viewpoint, or loop home inland through the Brynderwyn hills for a change of scenery.
The Tutukaka Coast full day
With a whole day, drive north through Whangārei and out to the Tutukaka Coast, gateway to the Poor Knights Islands. The road rolls past Ngunguru's estuary to a chain of beaches that headline every Northland postcard: Matapōuri with its sheltered double bay, Whale Bay reached by a short forest walk, and Sandy Bay where the surfers gather. Swim at two or three, lunch at Tutukaka marina, and amble home.
It is around 75 minutes each way from Ruakākā, all sealed, with the section beyond Ngunguru narrow and winding in the best coastal road tradition. Start early in summer; the car parks at Matapōuri reward the punctual.
