Whangarei to Mangawhai Heads, in an odd way ~ Northland Sojourn 2012 Day 9
An unplanned, fun, ride to Pataua
It was another day when wet weather changed the plans. Having a Whangarei local on the trip helped scope out a ride almost opposite to the route map which looped south towards Managawhai Heads. It would have been a bash into the still strong South Easterly wind.
Timely change?
Instead, after breakfast and a visit to the clock museum, we shuttled East out to Whangarei Heads and rode North up the coast and back into town.
Judy P
Whangarei Heads, Ocean Beach
The surf at Ocean Beach was pretty impressive, for the East Coast, with the easterly providing a nice tailwind for the first part of the ride!
The road inland passes two striking volcanic peaks then follows the harbour shoreline climbing over bluffs between bays. No time today to climb this today, but you can.
It was great riding and I made good time with the combination of downhill and tailwind. It is over a decade since I have been in this area and, although not too developed, there are some lovely new houses dotted on coastal ‘Lifestyle blocks’. One had a rather unusual mailbox (below)!
Pataua Beach
We rode back towards the Pacific coast to Pataua Beach, an ocean beach with large estuary/lagoon.
In those days—because TVs were expensive—it was rare for beach houses to have one!
That was rare in those days when holiday homes were typically simple buildings with cast off/second hand furniture, rather than today’s mansions by the sea.
Pataua has changed a but not beyond recognition. I remember we stayed near a grass reserve on the inlet but couldn’t pick the actual bach. Suspect it may have been replaced by more a modern house (brown tile roof below).
I was amazed to find one thing hadn’t changed. I remembered a long, dilapidated, footbridge connecting Pataua North & South. It seemed old when I was eight and is still there (below) today, if only just judging by the scaffold props, and now quite a bit older!
Without a boat, or swimming, this link is the only alternative to a 49 km drive to get to the ocean beach. That was once a rough gravel road, but we zipped across the footbridge, and I was pleased to find it has been sealed.
The ride toward Whangarei was pretty. It initially follows an inlet before climbing to farmland with patches of bush and, eventually, the outer suburbs of Whangarei.
Back to town, the bus to Mangawhai Heads
I had a short excursion to Whangarei Falls before discovering the rendezvous was back at the harbour basin. By this time it was raining again but a post ride change of clothes made the bus trip to our evening accommodation at Mangawhai Heads more comfortable.
We stayed at some lovely holiday chalets and had a great meal to finish the day.
Robin Capper
