Mataia Guidebook

Jenny
Mataia Guidebook

Sightseeing

Enjoy a relaxed art and garden experience strolling along a gentle 1km sculpture & garden trail set in a tranquil and inspirational rural oasis located at award winning Kaipara Coast Plant Centre, just 40 minutes drive from Auckland City. Allow around 1 hour to walk the main sculpture trail, and it is suitable for all ages. You can also walk Don's Conservation track. This track takes you on a winding journey through native forest, along streams and waterfalls and focuses on a conservation message. The Conservation track takes around 30mins to walk, with a reasonable level of fitness recommended and is not suitable for pushchairs. Listen to the birds as you enjoy the gardens and over 40 selected sculptures by leading New Zealand artists. Sculptures are for sale and the display changes completely with the new exhibition opening in November each year to give you a fresh experience each time you come. There is a small coffee spot onsite in the plant centre selling coffee, gourmet pies and ice-creams.
9 persone del luogo consigliano
Kaipara Coast Plant Centre & Sculpture Gardens
1481 Kaipara Coast Hwy
9 persone del luogo consigliano
Enjoy a relaxed art and garden experience strolling along a gentle 1km sculpture & garden trail set in a tranquil and inspirational rural oasis located at award winning Kaipara Coast Plant Centre, just 40 minutes drive from Auckland City. Allow around 1 hour to walk the main sculpture trail, and it is suitable for all ages. You can also walk Don's Conservation track. This track takes you on a winding journey through native forest, along streams and waterfalls and focuses on a conservation message. The Conservation track takes around 30mins to walk, with a reasonable level of fitness recommended and is not suitable for pushchairs. Listen to the birds as you enjoy the gardens and over 40 selected sculptures by leading New Zealand artists. Sculptures are for sale and the display changes completely with the new exhibition opening in November each year to give you a fresh experience each time you come. There is a small coffee spot onsite in the plant centre selling coffee, gourmet pies and ice-creams.
About a 20 minute drive north of Mataia, Atiu Creek Regional park is well worth a visit for those keen on stretching their legs on one of the many walkways traversing this park.
Ātiu Creek Regional Park
414 Run Rd
About a 20 minute drive north of Mataia, Atiu Creek Regional park is well worth a visit for those keen on stretching their legs on one of the many walkways traversing this park.
Kaukapakapa Village Markets – the third Sunday of every month at the Kaukapakapa Hall. A traditional village market with everything from local produce to second hand goods.
Kaukapakapa Village Market
947 Kaipara Coast Hwy
Kaukapakapa Village Markets – the third Sunday of every month at the Kaukapakapa Hall. A traditional village market with everything from local produce to second hand goods.

Family fun

Great place for a dip and the slides are fun. You can BYO food and hire BBQs onsite as well. Can be really busy in the weekends.
39 persone del luogo consigliano
Parakai Springs
150 Parkhurst Rd
39 persone del luogo consigliano
Great place for a dip and the slides are fun. You can BYO food and hire BBQs onsite as well. Can be really busy in the weekends.
Just south of Helensville and about a 35 minute drive from Mataia, Woodhill Mountain bike park has tracks for everyone - from beginner to advanced. Combine your trip with a visit to the Parakai Hot Springs on your way home!
48 persone del luogo consigliano
Woodhill Mountain Bike Park
Restall Road
48 persone del luogo consigliano
Just south of Helensville and about a 35 minute drive from Mataia, Woodhill Mountain bike park has tracks for everyone - from beginner to advanced. Combine your trip with a visit to the Parakai Hot Springs on your way home!
A great trip to do in conjunction with a visit to Parakai Springs
29 persone del luogo consigliano
Tree Adventures [BOOKINGS ESSENTIAL]
29 persone del luogo consigliano
A great trip to do in conjunction with a visit to Parakai Springs

Neighbourhoods

The township of Warkworth is a 30 minute drive east of Mataia. With a population of around 3500, Warkworth is the key service centre for the North of the Rodney District, which is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing regions. It is also the gateway to the popular Matakana Wine Country. All standard facilities and services can be found in Warkworth including two supermarkets, branches for all the major banks, doctors surgery, pharmacies and plenty of eating establishments. It also has a great Information Centre where details can be found about activities and attractions for the local area and a lovely riverside walk and children’s playground along the banks of the Mahurangi River.
Warkworth
The township of Warkworth is a 30 minute drive east of Mataia. With a population of around 3500, Warkworth is the key service centre for the North of the Rodney District, which is one of New Zealand’s fastest growing regions. It is also the gateway to the popular Matakana Wine Country. All standard facilities and services can be found in Warkworth including two supermarkets, branches for all the major banks, doctors surgery, pharmacies and plenty of eating establishments. It also has a great Information Centre where details can be found about activities and attractions for the local area and a lovely riverside walk and children’s playground along the banks of the Mahurangi River.
30 minutes drive south of Mataia, nestled beside the Kaipara River on the south edge of the Kaipara Harbour, historic Helensville is the centre for the surrounding farming community. Basic facilities and services can be found in Helensville including a Countdown supermarket, library, and a pharmacy. If you continue through Helensville and through the roundabout you will find the small village of Parakai. There is a good children’s playground located by the carpark behind the library.
Helensville
30 minutes drive south of Mataia, nestled beside the Kaipara River on the south edge of the Kaipara Harbour, historic Helensville is the centre for the surrounding farming community. Basic facilities and services can be found in Helensville including a Countdown supermarket, library, and a pharmacy. If you continue through Helensville and through the roundabout you will find the small village of Parakai. There is a good children’s playground located by the carpark behind the library.
Our closest village, located just 15 minutes south of Mataia Homestead. Kaukapakapa is home to a dairy, liquor shop, take-aways, petrol station and a pub.
Kaukapakapa
Our closest village, located just 15 minutes south of Mataia Homestead. Kaukapakapa is home to a dairy, liquor shop, take-aways, petrol station and a pub.

Food scene

Great cafe on the northern end of Helensville in the old train station, tucked behind the GAS station. Lovely staff and good food & coffee.
Ginger Crunch Cafe
2 Railway St
Great cafe on the northern end of Helensville in the old train station, tucked behind the GAS station. Lovely staff and good food & coffee.
Worth a visit just to stand inside the chocolate shop and savor the heavenly smells! The cafe has great food, nice friendly staff and easy to find just opposite the Countdown supermarket
15 persone del luogo consigliano
Chocolate Brown
6 Mill Ln
15 persone del luogo consigliano
Worth a visit just to stand inside the chocolate shop and savor the heavenly smells! The cafe has great food, nice friendly staff and easy to find just opposite the Countdown supermarket
The Butcher Baker
The Real Bread Project
103 Mill Rd
Best little cafe spot in the area, great food, great coffee, located int he heart of Warkworth township. Highly recommend
Pete & Mary's Eatery
Best little cafe spot in the area, great food, great coffee, located int he heart of Warkworth township. Highly recommend