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Whangārei Heads Road, Whangarei Heads, Northland
Photo: Florian Bugiel · CC BY-SA 3.0 · cropped

Drives Northland, New Zealand Northland

Whangārei Heads Road

Whangarei Heads Road · Onerahi → Taurikura

Twisty14.6 mi30 min1,300 ft climbHigh point ≈ 300 ftOne way
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The drive

Whangārei Heads Road leaves the Onerahi edge of Whangārei and follows the south side of the harbour out to the heads: 24 km (15 mi) in about half an hour, with moderate bends on the shoreline and over the hills, and three tighter stretches.

The road passes Tamaterau and Parua Bay, then reaches McLeod Bay, a sheltered swimming beach under Mount Manaia, where the St James Church of 1858 stands on the foreshore. It finishes at Taurikura below the mountain.

Mount Manaia is a wāhi tapu for Ngātiwai and other iwi, and the DOC track starts above McLeod Bay, a short way up from the Mount Manaia Club's lower car park. The road continues past Taurikura, but this drive ends there and returns the same way.

Along the way

  1. Onerahi
  2. Tamaterau
  3. McLeod Bay
  4. Taurikura
Elevation
1,300 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 300 ft
OnerahiTaurikura
Curves
Mostly moderate, with three twisty stretches
OnerahiTaurikura
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • The road follows a narrow peninsula, so expect bends and little room.
  • The Mount Manaia lookouts have no safety barriers, so keep well back from the drop-offs.
  • Council roadworks, including watermain work at Parua Bay, can reduce sections to a single lane, so check the council page before you go.
  • Parking for the Mount Manaia track is at the club's lower car park on Whangārei Heads Road.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Whangārei District Council: roadworks and closures.

Questions about this drive

How long does Whangārei Heads Road take to drive?

Whangārei Heads Road from Onerahi to Taurikura is 24 km (15 mi) and takes about 30 minutes.

Is Whangārei Heads Road twisty?

Whangārei Heads Road has mostly moderate curves, with three tighter stretches along the harbour and over the hills.

Where is the Mount Manaia track on Whangārei Heads Road?

DOC advises parking in the Mount Manaia Club's lower car park on Whangārei Heads Road above McLeod Bay, and the track starts just above it.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
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More drives near here

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Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

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Map of Whangārei Heads Road, from Onerahi to Taurikura