text: Feb 07 Posted by New Zealand Experience in New Zealand Outdoors
  ​Wangaroa Harbour, is a deep tidal inlet on the eastern coast of Northland, Whangaroa Bay and the Pacific Ocean are toward the north. The little settlement of Totara North is located on the western side of the harbor, this is the only other settlement except for Whangaroa on the entire harbour. Access to Whagaroa is through Kaeo to the south or from Wainui road on the loop out to Matauri Bay along way to the east of the harbour.
  Whangaroa is as far as you can drive up the harbour but here is an ideal place to launch a kayak, the waters inside the harbour are safe to explore in a kayak and there are numerous secluded bays and headlands to explore all the way out to the entrance, although if you want to explore this far from Whangaroa settlement you are better of to head up Tauranga Bay road further north, this road takes you out to Tauranga Bay a stunning beach looking out to Stephenson Island and you can launch here.
  From Tauranga Bay you can head around to the left a short distance and you are at the Whangaroa heads a much shorter and safer distance than trying to kayak from Whangaroa, the heads are narrow and a strong current passes through here around mid tide, there are some fantastic secluded bays just inside the entrance to the harbour.
  The area around Whangaroa bay and out to Stephenson island is a renowned big game fishery and anything from blue marlin to yellow fin tuna can be caught in these waters during the fishing season, which is around November through to March or April in the summer months, there are several charter boats operating from Whangaroa or Mangonui further north.
  There is very secluded accommodation available at Lane Cove on the western side of the harbour access is by boat only, or a 2 hour hike from Wairakau Stream track , there is no road to the hut and booking is required through the department of conservation DOC as they are the curators.
  There are walking tracks dotted all through the Whangaroa area both on the eastern side and on the western side they are all mostly managed by the department of conservation and more information on access and availability can be found on there website there are also old maori pa sites around here as well as the area has a rich history from the early years.