Arai te Uru Heritage Walk
Arai-te-Uru
A short coastal walk on the southern headland at Omapere, with views over the harbour bar, the dunes opposite and the Tasman Sea. It is a classic sunset spot.
Arai-te-Uru is a recreation reserve on the southern headland of Hokianga Harbour, named after the taniwha guardian said to protect the harbour's southern shore. From the Omapere car park, a paved path takes about 10–15 minutes to reach the top of the headland. In the 19th century a signal station here guided ships across the harbour bar. Today interpretation panels tell the story of the Kupe legend and the harbour's shipping history. From the clifftop, one side looks out over the churning waves of the Tasman Sea, and the other over the harbour bar, the calm inlet and the towering golden dunes across the water, which are especially spectacular at sunset. The walk is free and takes about 30 minutes return, with some steps. The cliff edge is windy, so do not climb over the railings.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Hokianga North Head Sand Dunes
- Opononi & Omapere
- Koutu Boulders
- Tāne Mahuta
- Te Matua Ngahere
- Rawene
- Kohukohu
- Māngungu Mission House