It’s surrounded by more famous neighbours. Just say Goat Island or Leigh, or Omaha Surf Beach, or Matakana and all Kiwis will know exactly where you mean. And in the centre of all of them is the extraordinarily lovely Whangateau estuary and an adventure awaiting you up the Omaha River.
To fully appreciate the Whangateau you’ll need a small boat and a bigger appetite – for absorbing history, boats and boatyards, and craft beers in equal measure. A wee river journey with a brewery as a destination. What’s not to like? But wait – there’s a catch. Read on.
It’s safest to approach the Whangateau on four wheels, for by sea your navigation test starts immediately, with the chartplotter warning not to enter the sometimes shoaling, fast-current-flowing Whangateau Harbour entrance without local knowledge.
Once inside the harbour mouth, the wide estuary welcomes you. But it’s deceptive, for most of it is very shallow. There are moorings and a limited anchoring space just behind Ti Point on the right of the harbour entrance, with a public jetty there too. Straight ahead is a
