From the black sands of Muriwai to the vineyards of Kumeū, Riverhead’s riverside beauty, and Albany’s growing urban hub, this diverse, underexplored corner of Tāmaki Makaurau blends rustic splendour with lifestyle opportunity.
We highlight its many charms, including world-class golfing, luxurious accommodation, its sprawling, natural playgrounds, and some of North Island’s finest real estate…
MURIWAI
Famed for its dramatic stretch of black-sand coastline, cliff-top trails and vast gannet colony, Muriwai is an Auckland icon for very good reason. The rugged, windswept stretch is a favourite with surfers of all levels – and beyond surfing, visitors can hike coastal tracks, fish from the shore, fly kites or try blokarting and biking. Sweeping Tasman Sea views and fresh ocean air complete the experience, both of which can be enjoyed from some world-class golfing and luxury accommodation.
COATESVILLE
Charming Coatesville is set among rolling countryside, offering a peaceful escape from city life. Its standout highlight is the popular Coatesville Market, where visitors can browse local produce, artisan goods and homemade treats while soaking up the famous community atmosphere. The village also punches above its weight for dining, while providing convenient access to the Riverhead Forest.
WOODHILL FOREST
Te Ngahere o Woodhill/Woodhill Forest is a sprawling commercial pine forest near Muriwai and Waimauku. Another outdoor adventure haven, visitors can enjoy horse trekking, tackle the Sandpit motorcycle playground, explore the mountain bike park, take on Tree Adventures, test off-road skills at the Woodhill 4WD Park, or jump into action-packed games at Delta Force Paintball.
KUMEŪ
Historic Kumeū is a regional jewel with its lively blend of boutique wineries, orchards and rolling green farmland. Home to the area’s oldest wineries – established by Croatian families in the 1940s – expect cellar-door tastings and award-winning restaurants – the Hallertau brewbar is a must! Beyond the vineyards, explore roadside stalls selling fresh seasonal produce, browse specialty shops, cafes, and galleries. Plus, it’s the ideal launchpad to all the local natural wonder like Muriwai, and Woodhill.
RIVERHEAD
Sitting at the head of the upper Waitematā Harbour, pretty Riverhead is another historic gem. In the 19th century it was a hub for gum digging and river trade with Helensville and the Kaipara, later supporting timber milling and tobacco farming. Today, this riverside township blends its heritage character with modern village life, with historic buildings sitting alongside cafes, restaurants and boutiques, while the surrounding countryside offers easy access to parks, reserves and popular mountain-biking trails in the nearby Riverhead Forest. With waterfront dining, leafy walking tracks and a relaxed community atmosphere. The 160-year-old Riverhead tavern is believed to be the nation’s oldest waterside pub!
ALBANY
Ōkahukura Albany marks the northern edge of Auckland’s urban sprawl, blending a busy university hub with major retail precincts and pockets of peaceful countryside. Once home to dairy farms and strawberry fields, the suburb expanded rapidly in the 1990s with the arrival of Massey University, new housing developments and Westfield Albany. Sitting at a key transport junction, Albany also acts as a gateway linking the North Shore’s east and west coasts, making it a convenient base for exploring beaches and hinterland alike.
