Coastal Views and Walks in Leigh
Leigh is a small but lively coastal village on the Matakana Coast, on the west side of Omaha Cove (not to be confused with Ōmaha Beach) and surrounded by some of the most beautiful marine and coastal landscapes in Auckland. It’s the gateway to Te Hāwere-a-Maki / Goat Island Marine Reserve and Pakiri Beach, and provides several options for exploring the coast.
The elevated coastline and offshore islands provide dramatic scenery, and the area is rich in birdlife, marine life, and coastal vegetation. Options include the scenic Leigh Coastal Walk, a steep walk down to a small, lovely beach in Harbour View Road Coastal Reserve and a visit to Omaha Cove.
The town also has the only services on the Matakana Coast north of Matakana, with a general store, café/takeaway, a pub, and a children’s playground near the waterfront.
Walks and a Beach
Running between Lax Crescent and Cotterell Street, the Leigh Coastal Walk is a 2.2 km, 50-minute, mainly clifftop track. It passes through pōhutukawa-fringed cliffs, grass reserves, regrowth forest, boardwalks, and rocky sections with sweeping sea views. Optional side tracks lead down to small coves and beaches, while the main route offers photo opportunities at every turn.
Another quicker option is to walk down the steep steps to the beach at Harbour View Road Coastal Reserve. Despite the clumsy name, this small beach is a pretty location below the cliffs, with access to a large pointed rock formation at the north end, perfect for fishing. Adjacent to the reserve is a historic cemetery with a stunning view of Omaha Cove.
Exploring Omaha Cove
Leigh’s sheltered Omaha Cove (also known as Leigh Harbour) has a boat ramp and functional wharf used by commercial operators like Leigh Fisheries and recreational fishers alike. Glass-bottom boat tours, dive charters, and kayaks depart from here for trips to Te Hāwere-a-Maki / Goat Island Marine Reserve, New Zealand’s first marine reserve and a world-class site for underwater nature and marine science. Alongside the harbour lies the venerable Leigh Scenic Reserve.
There is also a coastal track that begins at the boat ramp and follows the shoreline under the cliffs to a small beach at the western end of the cove. It then crosses a bridge over the stream and enters a regenerating native forest before being blocked by a slip. Though short, this path is particularly photogenic, with boats moored in the cove and reflections in the sheltered water of the tidal stream.
Getting There
Leigh is about 92 km north of Downtown Auckland. Take State Highway 1 to Warkworth, then Matakana Road to Matakana. From there, follow Leigh Road directly into the village. Parking is available in the village, Omaha Cove and on the access roads near the walk entrances.
Just a kilometre west lies Kohuroa / Matheson Bay, a safe swimming beach with a reef-protected bay and the hidden gem of the Kohuroa Stream Track. The town is also a multi-day base option for exploring the wider Matakana Coast, from the surf at Pakiri Beach to the protected bays of Tāwharanui and Mahurangi.
