Discover Otuawao (Mita) Bay
Otuawao (Mita) Bay is located at the northern end of Mahurangi Regional Park West, within the Mahurangi Harbour in northern Auckland. This bay has a lovely sandy beach, framed by pōhutukawa trees, providing a serene spot for relaxation. Accessible by a steep walk from Tungutu Point or by boat, the bay also features a tent-only campsite for those looking to get away from the crowds.
Exploring the Bay
To reach Otuawao Bay, enter Mahurangi Regional Park West via Ngarewa Drive, where you'll find a small parking area. From there, assuming there is space to park, walk through the access gate and follow the signs into the paddock on the point, then follow the Mita Bay Loop Track to the bay. Although the walk is only a few hundred metres, it is steep, and the grass can become slippery when wet. The 300-metre-long beach lies north of the point, offering stunning views from the top of the track. Along the way, you'll encounter large pōhutukawa and puriri trees, bent and shaped by the coastal environment.
Completing the Loop
You can return via the same path or take a 4WD track through native regrowth forest to the road. Then walk back approximately 600 metres along Ngarewa Drive to Tungutu Point, completing the loop. Alternatively, the Tangutu Point Loop Track provides access to the bay from the main car parks in Otarawao (Sullivans) Bay. It takes around 90 minutes to complete the two loops starting from Otarawao Bay.
How to Get There
To reach the access trail from Warkworth, take the Twin Coast Discovery Highway south, then turn off southeast onto Mahurangi West Road, which leads to Ngarewa Drive. From Warkworth, the drive takes 20 minutes and is 19 km. From Downtown Auckland, it is 50 minutes and 52 km.
You can also explore the Cudlip Point Loop Track in the regional park. Nearby are the settlements of Puhoi, Waiwera and Wenderholm Regional Park.
