This walk starts from the car park near the Mangawhai Surf Life Saving Club. Walk down to the beach, turn left and head north. After an easy scramble over rocks, the first cove has a big sand dune rolling down from the cliffs.

Continue along the beach. After about 20min the walkway starts on the left-hand side, marked with a DOC sign. Walkers can go along the walkway proper or continue along the beach. The latter is only accessible two hours either side of low tide.  

If conditions are right, continue along the beach for another hour, boulder hopping between small coves. The last 50m consists of large, ankle-twisting stones strewn to the water’s edge and comes to a dramatic end at a large rock arch, after which there’s an immediate left turn and a steep staircase built into the cliff. 

Climb through a grove of stunted nīkau palms, pūriri and other native trees for about 20min. There are sensational coastal views before you reach the top and the shade of the bush ends.

From here the track winds south along the clifftop on an almost level gradient. There’s a sheer drop on the left, farmland and private homes on the right, panoramic views and ancient pōhutukawa trees along the way. 

After 10min there’s a track junction, with the option to either continue along the cliffs or walk the Link Track to Cove Road (3.5km for both). Te Araroa Track joins the Mangawhai Cliffs Walkway here.

Stroll along the cliffs for almost an hour to the lookout point before winding back down to the beach through more pōhutukawa and taraire trees. Once back on the beach, turn right to return to the car park.

Note: access is restricted from September 1 to October 31 when the Link Track is closed for lambing and calving. Keep to the walkway, as it crosses private property.