Ruakaka: Coast, dunes and river mouth

Ruakaka combines a distinctive coastal landscape with a range of ways to spend time outdoors: you can walk through dunes, visit the river mouth at low tide for birdwatching, or discover horse racing at Ruakaka Racecourse. The town is part of Bream Bay, a 22-kilometre stretch of coast with white sand and blue water. Which of these aspects appeals to you most may also shape your choice of Ruakaka as a holiday destination and starting point for looking for a holiday home.

Discover the coast and dunes

One way to experience the dune landscape is the Ruakaka Pipeline Road Track. The 3-kilometre track runs through the dunes and provides access to Bream Bay. It is suitable for people with most fitness levels. So this description is not aimed only at experienced hikers: if you are looking for a route for your holiday that is not exclusively geared towards very sporty visitors, this track may also be of interest.

The Ruakaka Pipeline Road Track can be accessed from the car park on Mair Road, next to the oil refinery. This information helps you plan the track as a separate activity: the starting point is specified, and the route itself leads through the dunes to the bay. The coast of Bream Bay, with its white sand and blue water, offers a different experience from the route through the dunes. If you are mainly looking for coastal and landscape experiences on your trip, you could include Ruakaka in your selection of possible holiday destinations.

River mouth and birdwatching

The mouth of the Ruakākā River also offers its own natural attraction. It is suitable for birdwatching at low tide, and New Zealand dotterels and pied stilts breed there. The tide is important: low tide is the stated time for this opportunity to observe birds. If you enjoy watching wildlife in its natural surroundings, this gives you a specific reason to include the river mouth in your travel plans, without combining the coastal track and birdwatching into a single loop walk.

At high tide, you can paddle up the Ruakākā River by kayak or stand-up paddleboard. This is a different way to experience the waterside landscape from birdwatching at low tide. The conditions are therefore not interchangeable: low tide matters for one activity, while paddling is done at high tide. If you enjoy activities on the water, Ruakaka offers two different options to consider when planning your holiday.

Horses on the beach and at the racecourse

There is a designated area for horse riding at Ruakākā Beach year-round, between Mair Road and Karawai Street. Clear restrictions also apply: horse riding is prohibited at all times in the Ruakākā River and river mouth. It is also prohibited south of the river to a point 215 metres beyond the Ruakākā Life Saving Club. If you are planning a stay that includes horse riding, be sure to distinguish the designated beach area from these restricted areas.

Another distinctive feature is Ruakaka Racecourse. It hosts nine race days per season, and its natural all-weather track is considered one of the best of its kind in New Zealand. The racecourse offers expansive views of the ocean. It also provides direct access to a beach where you can train on foot. Horse racing, ocean views and this opportunity to train on the beach describe a different side of Ruakaka from the dune track and river mouth.

Choose Ruakaka as your holiday destination

If you base your holiday home search on the experiences that matter most to you, Ruakaka is one possible holiday destination.

More places to discover: Kaeo, Awanui, Otaika, Matapouri, Whangaruru, Waipu, Cable Bay, Rawhiti.

For the broader travel overview: Northland.