“Tawharanui’s gem is Anchor Bay, the park’s main beach with an 800m marine park sprawling towards Little Barrier with it’s ever present cloud beret. The bay has honeycomb cliffs draped by Pohutukawa, rock fingers reaching out to sea, warm rock pools for small children to paddle in, caves to explore and the most benign champagne surf…..”
- Robyn Langwell, Herald on Sunday
Directions to Sandpiper Lodge
Sandpiper Lodge is situated a short scenic drive off State Highway One from Auckland to Whangarei, just one hour north of Auckland and one and a half hours south of Whangarei.
At the intersection at the northern set of traffic lights (second set heading north and first set heading south) on State Highway One in Warkworth, head east towards Tawharanui Regional Park. Once passing through the traffic islands just clear of the traffic lights veer left and once again head towards Tawharanui Regional Park. The next township is Matakana and just keep going straight through the traffic islands (do not turn left). One kilometre further on, turn right onto Takatu Road and towards Tawharanui Regional Park, turn right at the next roundabout 500 meters from turnoff and travel a further 10 kilometres until you reach the first beach and The Sandpiper Lodge.
Link to Google Map