Just an hour north of Auckland you’ll find Matakana. This coastal area is loved for its boutique wineries, beautiful beaches, artisan producers, sculpture trails, and relaxed village charm. It’s the kind of place where you can spend the morning tasting wine next to a vineyard, wander through an art trail after lunch, and finish the day with a coastal walk or a dip at one of the region’s stunning beaches.
Already explored some of our favourite things to do in Auckland? You might be ready for a day trip or weekend escape, and Matakana might be the perfect destination. So, we’ve put together a list of 10–12 of the best things to do in this charming region — from vineyards and art to beaches, villages, and coastal adventures.
Taste Your Way Through Matakana’s Boutique Vineyards
Matakana is one of New Zealand’s most exciting boutique wine regions, known for elegant reds and food-friendly whites. Its small, family-owned wineries make the experience feel intimate and authentic.
A must-visit is Brick Bay Wines, where you can enjoy a tasting flight or a long lunch overlooking the lake, not to mention renowned sculptures. Other excellent options include Matakana Estate and the Italian-inspired Heron’s Flight, which both offer charming cellar door experiences.
If you prefer a curated experience, both of Terra & Tide’s Matakana tours include wine tasting and vineyard visits:
These tours complement our Auckland City Tours and let you relax while someone else handles the driving, timing, and reservations. They’re ideal if you want a stress-free full-day adventure and a perfect way to experience all the memorable things to do in Matakana.
Explore Sculpture Trails, Galleries & Local Art
Matakana has a thriving creative scene. There’s much to delight the visitor who loves to stroll through a gallery or artist’s workshop. The standout is the Brick Bay Sculpture Trail — a world-class outdoor exhibition that winds through native bush and rolling hills. It’s one of the most memorable art experiences in the region and pairs beautifully with a tasting at the Brick Bay Glasshouse Restaurant.
Around Matakana, you’ll also find artisan studios, small galleries, boutique homeware stores, and craft workshops. Simply wandering the charming town is a delight. But Terra & Tide’s personalised tours can take you “behind the scenes” to meet local makers and discover spaces you’d miss otherwise.
Art and wine in the same day — you can’t go wrong!
Enjoy Local Flavours: Chocolate, Gelato & the Farmers Market
Love to combine art, wine and tasty artisan treats? Matakana will keep you busy. The region is known for its handmade chocolate, small-batch gelato, cheeses, olive oils, preserves, honey, and locally roasted coffee.
One of our favourites and a feature of all our tours is Charlie’s Gelato. This community-focused place offers much moe than tasty gelato with a flower picking garden, a gallery, the opportunity to buy artisan products, “wine time” (4-8pm Fridays & Saturdays) and even a knitting truck.
For the full experience, visit on a Saturday morning and enjoy the Matakana Village Farmers Market. The market is lively and colourful, filled with musicians, growers, local craftspeople, and delicious food stalls. It’s the ideal spot for breakfast or mid-morning grazing before heading out to vineyards, local beaches or walks.
Wander the Matakana Village: Shops, Cafés & Hidden Corners
Indeed, a wander is perhaps the quintessential Matakana activity. Matakana Village is compact, inviting, and perfect for slow wandering. You’ll find boutique fashion, design stores, bookshops, homewares, health-food stores, cafés, wine bars, and even a cosy boutique cinema.
It’s an easy place to lose track of time, and it makes a lovely midday stop between outdoor adventures. If you’re on a guided tour with Terra & Tide, your guide can help you find the best local lunch spots and artisan shops that you’ll enjoy.
Walk the Coast at Tāwharanui Regional Park
Just a short drive from Matakana, Tāwharanui Regional Park is one of the most beautiful coastal landscapes in the Auckland region. It blends white-sand beaches with rolling farmland, birdlife, forest walks, and sweeping views over the Hauraki Gulf.
Choose from an easy beach stroll or take a longer coastal track for elevated coastal scenery. Swimming here is stunning on a calm day, and the bird sanctuary area adds a rare ecological element to the experience.
Our expert guides love to show visitors one of the best places to experience native wildlife in the Auckland region. Surrounded by a fence that keeps preditors at bay, and home to 300 kiwi, the park is a great place to see birds you won’t see anywhere else in the world — flocks of pukeko grazing, saddleback, (tieke), tui, woodpigeons and the stitchbird (hihi). (And bird lovers should consider combining this experience with a birding tour on Waiheke Island.)
If you enjoy walking, the park is a must-see.
Hike the Mangawhai Coastal Walkway or climb Mount Tamahunga
The Mangawhai Coastal Walkway is perfect if you are looking for a more dramatic hike. It is one of the best full-day coastal hikes in the area — a blend of cliffs, rock shelves, native bush, and ocean panoramas. It’s a highlight in Terra & Tide’s Matakana Explorer itinerary and ideal if you enjoy active travel with big rewards. After the walk, Mangawhai Village offers cafés, shops, and gelato for recovery.
The Mount Tamahunga walkway is another rewarding but shorter walk option offering stunning views after a climb through regenerating native forest.
Grab a bike & explore
Like to explore but prefer wheels to hiking boots? Matakana’s bike trails are a rewarding way to explore the area. The Matakana Cycle Trail is becoming a popular option on our Matakana experiences. Bikes can be hired from E-Volt Racing Matakana at the Matakana Country Park.
Visit Charming Coastal Villages
The Matakana Coast is dotted with small, relaxed villages that showcase the region’s gentle charm. Whether you’re grabbing coffee, browsing small shops, or just soaking up the seaside pace, these little stops add a lot to the day.
Many guided tours include stops like these as part of a personalised route. A few favourites include:
- Omaha – long, soft-sand beach, great swimming and the perfect picnic spot after a bike ride (another popular tour experience we offer)
- Leigh – relaxed harbour atmosphere and good fish & chips
- Point Wells – peaceful peninsula ideal for slow scenic drives or cycling
Visit the Goat Island Marine Reserve in Leigh
Alongside its delicious fish & chips, Leigh offers a memorable chance to experience local marine life “up close & personal”. Leigh’s Goat Island Marine Reserve, is Aotearoa’s pre-eminent marine reserve. A visit to the discovery centre, glass bottom boat tour or getting in the water with Goat Island Dive & Snorkel should be on any nature-lovers Matakana coast to-do list.
Take a Scenic River Cruise or Go Kayaking
For a quieter change of pace, consider a Matakana River cruise or a kayaking trip along nearby waterways. These offer a different, more contemplative perspective of the region — ideal for photography, bird-spotting, or simply unwinding after lunch.
This is also a good option if you’re splitting a visit across two days and want something relaxing to balance vineyard visits and coastal hiking.
Learn to Surf
Always wanted to experience the joy of catching a wave? The Matakana coast is dotted with great surfing spots and Aotearoa Surf School, based in Te Arai, can introduce you to the sport. They’ll also help you find the best surf if you aren’t new to the sport.
Discover Local History & Craft Heritage
If you enjoy history, make time for a stop at the Warkworth & District Museum, which tells the story of early settlement, kauri logging, and maritime heritage in the region.
Sample Local Beer & Casual Dining
For a change of pace after wine tasting, head to Sawmill Brewery + Smoko Room, a favourite for craft beer lovers. New Zealand’s first B Corp certified brewery, Sawmill is very focused on operating sustainably. Their taproom and kitchen offer a relaxed, but high-quality, food and drink experience — great for late lunch, early dinner, or an afternoon stop on the way back to Auckland.
Craft beer, good food, and a friendly atmosphere make it a perfect “final chapter” of your Matakana adventure.
Let Someone Else Organise the Perfect Day: Tailored Tours
If you want to fit several of these experiences into one efficient day — without worrying about driving, navigation, timing, or bookings — a private or guided tour is a smart choice.
Terra & Tide’s Matakana experiences are designed to blend the best of the region into one seamless day:
- Art & sculpture
- Wine tasting and vineyard lunches
- Coastal walks and beach visits
- Local artisan producers
- Small villages and nature experiences
A Sample Matakana Itinerary
If you’re planning your own trip, here’s a balanced plan for either one day or a full weekend.
1-Day Highlights
- Morning: Brick Bay Sculpture Trail + wine tasting
- Late morning: Explore Matakana Village or stop at the Farmers Market (Sat)
- Lunch: Vineyard restaurant or Sawmill Brewery
- Afternoon: Tāwharanui beach walk or Mangawhai Coastal Walk (shorter section)
- Evening: Gelato or wine bar visit before heading back to Auckland
2-Day Getaway
Day 1: Village + vineyards + art
Day 2: Beach time + coastal walk + pottery studio + river cruise
This approach lets you enjoy both nature and culture without rushing.
Why Matakana Complements an Auckland Trip
Matakana offers what the city can’t: quiet coastal spaces, boutique vineyards, farmland, fresh air, and slow-paced charm. It’s one of the easiest and most rewarding day trips from Auckland — whether you’re visiting for the first time or you’re a local wanting a refreshing change of scenery.
For more Auckland-region inspiration, revisit our guide: Our Favourite Things to Do in Auckland
More things to do in Matakana?
Want to explore more local attraction options before planning your trip? These guides will help you plan your visit:
- AucklandNZ: Things to Do on the Matakana Coast
- Visit Matakana: Official Visitor Guide
- Lonely Planet: Auckland & Northland Coastal Highlights
Contact us to arrange a day exploring the Matakana coast from Auckland designed around your interests.
