Activities and Attractions - Leigh & Warkworth, Northland, New Zealand

There is plenty to do at Rolling Cloud and it is an ideal base to explore scenic Lower Northland. If you do venure out - Leigh, the closest town, is a character- filled New Zealand seaside village. A bit further afield is Warkworth - a historic town with many attractions. If you have a few days or a few weeks, there is something for everyone close by.

Groceries

There is a superette - Leigh General Store - generally open till late during the summer, and a New World supermarket in Warkworth. Fresh fruit and vegetables are available at the orchards along the road to Omaha.

Cafés & Restaurants

The Leigh Saw Mill Café (5 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
This well known local landmark is within 4kms of Rolling Cloud, towards Leigh. It is highly recommended. The menu features local produce, some of which is grown on the property. Your hosts are the Guiness Family. Phone 422 6019.

Leigh Fish & Chips (5 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
This local institution is situated adjacent to the general store in Leigh. It is well known throughout the region for its fresh fish. You can either eat at the picnic tables adjacent to the shop or have takeaway service. Phone 422 6035.

Matakana House (15 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
A friendly restaurant in a beautiful house, built in 1901. You will need to ring for opening times. 11 Matakana Valley Road, Matakana, 20 minutes from Rolling Cloud. Phone 422 7497.

The Rusty Pelican (15 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
A pizzeria and restaurant in Matakana, within 15kms of Leigh on the Warkworth Road and around 20 minutes from Rolling Cloud. It has a relaxed atmosphere and is very popular with locals and visitors alike. Phone 422 9122.

Morris & James (15 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
Outlet store for this well-known pottery manufacturing operation, with an adjoining café. Summer opening hours for the store are 8am-4.30pm Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm weekends and public holidays. The café is open during summer from 9am till 4pm weekdays, 9am-5pm weekends and public holidays. Phone 422 7116 for the outlet store, 422 7484 for the café/bar.

Ascension (20 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
Ascension Vineyard on the Matakana Coast is a unique New Zealand winery, restaurant and wedding venue. Ascension's cuisine is based on fresh flavoursome New Zealand ingredients with a Mediterranean twist! The restaurant is extremely popular, and bookings are essential (phone 422 9601) as for much of the year this is the only way to secure a table! Further details can be found on their website at http://www.ascensionvineyard.co.nz.

Warkworth (25 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
There are a range of restaurants and cafes in Warkworth. Since these change from time to time you should contact the Warkworth Visitors Information Centre at 1 Baxter Street, Warkworth, phone 425 9081, for particulars and recommendations.

Amenities

Goat Island (5 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
This is a nationally known marine reserve which is a popular destination for day visitors from Auckland. You can see the fish from a glass bottom boat and charters can be arranged through Christina or Ivan at 422 6334 or mobile 025 979 764. Their boat "Habitat Explorer" operates all year round. They also offer a fishing service with a guarantee of "no fish, no change"! Diving gear for snorkelling can be hired from Sea Friends on Goat Island Road (phone 422 6212).

Leigh (5 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
This is the nearest village. It is 5kms from Rolling Cloud on the Auckland road. It has a population of approximately 500 residents. Leigh is well known for its charming port and commercial and recreational fishing industry. It is also the nearest port for Great Barrier Island and for diving operators accessing Great Barrier and other islands of the Gulf.

Matakana (15 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
This is a small village between Leigh and Warkworth. Its primary attractions are a craft market (phone 422 7261) in the old Matakana Dairy Factory in Matakana Valley Road and the Morris & James Country Pottery, which is well known throughout New Zealand. The pottery also has a café and its produce can be purchased at the site. It is open 7 days, all year round. Contact particulars: café phone 422 7484 and the pottery phone 422 7116. It is worth a visit.

Warkworth (25 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
This is the nearest town, established in 1853, and has a current population of approximately 8,000 residents. The founder of the town was John Brown, who purchased the town's 153 acres, drew up a subdivisonal plan and almost immediately allotted land for the Church of England with its cemetery. For its initial 80 years the town was serviced by the river, with steamboats providing access to and from Auckland. The metal road was not completed until the 1930's, providing vehicular access. There is a very good tourist office in Warkworth's main street which provides information on a number of historic sites, including the Warkworth Heritage Trail and also a number of walks in the area, ranging from 15 to 30 minutes to several hours.

Kawau Island (20 minutes by car and a ferry ride from Rolling Cloud)
A trip to Kawau Island and a visit to the island's Mansion House, a former residence of a Governor of New Zealand, is well worth a trip. Ferries leave regularly from the Sandspit, a pleasant 30 minutes drive from Rolling Cloud. There are daily sailings from the Sandspit Wharf at 10:00am and 2:00pm on weekends, and a number of cruises available around Kawau Island. The ferry trip takes around 30 minutes. The phone numbers to check the ferry times and services are : Kawau Kat 425 8006; Matata Cruises 025 960 910 or 0800 225 292. Mansion House (entry adults $4.00, children $2.00) is regarded as "a magnificent example of colonial New Zealand architecture and was once the famous house of Sir George Grey during the 1800's. The grounds surrounding Mansion House include exotic plants and wildlife - all legacies of the Governor's life on the island. Wallabies, Kookaburras, Rosellas, Peacocks and Wekas can still be seen in the grounds today."

Activities

Croquet (on site)
A croquet set is kept in the house, with full instructions on how to play this often vicious game! It can be set up in a matter of moments on the front lawn.

Diving (5 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
A very well equipped dive centre (phone 422 6925) is located next to the Saw Mill Café, 5 minutes from Rolling Cloud. Open over summer from 8am to 6pm.

Fishing (5 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
This can be arranged by the dive centre (phone 422 6925) located next to the Saw Mill Café, 5 minutes from Rolling Cloud. Alternatively, phone Sea Venture Charters (phone 425 4225) or check with the Warkworth Visitors Information Centre (phone 425 9081).

Golf (all 25 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
The Warkworth Golf Club provides a par 71, 18 hole course in a "park like rural setting". The Club is on the Rolling Cloud side of Warkworth on the Matakana Road. The Club can provide rental gear and can be contacted at phone 425 8248.

There is also an 18 hole course at Omaha known as the "Omaha Beach Golf Club", also 25 minutes from Rolling Cloud. The Omaha turnoff is well sign posted from Rolling Cloud, on the Matakana Road. The phone number is 422 7551 and fax 422 7993.

A third club is at Wellsford, reached via Pakiri and has an 18 hole course. Phone 423 8385.

Horse Riding (15 minutes from Rolling Cloud - towards Pakiri Beach)
Pakiri Beach Horse Riding is famous throughout New Zealand. You can "experience the sun on your skin, the wind in your face and just the sound of the surf and hoof beats on the white sand". The company is operated by Charlene and she can be contacted on 422 6275. Daily riding over summer at 10am, 12 noon, 2pm and 4pm - bookings essential. This activity is recommended.

Swimming

Pakiri Beach (5 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
This 8km beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in New Zealand. It is popular with surfers and visitors from Auckland. Care should be taken to swim either where there are other swimmers or alternatively when it is calm. Pakiri is an ocean beach with limited surf patrols.

Goat Island (5 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
This is a marine reserve. It is famous for its marine life, which can be looked at, but otherwise not disturbed. The beach is very small and gets very congested in the summer. This is a great place to snorkel and observe marine life, but not much fun if you are looking for a quiet sun bathe and swim. Go to Pakiri for that!

Mathesons Bay (5 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
A beautiful sheltered bay just beyond Leigh (travelling from Rolling Cloud). It has a very pretty outlook and is very protected. It is a very safe swimming beach in most weathers.

Omaha Beach (25 minutes from Rolling Cloud)
An ocean beach and seaside resort popular with Aucklanders. The turnoff to Omaha is just before Matakana (travelling from Rolling Cloud). It has both an ocean beach which is quite exposed and a harbour beach, which is well protected. The resort also has an attractive 18 hole golf course.

Wine Tours

There are five local vineyards which offer wine tasting and some of which also have cafés. The vineyards which offer tastings are the following:

Herons Flight Vineyard & Café (Mary Evans & David Hoskins)
Sharps Road, RD2, Warkworth. The turnoff for Herons Flight can be seen on the main Leigh-Warkworth road, phone 422 7915.

Hyperion Wines (John & Jill Crone)
Tongue Farm Road, Matakana, phone 422 9375.

Matakana Estate (Kevin Fitzgerald & Pat Vegar-Fitzgerald)
568 Matakana Road, Matakana, phone 425 0494.

Ransom Wines (Robin Ransom)
Valerie Close Drive, Warkworth, phone 488 3188.

Ascension Vineyard (Bridget & Dominic Soljan)
480 Matakana Road, Matakana Coast, phone 422 9601.

For the above vineyards you will need to ring for the wine tasting times.