Matapouri Bay is typical of many Northland beaches a quiet bay tucked in behind two rocky headlands that protect the beach from the easterly swell that rolls in, beautiful white sand and a hint of turquoise in the water you would think you are in the tropics some where, there is something about the Northland beaches that makes them so stunning to visit all year round.
Matapouri is located just north of Tutukaka on the stunning East coast of Northland, there is a little settlement located here right on the shoreline, Matapouri Bay is protected from the ocean swells by a headland and is a great place to swim in the summer, a short walk north along the beach at low tide there is a track located just before the rocks start heading up and over a hill takes you to the well known Mermaid pools, a natural rock pool set just back from the ocean with a stunning view south down the coastline.
There is another fantastic walk located here called the Matapouri Look Walk, starting at the Northern end of the beach you walk through a small saddle to a beach on the Northern side of the headland and a steep set of steps takes you up onto the Ridge track around 15 minutes of walking there is a lookout just off the main track offering stunning views north to Whananaki the track then follows the cliff line for around thirty minutes and a brief decent down into a valley, on the right is the track down to Whale Bay.
Whale Bay was a place where the Moari launched there hunt for the Whales that visited this part of the coastline and this is where the bay gets the name, a short decent down the graded track and you arrive at a beautiful secluded sandy beach there is plenty to explore here and for the adventurous you can climb around the rocky headland and explore the stunning coastline.
From Whale Bay a short walk back up the track you will find the loop walk that takes you back down through some bush and paddocks and back to Matapouri Bay or you can return back along the ridge track the way you walked in, which is the more scenic route and stop at the look out a second time and take in the stunning views out across the East Coast, this walk is easy to moderate there are a few descents and ascents but overall a great scenic walk along the stunning coast line of Matapouri.
