Summary

The web content describes a couple's visit to Mount Manaia and Whangarei Falls in New Zealand, their experiences hiking and sightseeing, and a call to follow the author's travel blog.

Abstract

In March 2020, the author and their spouse embarked on a New Zealand adventure, starting with a challenging yet rewarding hike up Mount Manaia, followed by a relaxing visit to the Whangarei Marina and a serene walk to Whangarei Falls. The Mount Manaia Track offered stunning views and a strenuous climb with many stairs, which came as a surprise to the author who hadn't fully researched the trail. Despite the physical strain, the panoramic vistas from the peak were deemed worth the effort. Post-hike, they enjoyed lunch at an Asian fusion restaurant by the Whangarei Marina. The day concluded with a shorter walk to Whangarei Falls, where the couple wished to do more but settled for a 20-minute trail due to fatigue. The article ends with an invitation to watch the author's YouTube videos and follow their travel blog and social media accounts.

Opinions

The author expresses a mix of surprise and humor regarding the unexpected difficulty of the Mount Manaia hike.
There is a sense of accomplishment and reward in reaching the summit, as indicated by the statement "But it was worth the pain!"
The author admits to feeling embarrassed when encountering locals who were casually jogging on the same trail.
A personal commitment to fitness is implied, with the realization that gym visits might be necessary after struggling with the hike.
The author conveys a sense of satisfaction and contentment with the overall experience, despite the exhaustion.
The call to follow the author's travel blog and watch their YouTube videos suggests a desire to share more of their travel experiences with an audience.

Hiking Mt Manaia for an Amazing View and Exploring Whangarei Falls

Start of Whangarei trail — Photo by the author

In March 2020, just before the pandemic hit, my (now) husband and I were visiting New Zealand. A dream come true for me. On our first official day in New Zealand, we planned to visit two places. Mount Manaia Track (get some walking down after so many hours on a plane) and the Whangarei Falls.

Mount Manaia Track

Mount Manaia is 28 km east of Whangārei. There is a car park just at the start of the trail, where we left our car and gently started our hike to the peak.

The track is so beautiful. It leads under nīkau palms and kauri stands, with glimpses of northern rātā hanging from pōhutukawa among a cluster of jagged bush-covered peaks.

I’ll be honest, I usually do a lot of research before visiting a place, so we are prepared. But I dropped the ball on this one. I hadn’t realized this would be such a climb!

It turned out to be a 3-ish hours hike both ways, and we climbed around 420 meters in altitude. I’m not unfit, but I don’t hit the gym every week either. It was rather funny to see how our lungs were burning after 30 minutes and, on the other hand, we saw a couple of locales casually jogging up and down the entire trail. Oh, the embarrassment…

Furthermore, throughout the trail, to help with the climb, there are stairs… So many of them. And oh boy, do I hate stairs! Conclusion… We need to hit the gym as soon as we go back home (little did we know we will spend the next 2 years locked inside).

But it was worth the pain! The view was amazing!

View from the top of Mt Manaia — Photo from the author

Whangarei Marina

After our hike, we were obviously starving, so we went into the town of Whangarei for lunch.

We park next to the marina and had a lovely walk alongside it until we posted an Asian fusion restaurant with a couple of tables outside, so we can enjoy the sun. The perfect place for a nice and quick lunch.

Whangarei marina — Photo from the author

Whangarei Falls

Despite the exhaustion, after lunch, we thought it will be a good idea to go for a second hike around Whangarei Falls.

The Whangarei Falls is around 10 minutes drive from Whangarei city centre. The Waterfalls are about 26 meters in height and there are a couple of walking options.

The first one is just a 10-minute walk around the falls. At the base of the falls, there are a couple of tables where visitors can sit and enjoy the view of the falling water.

The second one follows a path that runs along the river and ends back in Whangarei city centre.

Whangarei Falls trail — Photo from the author

We took the second path and walk around 20 minutes one way and then back. I would have loved to do the complete walk, but unfortunately, after our morning hike, we were a little too tired. We called it a day and went back to our cottage and just passed out for the night.

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