Matakana

Visit the Matakana Village Farmers’ Market, tour local vineyards, boutique shops and the white sands of Omaha Beach. Just one hour from Auckland.   

The charming village of Matakana is well known for the Saturday morning Matakana Village Farmers’ Market, which fills the site of the old timber yard with an authentic, bustling country fair atmosphere. Fill your basket with fresh organic local produce and artisan foods, sustainably-farmed whitebait, Matakana Olive Oil and bright bouquets of Whangateau roses. Enjoy a coffee roasted and ground on site, a smoothie bowl, breakfast crepe or croque monsieur, while you tap your toes to the live music. Bring some cash (many vendors offer EFTPOS), a basket and park the car at Matakana school, a short flat walk away. 

Matakana was founded in the 1840s by settlers keen to take advantage of the abundant natural reserves of timber and clay and the wonderful climate for growing fruit. Today, that translates into a vibrant and entrepreneurial community producing a huge range of arts, crafts, and artisanal produce – not to mention the region’s magnificent wines. 

The cherry-tree lined village square is also home to a selection of beautiful and enticing independent boutiques, offering carefully-selected artisan goods.  Keep the kids amused on the little playground or take them adventuring along the riverside walk to the waterfall. Taste award-winning local wines at The Vintry lounge bar and enjoy arthouse and blockbuster films beneath a ceiling of silk roses or a show stopping chandelier at the magnificent Matakana Cinemas. 

Follow the riverside path from the market underneath the bridge, looking out for ducks and eels before you arrive at the waterfall. Climb the steps for coffee or  brunch in the garden of the beautifully refurbished character bungalow that is home to Plume Café. Watch the artisan bakers at work through the window, then choose your favourite fresh pastries or sourdough to take home. 

Ride your bike across the architectural footbridge and follow the cycleway and walkway past the renowned Morris & James Pottery, over the hill to Omaha Organic Blueberries (gate sales in summer only) and on to the quartz sands of Omaha Beach or the riverside jetties of Point Wells, for a well deserved swim and an ice cream.

Take the kids to the playground and petting zoo at the Matakana Country Park, then cross the road to the Sculptureum for world-class art followed by contemporary farm-to-table cuisine and wine from the vineyard on Rothko’s verandah. Visit the Sawmill Brewery or 8 Wired, for craft beers with a Matakana edge, or stop into the Matakana Village Pub for a meal in the lively garden bar (dogs are welcome). 

Further afield you’ll find miles of white sand beaches and native forest trails at Tāwharanui Regional Park, home to rare birds like the takahē and kiwi. There’s good snorkelling around the rocks in the marine reserve, and the popular DOC campground to the north of the park offers rustic camping behind the dunes of a stunning surf beach, seldom visited by daytrippers.

If you prefer to sleep in style, you’ll find a wide range of glamping, motel, b&b, cottage or luxury lodge accommodation to choose from. 

With incredible coastline, rolling farmland, boutique wineries and breweries, a charming village and the famous farmers’ market, it’s no wonder Matakana is one of Auckland’s most popular weekend and holiday destinations.