Matakana
Sugarloaf Lodge is in the heart of the Matakana Coast Wine Country. Enjoy idyllic coastal views and exotic sandy beaches where you can surf, snorkel, dive, swim, kayak or paddle-board. Follow the boutique Matakana Wine Trail and sample the local cuisine at the Matakana Coast cafes, restaurants and markets. Take in the stunning walking tracks around the Matakana Coast, cycle trails, activities and attractions.
Matakana
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The area's wine country has several acclaimed wineries, many such as Brick Bay, Omaha Bay Vineyard, Ascension Wine Estate and Runner Duck Estate (Plume Restaurant). Several have fabulous restaurants serving dishes which really highlight local produce.
Dangerously (read: positively) close to the Lodge is the new Sawmill Brewery serving beautifully crafted beer and tapas in a beautifully crafted building.
In Matakana, visitors will find a selection of sophisticated retail shops, state of the art cinemas (voted best Independant Cinemas in NZ) and, to satisfy hunger and thirst, Matakana Market Kitchen , "The Matakana' Pub, Rusty Pelican, & The Vintry the only wine bar serving all the local wines.
On the main street, opposite the Village is 'The Matakana', the tastefully restored village pub established in 1903 which serves a wide choice of beer and wine as well as good food in its restaurant and garden bar.
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Matakana Farmers Market
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We highly recommend a visit the world-renowned Saturday Matakana Farmers Market which offers an exciting mix of stalls comprising of coffee, many delicious temptations (sweet & savoury), and locally grown or produced organic fruit and vegetables, roses, olive oil, smoked salmon and beer.
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SCULPTUREUM Garden, Gallery & Restaurant
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Sculptureum is a place to be inspired by nature
and by human creativity. A place to see things you haven't seen before and be enriched by them.
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Down the road is the famous MORRIS & JAMES POTTERY with a café and restaurant in a quiet sheltered courtyard which seems hours away from the bustle of the village two minutes drive away.
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Omaha Beach
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Visit Omaha and Tawharanui. Omaha Beach is a holiday resort with a wonderful two mile (three kilometre) white sand safe swimming beach with a surf club and public beach access, Tawharanui is our most beautiful Regional Park and Surf Beach with a predator proof fence to protect the bird-life.
Omaha Beach Golf Club offers keen golfers and holiday makers alike a high quality 18 hole golf course which has spectacular sea and estuary views and is open virtually all year.
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Walking Tracks
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There is a 5 kilometre walkway which joins Matakana with Omaha across several properties, while at low tide you can walk from Omaha to Tawharanui along the coast line towards the south.
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Tawharanui Regional Park lies at the end of the Takatu Peninsula with birdwatching, safe swimming, beach walks, and signposted walks which take from 30 minutes to three hours.
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Ti Point Walk - Our favourite, 45 mins in each direction of lovely coastal walking.
Further Afield
The famous - in NZ - Brick Bay Sculpture Trail, in nearby Snells Beach provides a beautiful 45 minute native bush walk is accessed through the Glass House wine tasting and café area.
Slightly further afield, 15 minutes further north, lies the fishing village of Leigh with its well-protected harbour. Leigh boasts the best fish and chips in the area. Or check out the funky Leigh Sawmill Café and Restaurant, on the way to Goat Island Marine Reserve where you can view the underwater marine life from a Glass Bottom Boat or scuba and snorkel with Goat Island Dive.Over the hill from Leigh is Pakiri Beach which attracts surfies from miles around and where Pakiri Beach Horse Rides and treks are available for all riding standards.
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Situated just off State Highway 1, Warkworth is the nearest town 10 minutes away from Matakana in a picturesque location on the Mahurangi River with a full range of shops, cafés and restaurants. Golfers can enjoy Warkworth Golf Club, an 18-hole country course of distinctive character and superb views.
At the southern end of Matakana Coast Wine Country, just north of the Johnston Hill tunnels, lies Puhoi, a village originally settled by Bohemian immigrants which boasts a historic pub, early settlers museum, canoe trips on the Puhoi River, cream teas and a cheese factory with café.
Matakana Coast Wine Country has many attractions to satisfy the most discerning traveller.
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