Guidebook for Riverhead
Food Scene
Harvest
1047 Coatesville Riverhead HwyPizza oven, bar and restaurant. Visit Dirty Burger for takeaway burgers just behind Forester. Open from 11am most days. Very child friendly
Forester Restaurant & Bar
1047 Coatesville Riverhead HwyPizza oven, bar and restaurant. Visit Dirty Burger for takeaway burgers just behind Forester. Open from 11am most days. Very child friendly
Hallertau Brewery
1171 Coatesville Riverhead HwyAnd Brewery! Try the tasting set of the local beers.
Great food and service. Enclosed sitting area for rainy days. Gets very busy on weekends.
23 locals recommend
Black Cottage Cafe
308 Coatesville Riverhead HwyGreat food and service. Enclosed sitting area for rainy days. Gets very busy on weekends.
Not as polished as Black Cottage Cafe but better priced and hearty meals. Very friendly staff. Basic sandpit and play area for kids. No reception for wifi.
6 locals recommend
Fernielea Licensed Cafe
Not as polished as Black Cottage Cafe but better priced and hearty meals. Very friendly staff. Basic sandpit and play area for kids. No reception for wifi.
Superb food - child friendly but we always leave them behind so we can fully enjoy the experience!
43 locals recommend
The Tasting Shed
609 State Hwy 16Superb food - child friendly but we always leave them behind so we can fully enjoy the experience!
NZ's oldest riverside tavern (160 years old). Fully refurbished in 2010.
Restaurant, Bar and outdoor eating area. Very family friendly (restaurant dinner starts at 6pm).
Beautiful views of the river and boat pier.
56 locals recommend
The Riverhead
33 York TerraceNZ's oldest riverside tavern (160 years old). Fully refurbished in 2010.
Restaurant, Bar and outdoor eating area. Very family friendly (restaurant dinner starts at 6pm).
Beautiful views of the river and boat pier.
Shopping
Local fresh food and produce market. Beer and Wine. Small cafe with large playground for the kids with fun tractors etc.
12 locals recommend
Boric Food Market
1404 Coatesville Riverhead HwyLocal fresh food and produce market. Beer and Wine. Small cafe with large playground for the kids with fun tractors etc.
Second nearest Supermarket 'Countdown', Clothes and fashion, Pharmacy.
Also 5-6 restaurants - pizza, asian, middle eastern, steak house etc.
48 locals recommend
NorthWest Shopping Centre
7 Fred Taylor DrSecond nearest Supermarket 'Countdown', Clothes and fashion, Pharmacy.
Also 5-6 restaurants - pizza, asian, middle eastern, steak house etc.
Outdoor style mall. 'Countdown' and Pak n Save' Supermarkets, Alcohol stores (supermarkets in West Auckland don't sell alcohol), Warehouse, Starbucks etc
Westgate
Outdoor style mall. 'Countdown' and Pak n Save' Supermarkets, Alcohol stores (supermarkets in West Auckland don't sell alcohol), Warehouse, Starbucks etc
Essentials
New World Kumeu
110 Main RdNearest Supermarket (sells beer and wine)
Entertainment & Activities
Vineyard - restaurant and large picnic/sitting area. No BYO.
Wine tasting and cellar door.
https://www.thehuntinglodge.com/
35 locals recommend
The Hunting Lodge Winery & Restaurant
307 Waikoukou Valley RdVineyard - restaurant and large picnic/sitting area. No BYO.
Wine tasting and cellar door.
https://www.thehuntinglodge.com/
Wine tasting and cellar door.
No place to sit and stay though.
https://www.kumeuriver.co.nz/
24 locals recommend
Kumeu River Wines
550 State Hwy 16Wine tasting and cellar door.
No place to sit and stay though.
https://www.kumeuriver.co.nz/
Wine tasting and cellar door.
BYO picnic food. Taste and buy wine, then sit and relax in this amazing setting! Take a walk around the small lake, see birds and then walk back through the vines.
https://www.westbrook.co.nz/
24 locals recommend
Westbrook Winery
215 Ararimu Valley RdWine tasting and cellar door.
BYO picnic food. Taste and buy wine, then sit and relax in this amazing setting! Take a walk around the small lake, see birds and then walk back through the vines.
https://www.westbrook.co.nz/
Natural hot water pools. Take a picnic or buy lunch there but be prepared to spend all day having fun. Great for all weather.
37 locals recommend
Waiwera Thermal Resort
21 Waiwera RdNatural hot water pools. Take a picnic or buy lunch there but be prepared to spend all day having fun. Great for all weather.
Parks & Nature
School hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 2.30pm. Outside of school hours, the playgrounds are open to the public. Please note there are no toilets available.
Riverhead School
21 School RdSchool hours are Monday to Friday 8am to 2.30pm. Outside of school hours, the playgrounds are open to the public. Please note there are no toilets available.
Playground and Sports field. Public Toilets are here. Gets busy on the weekends.
Riverhead War Memorial Park
Playground and Sports field. Public Toilets are here. Gets busy on the weekends.
Black sand beach. West coast beaches are more wild than east coast of NZ. Be prepared for change in weather. Always swim between the lifeguards flags.
Amazing Gannet colony - August to March.
115 locals recommend
Muriwai
Black sand beach. West coast beaches are more wild than east coast of NZ. Be prepared for change in weather. Always swim between the lifeguards flags.
Amazing Gannet colony - August to March.
Surf beach - watch out for waves! Swim between the flags.
Lots to do in Orewa - look up a cafe called Dear Coasties (my fave).
There are so many other great beaches but I won't name them all. Go for a drive and enjoy!
42 locals recommend
Orewa
Surf beach - watch out for waves! Swim between the flags.
Lots to do in Orewa - look up a cafe called Dear Coasties (my fave).
There are so many other great beaches but I won't name them all. Go for a drive and enjoy!
Enter the forest by driving past Riverhead War Memorial park, turn right at the roundabout, turn right on to Deacon Rd, and right on to Forestry Rd.
Drive past the industrial buildings and into the forest. Follow the dirt road until you see the gate across the road, park your car here.
You can walk through the forest along these roads safely and without getting lost. There is little or no mobile reception in the forest so stay on the road. Enjoy the peace and quiet!
People with horses and dogs and bikes also use this area. Be aware of the occasional truck.
11 locals recommend
Riverhead Forest
Enter the forest by driving past Riverhead War Memorial park, turn right at the roundabout, turn right on to Deacon Rd, and right on to Forestry Rd.
Drive past the industrial buildings and into the forest. Follow the dirt road until you see the gate across the road, park your car here.
You can walk through the forest along these roads safely and without getting lost. There is little or no mobile reception in the forest so stay on the road. Enjoy the peace and quiet!
People with horses and dogs and bikes also use this area. Be aware of the occasional truck.
Arts & Culture
Gibbs Farm
2421 Kaipara Coast HwyA massive sculpture park.
http://gibbsfarm.org.nz/
Sightseeing
You cannot go into the airbase but there is a place to park on Brigham Creek Rd where you can see all the Airforce planes (Hercules and Orion) and helicopter (Seasprite). You might see them doing practice flights over Riverhead.
There is also a training school for security dogs here. There is a new cafe (with playground) located on the corner of Brigham Creek Rd and Totara Rd.
RNZAF Base Auckland
You cannot go into the airbase but there is a place to park on Brigham Creek Rd where you can see all the Airforce planes (Hercules and Orion) and helicopter (Seasprite). You might see them doing practice flights over Riverhead.
There is also a training school for security dogs here. There is a new cafe (with playground) located on the corner of Brigham Creek Rd and Totara Rd.