Guidebook for Riverhead
Food Scene
Gorgeous contemporary country cafe 5 minutes from here. Great coffee, delicious for breakfast or lunch. We love dining outside in their lovely courtyard. Generally open by 8am.
We recommend the moccachino (comes with a 'chocolate fish' - a kiwi favourite (don't worry, its a marshmallow fish with a chocolate topping). Also the bircher muesli, Spanish mushrooms, and smashed avocado are delicious.
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Black Cottage Cafe
308 Coatesville Riverhead HwyGorgeous contemporary country cafe 5 minutes from here. Great coffee, delicious for breakfast or lunch. We love dining outside in their lovely courtyard. Generally open by 8am.
We recommend the moccachino (comes with a 'chocolate fish' - a kiwi favourite (don't worry, its a marshmallow fish with a chocolate topping). Also the bircher muesli, Spanish mushrooms, and smashed avocado are delicious.
Super friendly and original (ie retro) local pizza restaurant. Fantastic pizzas, pastas, plus a blackboard menu of hearty meals. Well priced, and as they are not licensed, you're able to take your own bottle of wine to have with your meal.
Pizzeria Venezia - Zacs Pizza
84 Main RdSuper friendly and original (ie retro) local pizza restaurant. Fantastic pizzas, pastas, plus a blackboard menu of hearty meals. Well priced, and as they are not licensed, you're able to take your own bottle of wine to have with your meal.
Stunning views across Riverhead, this iconic tavern has been renovated a couple of years ago, and really makes the most of its riverside location. Sit outside under the old Oak Trees - it really is a lovely spot.
While the menu at restaurant is quite pricey, it is lovely. That said, our preference is to order from the bar and sit on the deck over the weekend - the prices are better, and there is nearly always some live music on a Sunday afternoon.
Great pizzas and sliders on the menu !!
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The Riverhead
33 York TerraceStunning views across Riverhead, this iconic tavern has been renovated a couple of years ago, and really makes the most of its riverside location. Sit outside under the old Oak Trees - it really is a lovely spot.
While the menu at restaurant is quite pricey, it is lovely. That said, our preference is to order from the bar and sit on the deck over the weekend - the prices are better, and there is nearly always some live music on a Sunday afternoon.
Great pizzas and sliders on the menu !!
Parks & Nature
This state-owned pine forest is only 5 minutes away - its fantastic for mountain biking, walking or horse riding. The nearest entrances are at Forest Road or Mill Flat Road. Just park up by the forest gate and go for a walk. Its best to go early morning or late evening, or over the weekend, to be sure to avoid any forestry activities.
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Riverhead Forest
This state-owned pine forest is only 5 minutes away - its fantastic for mountain biking, walking or horse riding. The nearest entrances are at Forest Road or Mill Flat Road. Just park up by the forest gate and go for a walk. Its best to go early morning or late evening, or over the weekend, to be sure to avoid any forestry activities.
This is another beautiful West Coast beach - a little more user friendly than Muriwai. As well as the beach there's a nice lagoon for the kids to swim in, plus there's a fantastic walk up around the clifftops. Beautiful place for a sunset dinner - but take your own!!
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Bethells Beach
This is another beautiful West Coast beach - a little more user friendly than Muriwai. As well as the beach there's a nice lagoon for the kids to swim in, plus there's a fantastic walk up around the clifftops. Beautiful place for a sunset dinner - but take your own!!
Long Bay is a lovely east coast beach - which means the morning is the best time to go to catch a beautiful sunrise! This is a regional park incorporating a large lawn reserve and picnic area, a white sandy beach, and to the northern end there is a fabulous clifftop hike which takes you around to other beaches, and ultimately to Okura. There is a lovely Long Bay Cafe 2 minutes up the road, or if you are wanting a picnic, there are several bakeries, cafes, and a Superette 2 minutes up the road at the Torbay Shops.
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Long Bay
Long Bay is a lovely east coast beach - which means the morning is the best time to go to catch a beautiful sunrise! This is a regional park incorporating a large lawn reserve and picnic area, a white sandy beach, and to the northern end there is a fabulous clifftop hike which takes you around to other beaches, and ultimately to Okura. There is a lovely Long Bay Cafe 2 minutes up the road, or if you are wanting a picnic, there are several bakeries, cafes, and a Superette 2 minutes up the road at the Torbay Shops.
Sightseeing
I go horse riding at Muriwai, it is one of my favourite spots in Auckland. Its a rough and Wild West coast beach - and the sunsets there can be superb! A great place to have a dinner at sunset (best to take your own picnic) - or you can buy 'fish and chips' at the local store - but its very expensive there!
Great location for a beach walk or a surf if that's your thing!
Best recommendation is to visit the gannet colony at sunset for a great view of these sensational birds who next here every year.
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Muriwai
I go horse riding at Muriwai, it is one of my favourite spots in Auckland. Its a rough and Wild West coast beach - and the sunsets there can be superb! A great place to have a dinner at sunset (best to take your own picnic) - or you can buy 'fish and chips' at the local store - but its very expensive there!
Great location for a beach walk or a surf if that's your thing!
Best recommendation is to visit the gannet colony at sunset for a great view of these sensational birds who next here every year.
This is another stunning East Coast beach. Its a long strip of white sand and a great place for a beach walk. There's a coastal walkway at the northern end of the beach which takes you around to Milford Beach, passing several coves along the way. It really is a beautiful walk - best at mid or low tide, but you can pretty much access it any time. Great sunrises and views to Rangitoto Island. The Takapuna Beach Cafe is right by the boat ramp at the Northern end of the beach - so close to the coastal walkway. The views, service, and food at this cafe are all excellent!
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Takapuna
This is another stunning East Coast beach. Its a long strip of white sand and a great place for a beach walk. There's a coastal walkway at the northern end of the beach which takes you around to Milford Beach, passing several coves along the way. It really is a beautiful walk - best at mid or low tide, but you can pretty much access it any time. Great sunrises and views to Rangitoto Island. The Takapuna Beach Cafe is right by the boat ramp at the Northern end of the beach - so close to the coastal walkway. The views, service, and food at this cafe are all excellent!
Essentials
Our local supermarket in Kumeu. Not the cheapest, but stocks all the essentials.
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New World Kumeu
110 Main RdOur local supermarket in Kumeu. Not the cheapest, but stocks all the essentials.
Kumeu Laundromat Limited
318 Main RdCoin operated laundromat, open 24 hours
The Riverhead Mini Mart is 2 minutes away in the Riverhead township. Its on the Coatesville Riverhead Highway and is your best local option for all the essentials - groceries, ice creams, drinks, wine and beer, snack food etc, etc.
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Riverhead
The Riverhead Mini Mart is 2 minutes away in the Riverhead township. Its on the Coatesville Riverhead Highway and is your best local option for all the essentials - groceries, ice creams, drinks, wine and beer, snack food etc, etc.
Getting Around
Handy local hub (West) for buses heading North, South, East or West.
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Westgate Shopping Centre
7 State Hwy 16Handy local hub (West) for buses heading North, South, East or West.
This is the best public transport hub North of the City. You can park your car in the free carpark (just check duration restrictions) and catch a bus into the city, then link up with trains and ferries, etc.
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Park and Ride Albany
Elliot Rose AvenueThis is the best public transport hub North of the City. You can park your car in the free carpark (just check duration restrictions) and catch a bus into the city, then link up with trains and ferries, etc.
Drinks & Nightlife
Our local tavern, a casual Lion Red bar which has remained pretty much unchanged for decades. Its a bit 'rough and ready' but there's friendly service, well priced bistro meals, an outdoor courtyard, and they often have live music on the weekends. Great fish and chips, steak eggs and chips, curry, toasted sandwiches, or just a drink at the bar.
Huapai Tavern
319 State Hwy 16Our local tavern, a casual Lion Red bar which has remained pretty much unchanged for decades. Its a bit 'rough and ready' but there's friendly service, well priced bistro meals, an outdoor courtyard, and they often have live music on the weekends. Great fish and chips, steak eggs and chips, curry, toasted sandwiches, or just a drink at the bar.