The Te Ara Kahikatea Walkway in Te Puke
Wondering what to do in Maketu? Take a look at these recommendations from our Te Puke Bay Of Plenty Chiropractor.
More about Maketu
Maketu is a cozy seaside town, hidden away from the hustle and bustle of city life about 14km from Te Puke.
While in Maketu you can walk to one of the first Maori Pa sites in New Zealand, enjoy the fantastic views, then walk down to the beach. (20 min 2.5km)
Choose between three sandy beaches, with surfing, horse ridging, fishing shellfish, cafes and takeaways 3-5 minutes by car.
Go on a guided historical walk, explore the estuary with its abundant birdlife and gather some pipi or check out the Kaituna River Cut with its great fishing and surfcasting.
You can easily fill your day spending the day in Maketu. Pack up your togs/towel, sunscreen, hat, fishing rod, good walking shoes and a picnic (or hit the local café) and you’ll have a fab day.
As you first hit town, you’ll see two local dairies and Maketu Pies, winners many years running for the best pies in New Zealand! If the factory isn’t open the local dairies both sell a great selection of their pies – can’t be beaten. If pies are not your thing, grab some local fish n chips and sit on the beach just watching the ocean or bait up your surfcaster and try your luck. Or maybe an ice-cream and a wander on the beach.
The main beach at Maketu is quite rocky, so it pays to wear some shoes. The surf there can provide the opportunity to get your surfboard out and show the locals how its done. The estuary is safe and shallow to swim in, but the current can be swift out to sea, so be careful.
Newdicks Beaches
Once you’ve had a good look around here, head up the hill and pop over to Newdick’s Beach. This is a beautiful beach that you have to access via private property. There is a donation box at the beginning of the track. This helps to pay for the upkeep of the track, so be kind and donate generously if you’re able.
Newdicks beach is a gentle ocean beach, the surf here is smaller than over the hill. There are great rock-pools for exploring and superb views of the coast. Be sure to check the times that the gates are locked – You may be shut in for the night and it will cost you to have the gates unlocked.
From Newdicks you will have a fab view of Pukehina and the long beautiful stretch of beach – about 5km long. Nestled close in to the Maketu side of the estuary is Little Waihi. No shops here, but there is a great camping ground with tent sites and units available. Fabulous for fishing, kayaking, SUP boarding. Just a 3 minute drive from Maketu. Sit on the jetty and drop your bait in, or kayak over to Pukehina for a stroll on the beach. Pukehina has a surfclub, a dairy and a takeaways. But is a 25km drive from Te Puke. We are blessed to have such beautiful beaches so close to our local community.