Pohutukawa on the Inner Harbour
Church Bay is a sheltered harbour bay on the south side of Tutukākā Harbour, about two minutes by road from Tutukākā on the Tutukākā Coast in Northland. It is the first of several inner harbour north-facing bays along Tutukākā Block Road, followed by Kowharewa Bay and Pacific Bay. At the end of this road is Whangaumu Bay, which faces south.
The Bay and Its Wildlife
The bay is roughly 300 metres wide, with a pebble beach framed by houses, a particularly dramatic pōhutukawa tree, and a prominent orange rock formation at the eastern end. Philips Island sits in the bay. The surrounding hills are steep and bush-clad, and the water is calm enough for safe swimming, kayaking, and small-boat use.
A small reserve provides beach and boat-ramp access to the bay. You can walk around the rocky points at low tide to explore further. Dolphins, penguins, and occasionally whales are spotted from shore. Fishing from the rocks is popular at both ends of the bay.
How to Get There
From Tutukākā, turn onto Tutukākā Block Road and follow it for a short distance to Church Bay. The reserve has a small car park and boat ramp. There are no toilets at Church Bay, but facilities are available at nearby Kowharewa Bay.
Other nearby places to visit include the Whangamanu Bay Track, Kauakarangi, Ngunguru and Tutukākā Track.
