Bream Head (Te Whara) Track Scenic Lookout — Attraction in North Island

SHORT&SWEET REVIEW: Hard, steep and intense GO ANTI-Clockwise!!!!! ware good shoes a lot of stairs track plays mind games with you about 3.5h return for an average hiker stunning view!!!

LONG COMPREHENSIVE guide:

We started our walk from beach carpark. For best experience I recommend going anticlock-wise, since that way your descend will be much easier and the views will be in front of you the whole time instead of behind.

For that you will need to backtrack about 400m on the main road to the trail head (see pictures below). The walk up starts slowly but it get steeper and steeper as you go along.

The trail does play quite a few mind games with you, since there is a lot of descents and then ascends right after it. Even at the top, you are not really sure where the summit is.

Speaking of the summit, there is just one official one. If you stick to Google you will find it. It is a bit strange, since you have to go through a bit rugged and cegitation-dense path to reach it, but don't be alarmed it is a right path. Also be aware of a lot path slip-offs that lead to different tops (mostly giant monoliths.

We needed about 2h to reach the top, and that includes stopping every 500m (casual-hiker wife) to catch a breath. You can see screenshot from tracking app below for time, pace and all that

Other than that enjoy the views and a...

We recently hiked to the Bream Head Summit and wow — what an unforgettable experience! The track is a mix of lush native bush, stairs, and some rocky scrambles that make the journey feel like a real adventure. It’s definitely a workout, especially the last climb to the summit, but every step is worth it.

Once you reach the top, the panoramic views are absolutely stunning — you can see endless blue ocean, dramatic cliffs, and the Whangārei coastline stretching far into the distance. Not everyone dare to climb to the last part of the cliff. It honestly feels like you’re standing on top of the world 🌎 I’d recommend decent shoes, as some parts can be steep and slippery, but it’s totally doable if you pace yourself.

Perfect for nature lovers, photographers, or anyone looking for a challenging but incredibly scenic hike. One of the best spots in Northland — highly...

Make sure you actually climb the summit. It's not that hard and it's totally worth it. I would recommend starting the track from Smugglers Bay. You can visit the Gun Emplacement first and then climb the 800 stairs onto Mt Lion. Just walk the whole track, make sure to leave the track at one point to visit the summit and finish with a nice bath at Ocean Beach. The 1000 total stairs are pretty exhausting, but If you do the track the other way around you will kill your knees. Better exhausted muscles...