Mangawhai Heads
Site Information
This is a Northland Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club site.
Take State Highway 1 via Wellsford and Te Hana, the turn off is 2 kilometres north of Te Hana.
From there follow sign posts for Mangawhai Heads, distance 26 kilometres.
Drive to Wintle Street and go all the way to the end, where there is a large car park and public toilets.
From the car park the track accessing launch starts on the left side of the road near a concrete water tank.
Follow this track for about 200 meters northwards until it exits on the grassy rounded crown, about 160 feet above the beach.
See aerial at the bottom of this page.
Site Type
Coastal.
Landing
On the beach.
Council requirements prohibit landing on the public area of beach 300 meters in front of the Surf Lifesaving Club when any public are in this area.
The area south of the river mouth, ad including the dunes, is a protected Bird Sanctuary and off limits.
Weather and Wind Direction
North East, East
Mandatory Notices
No access is permitted through Bream Tail farm. The farmer here is hostile to pilots using his property.
Site Radio Channel
Channel 20 - 476.900MHz
Restrictions
Hang Gliding
HG Intermediate
Paragliding
PG2
Cautions
Should the wind be off to the south, care should be taken to double check direction as it often has the appearance of flowing directly up the face when in fact placement of a wind sock on the beach, will confirm the wind is very cross and is flowing around the corner of the ridge to the South.
Airspace
Flight ceiling is 6,500 foot A.S.L.
Immediately south of this site at the nearside rivers edge is Restricted Area R106. This extends from surface to 1000ft ASL.
This is to protect the critically endangered Tara Iti (Fairy Tern). Flying within this restricted area is a breach of Civil Aviation Rules, and the Wildlife Act 1953. Don't go there!
For more information on Tara Iti, see here: DOC website
Access Conditions
No access is permitted through Bream Tail farm, and the farmer here is hostile to pilots using his property.
Particular care should be taken with flammables, no cigarettes should be taken onto this site as there is a high fire risk in summer. Over the years, a number of fires started in the area of the lower dunes and swept through the entire area and into where many residences now exist.
Site Monitor
Mike Ferguson 021-995-682
Notes
None.
Site Achievements
None.
