Visitors come to this Northland town for its surf beach and safe harbour swimming, but there’s also an unexpected bonus – the shops
Sun, sea and sand. Mangawhai’s town slogan is: “A little out of the way. A lot out of the ordinary.” Find out if it delivers on this promise.
Mangawhai Artists Gallery, 45 Moir Street
It all happens on Moir Street. Across from the Bennetts complex, this standalone art gallery is community-minded and run by a committee of volunteers who range from hobby painters to professional artists. The day we visited, a limited series of 100 eye linocuts were lined up at eye level across the walls. They were a very reasonable $25 each.
Mangawhai Artists Gallery
The Pipi, 1 Molesworth Street
This gallery-cum-shop is laden with pottery, ceramics, glass, garden art, jewellery and flowers. It stocks the work of locals as well as more recognised names, such as Whanganui potter Aaron Scythe, Northland ceramicist Richard Parker and glass pieces by Auckland’s Lukeke Design studio. If you can’t find a gift here there’s no hope.
Threadbox, Unit 4, 52 Moir Street
Just above Bennetts is Threadbox and, quite frankly, it’s got the best Byron Bay surf shop vibe. Not only can you pick up surf wax and skateboards but there’s an in-house screen-printing sideline. There’s also great fashion for the beach and fantastic homewares, not least the Smoked Lavender Amberjack candle, rattan-covered glassware and Bali lights for you to kit your surf shack out in.
Threadbox, Mangawhai
Bennetts of Mangawhai, 52 Moir Street
Anyone who’s ever been to Mangawhai will rave about this chocolate shop in a complex accessed by a covered courtyard, complete with an Italian village-style fountain and cobblestones.
It’s been around since 1998 and the chocolate, made from sustainably sourced cocoa, is made on-site. During the week you can watch as they make it hygienically – no chocolate river as per Willy Wonka.
If you can resist the boxes of roasted hazelnut and crispy praline chocolates, the plum crumble bar will get you. You’ll also want to have a hot chocolate at the cafe if not brunch. A stick of chocolate in frothy milk slowly melts in front of your eyes – and it’s so good.
Bennetts of Mangawhai
Kākāriki, 52 Moir Street
Turn left at Bennetts of Mangawhai’s courtyard fountain and you’ll be in a lovely health and wellbeing store with deli touches. There’s plenty of interesting Greek food, as well as seaweed salt alongside plenty of herbal potions. And for the fleet-footed, there are Greek-made winged leather gladiator sandals.
Also visit:
Mangawhai Tavern Market on Saturdays from 8.30am-1pm for amazing gyoza, cool beeswax candles, jewellery, pottery and everything in between.
Spoiled for market choice, there’s also Mangawhai Community Market on the school grounds on Saturdays from 8.30 am-1 pm for good food, fresh produce, crafts and artisanal wares.
Locals are also very excited by Gringas, a Mexican food joint on Mangawhai Heads Road.
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