Wellsford

Wellsford is a town of 2,000 residents in the north of the Auckland Region of New Zealand, 114 kilometres north of Auckland and near the Kaipara Harbour.

Understand
Nearby Port Albert on the Kaipara Harbour was founded by English settlers in the 1860s. Many did not stay long at Port Albert and some moved inland and founded Wellsford. The main economic activity of the district is dairy farming.

Get in
Drive on State Highway 1 from Auckland or from Whangarei. The highway runs along Wellsford's main street. On days of heavy holiday traffic, especially around Christmas and early January, State Highway 16 along the Kaipara Harbour is recommended as an alternative southern route.

Do

 * Lake Tomarata is 20 kilometres to the northeast, near the east coast, and is popular for boating, water skiing, kayaking and swimming. It has a safe, fenced-off section near the lake shore for young children to swim in, plus a boat ramp, changing shed, toilet, barbecue and picnic tables. Lake Slipper and Lake Spectacle are nearby but do not have easy access.
 * Ocean beaches on the east coast at Mangawhai (on 27 km of sealed road) and Pakiri (part of the road is unsealed).
 * Ocean beaches on the east coast at Mangawhai (on 27 km of sealed road) and Pakiri (part of the road is unsealed).

Connect
Visit Wellsford - a guide for visitors and locals

Go next

 * Dargaville to the north-west
 * Helensville at the southern end of the Kaipara Harbour
 * Warkworth to the south on State Highway 1
 * Whangarei to the north