Maungaturoto
Maungaturoto is a small rural community in the Kaipara District of the Northland Region and when I say small, I mean a population of just 800 and something people. Maungaturoto is small on population but big on community something that captures your attention right away. A great place to live if peace and quiet is what you are looking for - with its landscape of rollings hills and farmlands and green as far as the eye can see, its somewhere you can enjoy your slice of quiet country lifestyle.
Maungaturoto has been called by some as "the" center of Northland, but is it? Well yes indeed it is! How many places can boast being an hour and some minutes away from two large townships and one major city? Only a few - but when your conveniently living in a town that is minutes or an hour away from virtually everything along the main drag you really can't complain.
Whangerei is the largest township to the north and an easy drive of an hour and maybe 20 minutes and along the way you can chuck in a couple of smaller communities that have a few reasons for you to stop like - awesome pizza and beautiful beaches that see many people flocking to them. For us? Its just over the Brenderwyns and down the hill into Waipu for some Pizza Barn yummies and sun and sand.
To the South we have the Big City of Auckland and thats all of 90 minutes away, so again another easy drive with its fair share of places to pull in at. One being Northlands Coastal Retreat that has since become the destination of choice for many holidayers both in New Zealand and overseas - Magical Mangawhai. Its just 20 minutes away with a quick stop off in Kaiwaka at La Nonna Italian Bakery for a bite to eat and a coffee then its off to our own slice of coastal paradise.
To the West Coast we go! Dargaville is the larger township to the west that also has its fair share of little communities along the way but with the exception of a favourite tourist stop - Matakohe and The Kauri Museum. A little bit further and you have Kai Iwi lakes another popular destination and then Bayleys Beach.
So really when someone says "Maungaturoto THE center of Northland" they really aren't lying. Everything for us is just down the road which is what makes living here so great. We get to enjoy a lot of places almost every weekend and a family outing? Your never hard-pressed for places to go! Chucking the kids in the car and heading out for the day has never been easier.