Aranga Beach is a small Kauri Coast beach community at the north end of Ripiro Beach, the longest beach in NZ at 107 km. To add to the confusion, it is also known as Maunganui Beach and is on the southern edge of Maunganui Bluff.
Although small today, Aranga was once a kauri gum industry centre. Gum was extracted in the area and processed from 1887 until the late 1940s.
Today, it is about the beach, backed by beautiful dunes. Near the road end, you will see the start of the fabulous half-day Maunganui Bluff Track. At the end of the road, a steep access ramp to the beach provides foot and vehicle access. You can drive to Omamari, Baylys Beach, and Glinks Gully. Remember to drive within 4 hours of either side of low tide. The beach is a wild surf beach but probably a bit more sheltered than the rest of the 107 km with the protective mass of the bluff to the north. If you swim, stick to an incoming tide.
Access to Aranga is on Aranga Coast Road from State Highway 12. The Hokianga is 47 km to the northwest, and Dargaville is 42 km to the southeast. Trounson Kauri Park is a few km south of Aranga, and Waipoua Forest is located immediately to the north.
