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.

See

• 1 Albertland & Districts Museum and Heritage Centre, Memorial Park, 15 Port Albert Road (50 metres from Caltex petrol station), ☏ +64 9 423-8181, museum@albertland.co.nz. Every day except Good Friday and 25 Dec 1-3PM. Adult $5, child $1. 

Do

• Atiu Creek Regional Park, take Port Albert Road, then follow the signs. Always open for pedestrians. Vehicle gates 6AM-9PM during daylight saving; 6AM-7PM non daylight saving. Walking, mountain biking, horse riding, camping and other activities. No dogs allowed. Free. 
• 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).

Sleep

• Atiu Creek Campground, Atiu Creek Regional Park, regionalparks@aucklandcouncil.govt.nz. Adult $12, child $6. 

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