scenic viewpoint
Muriwai Gannet Colony
Around 1,200 pairs of Australasian gannets nest on a cliff shelf and sea stack west of Auckland, with viewing platforms placed metres from the birds. Occupied roughly August to March.
15 km · about 30 min drive
OceaniaNew ZealandAuckland
Kumeu
Auckland, New Zealand · Oceania
About Kumeu
Kumeu works well as a base: 5 minutes from Riverhead, 15km from Muriwai Gannet Colony.
Kumeu is in Auckland, New Zealand, with about 8,500 people. You drive on the left here. The nearest town is Riverhead, about 4 km away.
Kumeū is a town in the Auckland Region, situated 25 kilometres (16 mi) north-west of the City Centre in New Zealand. State Highway 16 and the North Auckland Line pass through the town. Huapai lies to the west, Riverhead to the north, Whenuapai to the east, and Taupaki to the south.
The wider area has been settled byRead more
Tāmaki Māori since the 13th or 14th centuries, and the area is of significant importance to Ngāti Whātua o Kaipara and Te Kawerau ā Maki. The Kumeū River valley was an important transport node between the Kaipara and Waitematā harbours, due to a portage called Te Tōangaroa, where waka could be hauled overland.
Kumeū village developed in the 1870s after the construction of the Kumeu–Riverhead Section, a railway on Te Tōangaroa that linked Kumeū to Riverhead. Over the latter 19th century, the town transitioned from a centre for the kauri logging and kauri gum trades into an agricultural centre. The Kumeu Stockyards opened in 1915, and from 1921 the town began holding a large-scale agricultural show called the Kumeu Show. By the 1940s, Croatian New Zealanders had developed a winemaking industry in the area. Since the 1970s, Kumeū and Huapai have grown to become a single urban area, often referred to as Kumeū-Huapai.
Where to Stay in Kumeu
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Kumeu.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Kumeu.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Kumeu?
Within an hour or so of Kumeu: Muriwai Gannet Colony (15 km), Auckland Zoo (17 km), Auckland Harbour Bridge (17 km), Sky Tower (20 km).
Where is Kumeu?
Kumeu is in Auckland, New Zealand, about 4 km from Riverhead.
Road trip
Drive to Kumeu
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Kumeu. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 8,510
- Continent
- Oceania
- Country
- New Zealand
- Region
- Auckland
- Timezone
- Pacific/Auckland
- Coordinates
- -36.7667, 174.5667
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in New Zealand
Many rural bridges are single-lane. Give way as signed.
Full driving guide for New ZealandTags
Worth the detour from Kumeu
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
landmark
Auckland Zoo
New Zealand's largest zoo with native wildlife including kiwi alongside exotic species from around the globe.
17 km · about 20 min drive
bridge
Auckland Harbour Bridge
The eight-lane icon spanning Waitematā Harbour since 1959, carrying SH1 into downtown Auckland with skyline and gulf views: thrill-seekers can climb it or bungy jump off it.
17 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Sky Tower
328-metre observation and telecommunications tower dominating the Auckland skyline, New Zealand's tallest man-made structure.
20 km · about 25 min drive
beach
Piha Beach
Auckland's wild west coast surf beach, dominated by the iconic Lion Rock and powerful black-sand breakers.
23 km · about 25 min drive
beach
Karekare Beach
A vast black-sand beach beneath the Waitakere Ranges, where The Piano was filmed, with a waterfall in the bush behind the car park. Wilder and emptier than neighbouring Piha.
26 km · about 30 min drive
Driving roads near Kumeu
- Right hereMuriwai Gannet ColonyAround 1,200 pairs of Australasian gannets nest on a cliff shelf and sea stack west of Auckland, with viewing platforms placed metres from the birds. Occupied roughly August to March.
- 17 kmAuckland Harbour BridgeThe eight-lane icon spanning Waitematā Harbour since 1959, carrying SH1 into downtown Auckland with skyline and gulf views: thrill-seekers can climb it or bungy jump off it.
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Kumeu.
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Kumeu.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.