Wellsford

The township of Wellsford sits at the intersection of State Highway 1 and State Highway 16 and it's the northern-most town in the Auckland region. It's midway between Auckland and Whangarei - about a 60 minute drive from both cities.

Wellsford was established by the Albertlanders in 1862, a group of Baptist tradespeople and farmers from the Birmingham area who settled the southern Oruawharo River, developing into a timber and kauri gum. By the early 20th century, the area developed into a regional centre for dairy farming, in part due to the opening of Wellsford railway station in 1909, linking the town to Auckland

Gifts and homeware, antiques, books and fashion are among your shopping options and there's plenty of choice for essentials like groceries too. For a small town, Wellsford has an outstanding variety of places to eat covering just about every type of cuisine

The best walks in the Wellsford area aren't in Wellsford town but there is a good short walk for those keen to stretch their legs at the end of Wi Apo Place. That's off Matheson Road at the top of end of town; turn where it's signposted Pakiri, Whangaripo Valley and Tomarata. Wellsford golf course is a picturesque and popular 18 hole golf course with exceptionally reasonable fees.