Marsden Cross

Two hundred years ago, on the beach of a now little-visited bay on the northern side of the Bay of Islands, an event happened that

Two cultures, two peoples, started living beside each other at what is now the Marsden Cross Historic Reserve, Hohi Bay on the beach front below Rangihoua Pa.

This became the first permanent European settlement in New Zealand and also the place where the first recorded Christian church service was held in New Zealand on 25 December 1814.

Marsden Cross Track is within the Rangihoua Heritage Park, 36 km from Kerikeri and signposted from Rangihoua Road. Turn off Rangihoua Road, and travel 2.8 km along Oihi Road to the start of the track.

From the stile at the roadside, the track leads you through farmland to Oihi Bay and the Marsden Cross. This stone monument marks the first mission settlement and first Christian service conducted in New Zealand.

Once at Oihi Beach, there is a small stream to cross, which runs dry most of the year.

You can also take a short bushwalk through the remnants of New Zealand’s first European orchard to another memorial commemorating one of New Zealand’s pioneering families, the Hansens.

The track is 1.1km (one way) and an easy walk

Please respect the private land you walk through.

Samuel Marsden on Wikipedia