Beautiful beaches within a short drive include Ngungaru Estuary, Wellington Bay, Church Bay, Pacific Bay, Matapouri, Whale Bay, Wooleys Bay and Sandy Bay. All are safe for swimming; Wooleys Bay and Sandy Bay are also popular for surfing. Tutukaka Harbour is used by kayakers and paddleboarders, as well as yachties and fishermen. There are also lots of interesting walks within a short drive.

Tutukaka Village and Marina are an easy walk down the hill. The village has a couple of restaurants - Oceans and Snappa Rock - as well as a pizza restarant and another cafe in the marina itself. It also has a good general store for groceries and gas, a surf shop, art gallery and a few other retailers. Diving trips out to the Poor Knights islands run daily from the marina, and fishing trips can also be arranged.

Whangarei is about 23Km to the west, and takes under half an hour to reach. It has a full range of retail stores and supermarkets, as well as movies and other entertainment.