Warkworth (Māori: Mahurangi) is a town on the Northland Peninsula in the upper North Island of New Zealand. It is in the northern part of the Auckland Region. It is located on State Highway 1, north of Auckland and south of Whangārei, and is at the head of Mahurangi Harbour. The Warkworth district is known as the Kowhai Coast, named after the native kōwhai tree, and the town's annual Kowhai Festival is one of the largest community festivals in the country, running for around a week in spring. New Zealand's main satellite communications ground station is located south of Warkworth. From 2018 Warkworth is served by hourly buses to Hibiscus Coast Station and less frequent buses to Snells Beach, Algies Bay, Matakana, Omaha and Point Wells. InterCity buses run through Warkworth from Auckland to Kerikeri and Mahu City Express twice a day to Auckland. Warkworth Museum, a local museum showcasing local history, opened in 1979. Geography Warkworth is located on the Mahurangi River at the point where it runs over a low waterfall and becomes a tidal estuary, which flows on into the Mahurangi Harbour. This is also the highest navigable point on the river, and the town's central business district is adjacent to the town wharf. On the eastern side of the river is the Mahurangi East peninsula, with the seaside towns of Snells Beach and Algies Bay. It is here that the scenic Kawau Island is found, notable for its historic Mansion House, once the private retreat of Governor Grey. East of Warkworth and north of Mahurangi East lies the Tawharanui Peninsula, home of the Tawharanui Regional Park and Tawharanui Marine Park. To the north is the town of Wellsford, with the thickly forested Dome Valley lying in between. On the west coast lies the Kaipara Harbour, while to the south is the small historic township of Puhoi and further south the larger town of Orewa. History The location of Warkworth was known by Māori as Puhinui, and the waterfall is known as Puhinui Falls. Warkworth, previously known as Browns Mill, was founded in 1853 by John Anderson Brown (born Newcastle upon Tyne), who first settled in the area in 1843. He named it after the village of Warkworth, Northumberland, where one of his relatives had taught for many years. In 1853 the government finished surveying the district and began to offer the land for sale. John Anderson