It’s easy to assume Warkworth shuts up shop on a Sunday. Many local retailers rightly take a well-earned day off, and at first glance, visitors might think the town has gone to sleep.

But look a little closer, and you’ll discover that Sundays in Warkworth have a charm all of their own. Behind the slower pace is a core of passionate local businesses keeping the heart of the town beating offering art, fashion, fine food, and friendly conversation in equal measure.

Among those open are Salt River Gallery, 8.55 to Cairo, Warkworth Menswear, Stirling Sports, Imeldas Shoes, the Community Shop, Queen Street Café, and the Warkworth Hotel.

Together they bring life, colour, and character to the main street every weekend.

Wander through the stores and you’ll find everything from locally made gifts and original artworks to quality clothing and accessories. Stop for a coffee or a lazy brunch at Queen Street Café, or enjoy a relaxed meal and a cool drink at the Warkworth Hotel, both perfect spots to sit back and relax.

And when you’ve finished exploring, step down to the river. Takeaway lunch in hand, find a seat beneath the trees, and enjoy the sound of the Mahurangi gently flowing by. It’s this quiet rhythm, the unhurried Sunday pace, that gives Warkworth its special kind of magic.

So yes, Warkworth may be a little quieter on Sundays, but it’s a beautiful kind of quiet: one filled with warmth, community spirit, and a genuine love for local life.

Local spirit. Local shopping. Local love. That’s Warkworth.