Āwhitu Regional Park: Manukau Harbour Beaches & Camping
Photo: “Brooks Homestead in the Āwhitu Regional Park” by russellstreet, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Park at a glance
- Region
- Auckland
- Location
- Āwhitu Peninsula, Manukau Harbour
- Managed by
- Auckland Council
- Dogs
- Dogs in some areas
- Camping
- Yes, see Camping section
Overview
Āwhitu Regional Park sits on the southwest shore of the Manukau Harbour. To get there you drive through Waiuku and along the Āwhitu Peninsula. Inside the park you can roam open pasture, explore wetlands and swim at two sheltered, sandy beaches: Brook Beach and Kauritūtahi Beach. The harbour is calm here, so it suits families who want a low-key beach day or a night at a campground.
Getting there and opening hours
- Address: Brook Road, Āwhitu
- Vehicle gate: 6am–9pm during daylight saving and 6am–7pm the rest of the year
- Walk-in access: 24 hours
- Parking: 65 spaces, with hundreds more on the paddocks on busy days
- Boat ramp: At the end of Featon Avenue in the north of the park. It's usable only for about two hours either side of high tide.
Walks and tracks
| Track | Time | Distance | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Homestead Walk | 45 min | 1.5 km | Prams and mountain buggies |
| Hatton Road Track | 40 min | 2 km | Walkers |
| Settlers Farm Track | 60 min | 3 km | Walkers and mountain bikes |
| Settlers Valley Walk | 90 min | 3 km | Prams |
Parts of the park are closed to protect kauri from kauri dieback. Clean your footwear at the hygiene stations, and check which tracks are open before you visit.
Things to do
Swimming at Brook and Kauritūtahi beaches
Both beaches have safe swimming. Wear shoes on the beach and in the water, because sharp oyster shells are common. Check Safeswim for live water quality before you swim.
Birdwatching in the wetlands
The foreshore, wetlands and bush are home to Australasian bittern, banded rail, fernbird, spotless crake, kererū, tūī and oystercatchers.
Horse riding
Designated horse trails cross gentle farmland and are open year-round, though wet ground can restrict them in winter. Riders use the side track around the campground gate and a set route through the old golf course. Riding isn't allowed on the fairways and greens or through the campground and wetlands.
There are five gas BBQs, one of them bookable, and a 29-marker orienteering course. You can also walk among the farm's sheep and cattle.
Dogs at Āwhitu
Dogs are only allowed on a leash in the esplanade reserve at the end of Brook Road. They're prohibited everywhere else, including the beaches, the foreshore and around Āwhitu House.
Camping and places to stay
There are two campgrounds, Brook and Peninsula. You can also book Āwhitu House or the CSC overnight parking area for self-contained vehicles. All bookings go through Auckland Council.
Where is Āwhitu Regional Park?
The pin marks: Centre of the park area (-37.0942, 174.6513). It isn't an entrance or car park, so check the council's park page for access points before you go. Plan a route on OpenStreetMap (opens in a new tab).
Location data: Auckland Council Park Extents (CC BY 4.0); OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0).
Check before you go
Track closures, gate times, fire bans and storm damage change often. Auckland Council posts current alerts for Āwhitu Regional Park on its official park page.
Current park alerts