Tāpapakanga Regional Park: Firth of Thames Beach Camping

Overview

Tāpapakanga Regional Park is a coastal farm park on the western shore of the Firth of Thames, near Ōrere Point in south-east Auckland. It has a rich Māori and European history. The historic Ashby Homestead looks across the firth to the Coromandel Peninsula, and the Tāpapakanga Stream winds through the farmland to an accessible, pōhutukawa-edged beach.

Tāpapakanga has three campgrounds and a beach suitable for families.

Getting there and opening hours

• Address: 95 Deerys Road, Ōrere Point
• Vehicle gate: 6am–9pm during daylight saving and 6am–7pm the rest of the year
• Walk-in access: 24 hours

Walks and tracks

Things to do

You can fish off the beach. As anywhere on an exposed coast, wear a lifejacket when fishing from the rocks.

Dogs at Tāpapakanga

Tāpapakanga is one of the few Auckland regional parks with an off-leash beach:

• Off-leash under control (all year, including lambing): The beach near Ashby Homestead, from the western boundary to the stream by Ashby Cemetery
• On a leash: The open grass between the beach and car park, and the car park by Ashby Homestead
• On a leash from 1 December to 30 June, and prohibited from 1 July to 30 November: All other areas, including the Farm Walk, Historic Loop Track and Coastal Walk. During lambing, dogs are also banned from being in a vehicle there, but can reach the homestead car park by vehicle from Deerys Road.
• Prohibited at all times: Ashby Homestead, Tāpapakanga Bach, all three campgrounds and the CSC/overnight parking areas

Camping and places to stay

You can book the Beachfront, Seaview and Waikaha Stream campgrounds, Tāpapakanga Bach, and several CSC and overnight parking areas (including Kaparanui Stream and Tāpapakanga Stream).