Tāwharanui Regional Park: White Sand Beaches & Open Sanctuary
Photo: “Tawharanui” by Brendon Peat at en.wikipedia, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Park at a glance
- Region
- Auckland
- Location
- Tāwharanui Peninsula, near Matakana
- Managed by
- Auckland Council
- Dogs
- No dogs
- Camping
- Yes, see Camping section
Overview
Tāwharanui Regional Park covers the eastern end of the Tāwharanui Peninsula, past Matakana. It has some of the Auckland region's most beautiful white sand beaches, along with rolling pasture, shingle bays, native coastal forest and regenerating wetlands.
The park is a predator-free open sanctuary, run with the Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary Society. North Island brown kiwi, kākā, saddleback (tīeke), North Island robin, bellbirds and pāteke (brown teal) live here alongside a working farm. The north coast is protected as the Tāwharanui Marine Reserve.
Getting there and opening hours
- Address: 1181 Takatu Road, Tāwharanui Peninsula
- Vehicle gate: 6am–9pm during daylight saving and 6am–7pm the rest of the year. The gate at the end of Takatu Road always opens for vehicles leaving.
- Parking: Anchor Bay (200, the main car park), Jones Bay (90) and the Lagoon (12)
Check your vehicle and gear for pests before you go in.
Current safety alert
Shipwreck debris: Debris from the Christmas 2025 shipwreck is in the water at Ocean Beach, on the north coast west of Anchor Bay. Don't swim near the wreck, and follow the signs and rangers' instructions.
Walks and tracks
| Track | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Fishermans Track | 30 min | 2 km |
| Ecology Trail | 60–90 min | 3–3.3 km |
| Māori Bay Coast Walk | 90 min | 4 km |
| West End Track | 90 min | 6 km |
| North/South Coast Track | 3 hr | 8 km |
None of the tracks suit prams or wheelchairs. The beach-level picnic areas at Anchor Bay and Jones Bay are pram-friendly.
Things to do
Anchor Bay and the north coast beaches
There are four white-sand beaches along 3 km of the north coast. The main one is Anchor Bay, about 360 m of sand an easy walk from the main car park. Rip currents are common, especially near the rocks, so swim between the flags and keep children close. Tāwharanui is popular with surfers when there's an east coast swell, and the north-facing beaches work well in southerly winds.
Snorkelling the marine reserve
The Tāwharanui Marine Reserve along the north coast is excellent for snorkelling and diving: look but don't touch. No fishing is allowed on the north coast, and new rules apply on the east and south coasts. In calm weather you can hand-launch kayaks under 3 m from Anchor Bay. The lagoon by the car park is a sheltered place to learn.
Kiwi spotting at night
Going out after dark to listen for kiwi is a highlight. Use only red lights, don't use flash or spotlights, stay on the track, and never chase or follow the birds.
Dogs at Tāwharanui
Dogs and all other pets are prohibited at all times: on both sides of the pest-proof fence (including Jones Bay and Anchor Bay), in farm paddocks, on all roads and car parks (even inside vehicles), and at the campground and bach.
Camping and places to stay
You can book Tāwharanui campground, Tāwharanui Bach and overnight parking. Drinking water is safe (treated bore supply), and there are 10 vault toilet blocks across the park.
Good to know
Drones are not allowed. No amplified music is permitted, including Bluetooth speakers. Mobile coverage is patchy.
Where is Tāwharanui Regional Park?
The pin marks: Centre of the park area (-36.3708, 174.8362). 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 Tāwharanui Regional Park on its official park page.
Current park alerts