Te Ārai Regional Park: Surf Beaches & Dunes Near Mangawhai
Photo: “Horse riders and surfers on Te Arai Beach” by Avenue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Park at a glance
- Region
- Auckland
- Location
- Te Ārai, south of Mangawhai
- Managed by
- Auckland Council
- Dogs
- Dogs in some areas
- Camping
- Yes, see Camping section
Overview
Te Ārai Regional Park is in the far north-east of the Auckland region, just south of Mangawhai. It protects highly sensitive dunes and lakes, wetlands, coastal broadleaf forest and regenerating forest along a long, exposed coastline. Little Shag Lake is one of its dune lakes.
The park has three separate access points to the coast and beaches:
- Te Ārai Point, where you can explore the headland or swim in the retired quarry
- Pacific Road, with parking, pedestrian access over the dunes to the beach, and the northern part of the track network
- Te Ārai South, a long sandy beach formerly known as "Forestry", popular with surfers
Getting there
- Address: 708 Te Arai Point Road, Mangawhai
- Access: 24 hours. The gates are open around the clock.
Things to do
Surfing
Te Ārai is a great surf spot. Te Ārai Point is the more popular break, but there are good waves at Te Ārai South (Forestry) too. It's an exposed east-coast beach, so check conditions and don't surf alone.
Te Ārai Point and the old quarry
Walk out to explore the headland at Te Ārai Point, or take a dip in the retired quarry.
Horse riding
Riding is open year-round but can be restricted during bird nesting. Stay on the designated trails through the pine forest, the dunes and the public easements over private land, and ride below the high-tide mark on the beach.
Dogs at Te Ārai
The dunes and lakes are fragile, and shorebirds nest on the beaches, so dog rules here are strict:
- On a leash (inland dog access area only): The area bounded by Western Boundary Road (north), the forest service road (east), the park boundary (south) and the Te Arai Links access road (west). Dogs may travel by vehicle along Western Boundary (Forestry) Road only as far as the inland car park.
- Prohibited everywhere else: Eyres Point and the quarry, all dunes, grass, tracks and campgrounds, the roads and car parks (including dogs inside vehicles), and both Te Ārai beaches, which are also DOC-controlled dog areas.
Camping
The Te Ārai CSC parking area allows stays of up to three nights in certified self-contained vehicles. You must book and pay before you arrive.
Good to know
Drones are not allowed. Amplified music, including Bluetooth speakers, is not allowed.
Where is Te Ārai Regional Park?
The pin marks: Centre of the park area (-36.1613, 174.6416). 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 Te Ārai Regional Park on its official park page.
Current park alerts