Waitawa Regional Park: Mountain Biking, Disc Golf & Bays Near Kawakawa Bay
Photo: “Pakihi Island from Waitawa Regional Park, Auckland, New Zealand” by Rsfinlayson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Park at a glance
- Region
- Auckland
- Location
- Kawakawa Bay, south-east Auckland
- Managed by
- Auckland Council
- Dogs
- Dogs in some areas
- Camping
- Yes, see Camping section
Overview
Waitawa Regional Park is about 50 km from central Auckland on the south-eastern coast, near Kawakawa Bay. It's made up of three small peninsulas fronting onto four bays. Unlike most regional parks, Waitawa was planned and developed as a recreation park, with outdoor activity and exercise in mind. That's why it has a large mountain bike network, a disc golf course and a horse park.
The views take in the Hauraki Gulf, Karamuramu, Pakihi, Pōnui and Waiheke islands, the Coromandel Range, and inland toward the Hunua Ranges.
Getting there and opening hours
- Address: 1168 Clevedon-Kawakawa Road, Kawakawa Bay
- Vehicle gate: 6am–9pm during daylight saving and 6am–7pm the rest of the year
- Walk-in access: 24 hours
- Parking: Mataitai Bay (main arrival area) and the wharf, Hauraki, the Mountain Bike car park, Tikapa Moana, and the Hoiho Hub for horse floats
Walks and tracks
| Loop | Time | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Kererū Loop | 60 min | 4 km |
| Kōtare Loop | 90 min | 6 km |
The park's four walking tracks (Waitawa Bay, Farm, Pāwhetau and Valley) are signposted as four loops: Kōtare, Kererū, Pūweto and Pīwakawaka.
Things to do
Mountain biking
Waitawa has a network of bike-only trails, including Chain Link, Equine Incline, Exploding Legs, Fuse, Native, Old School Party Groove, Sheepish, Slippery Digger, Pancake, Oyster Shell and Sheep Happens. A few trails, including Barnyard Boogie, Eucalyptus and Racing Mum, are currently closed. Start from the Mountain Bike car park, which has a toilet and BBQ.
Disc golf
The Waitawa Disc Golf Course is open to play, with a compost toilet nearby.
Wharf fishing and swimming
Waitawa Wharf is good for sightseeing and fishing, but don't jump or swim off it. A strong current runs past, the water is shallow from mid to low tide, and there are submerged rocks. Mataitai Bay and Waitawa Bay are both safe swimming beaches. Boat launching isn't permitted, as the old ramp is out of use.
Waitawa is a stop on Te Ara Moana, the sea kayak trail, and has a sea kayak campground on Waitawa Bay. Horse riding is open year-round from the Hoiho Hub, which has hitching pens, a toilet and a map. Horses aren't allowed on the bike trails, the disc golf tees or at Mataitai Bay.
Dogs at Waitawa
- Off-leash under control: The western half of Mataitai Bay Beach (west of the rocks)
- On a leash: Everywhere else, including Waitawa Bay Beach, the wharf (don't let your dog bother people fishing), the Mataitai Bay picnic areas and the eastern half of the beach. Farm paddocks are on a leash outside lambing only.
- Prohibited: Farm paddocks, including tracks through them, during lambing (1 July to 30 November); the bike-only trails; Waitawa Bach; and the campground, except when passing through on a leash using the walking tracks
Camping and places to stay
You can book the Waitawa Bay (sea kayak) campground, Waitawa Bach, overnight car parking and a CSC parking area.
Good to know
There are three gas BBQs and flush toilets at Mataitai Bay, and 15 picnic tables around the park. Mobile coverage is limited.
Where is Waitawa Regional Park?
The pin marks: Centre of the park area (-36.9398, 175.1396). 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 Waitawa Regional Park on its official park page.
Current park alerts