Northland, Walks & Parks

This white-sand beach is safe for swimming and you can also fish, surf or sail. Shops are nearby with a bakery and licensed restaurant and it is not too far to get to the cinema or local attractions.

A short drive from downtown Auckland is Mission Bay, a child friendly swimming beach with a playground, fountain and picnic area. Walk along the promenade or there is plenty of room for games in the park. Kayaks and rollerblades can be hired during the summer months. Further along Tamaki Drive is St Helier’s Beach, a one kilometre long, white, sandy beach with a children’s playground.

The Puketi Forest is easily accessible from Hokianga Harbour and there are several short walks through the forest which are suitable for children. Manginangina Kauri Walk is a 15 minute loop track walk which is easy and has a well formed path. Access is via unsealed roads from South Highway 10, Waipapa. Puketi Nature Trail is a 1 hour return walk which starts at the Puketi Recreation Area and has an easy and well formed walking track. Pirau Ridge Road is an 11 km track which is more suited to older children, and provides the opportunity for mountain biking as well.

Nine kilometers south of Waipu, Waipu Cove has a white sandy beach which is popular for swimming and surfing. The east side of the cove offers safer swimming for small children. There are toilets, picnic tables, BBQ's as well as convenience stores and cafes. Lifeguards patrol part of the beach during the summer.

Ten minutes north of Tutukaka, this magnificent crescent shaped bay with beautiful white sand is a great place for families for surfing, kayaking or just walking along the beach.

Four kilometers south of Waipu Cove, Pohutukawa trees grow along the edge of this beach which is safe for family swimming or surfing and has views of offshore islands. There are toilets and a change shed near the car park.

This 376 hectare coastal park has an amazing view of Auckland city and the inner Hauraki Gulf. There is a wonderful variety of birdlife including peacocks, herons and tui. There is a campground and several walks. Picnic sites are available and Okoromai Bay is a normally safe swimming beach and good for children to paddle in at high tide, while Army Bay offers a sandy beach backed by cliffs and Te Haruhi Bay is a sandy beach with sand dunes. There are toilets and changing facilities available.

This beach is quite different from any other beach in Doubtless Bay with its pink-coral beach, rockpools and a small lagoon for the children to explore. There is a children’s playground and store nearby.

This walk is easy and takes about 30 minutes return. It is suitable for most children, although younger children will need watching.

The longest beach on the Whatuwhiwhi Peninsula at 18 km long. Good for surf casting and digging for shellfish.

White sand and clear waters makes Taupo Bay a popular spot for swimming, surfing or fishing. There sheltered beach is ideal for a family picnic and there are rock pools for the children to explore at low tide. There is a small shop in the nearby holiday park.

One of the safest beaches in Northland, this two and a half kilometre unspoiled beach has safe swimming and shade. There is a children’s playground nearby and a shopping centre and restaurant. There is a local product market at the shopping centre every Saturday.

Two crescent shaped coves form beautiful Matai Bay. With its fine sand and safe swimming, it is a very popular beach for families and is a great place for a picnic.

Take a walk through this park to view the wonderful forest and beautiful kauri trees. The track is easy and takes about 30 to 40 minutes. The park is managed by the Department of Conservation. During the day you can see kukupa (New Zealand’s only native pigeon), fantails and morepork. Or a guided nightwalk will give you the opportunity to see the forest at night and maybe see kiwi or bats.

This 2 km track can be walked in either direction and will take about an hour each way. The track crosses farmland and leads up a steep ridge, across stiles and an unbridged stream to a large flat grassy area which is ideal for picnics and leads to the Caves Road entrance. The Waipu Caves feature stalactites, stalagmites and glowworms near the entrance. Be careful when walking the track as there are sinkholes underground. The inner caves should only be accessed by experienced cavers.

Resting place of The Rainbow Warrior, Matauri Bay looks out to the Cavelli Islands. This golden, sandy beach, which is over a kilometre long and has crystal clear water, is safe for swimming and excellent for surfing at high tide and fishing. Maturi Bay has its own beachfront camping ground and general store.

This short walk is quite steep but is worth it for the swimming holes along the track on the way. There are birds to see on the way before you get to the end of the walk and the 20 metre long Piroa Falls. The road to the falls is unsealed.