tawharanui regional park

Do you love the ocean, crystal clear waters, sun and sand, somewhere relatively unpopulated? Well this is the beach for you. Set in a regional reserve and marine park, but accessible within 57 minutes of Auckland. Day parking available and camping (if you book and pay ahead of time). Great environment for children. Surf for boogie boarding and body surfing. The whole package.

This place is an outstanding area of natural beauty. Hiking trails, gorgeous views and good swimming beaches with soft white sand. Long, windy gravel road to reach the park is not great, but it adds to the experience of feeling in a place that is really special. You have to make the effort to get here! Superb views from the road when driving down to the park. Highly recommended.

Tawharanui is a little off the beaten track but well worth a visit. Please note that part of the road is not tar sealed so just take it easy driving there. It's a protected area so plenty of bird life, the pukako bird (native to NZ) will make you smile especially the baby ones and they are a plenty. There is plenty of free parking but note there are no shops or cafes so take a picnic. Very popular with surfers and a great long beach for sunbathing and swimming. There is a camping ground near by but can't comment on that as have never stayed there. It is very rarely crowded so almost feels like your own private beach, a great part of the world!

Get a taste of NZ in one place. Pohutukawa tree line beach with surf,great scenery,native wild life, native bush walks.Great place to relax. A little off the "beaten track". Stayed late for a bbq,a glass of your favourite drink and view a beautiful sunset.If you stay late most people have left the beach so you can have the place to yourself.

This park is surrounded by a marine reserve, pristine beaches - you can be on the beach and not see anyone or take a walk (gorgeous walks) to the other side and have a surf

The Tawharanui peninsula and park is stunning! The beach is secluded and perfect for walking, water is calm and crystal clear, rocks nearby to climb or take photos of, additional small beaches around every corner, sheep and other animals on the drive ... everything you could ask for. it was stunning and only could have been better if we would have stayed longer.

As with goat island, I have been coming here for years! It's so beautiful, so much wildlife, and cool hikes aswell as having the most beautiful beach and also a good place for snorkeling if you like swimming with the stingrays! Gives me such a thrill!

A fabulous area if you like walking in beautiful surroundings. We took the Ecological route which occupied us for a couple of hours but there are numerous others which are more extensive

The beautiful beach itself is wonderful. Clear water, caves, surfers, fantastic views of the park... everything made it an unforgettable experience.

Tawharanui regional park is one of those places which will keep calling you back. It indeed is a long drive through the unsealed dusty road to the park, but it definetly is worth. The park has an addicting beauty. Nature at its best. Wild and masculine beauty of the mountain on your left and the mesmarising calm of the lake and meadow on your right . Relax yourself in the hideouts and watch hundreds of native and tourist birds resting and nesting in the lake and bushes. Cross the small bridge and walk up to the marvel mountain, enjoy the beautiful view. Drive strait ahead and walk to the white sand beach. Submit yourself to the wild embraces of the ocean, wash away all the worries and stress. Drive back with a refreshed body and soul. Remember not to use the public toilets though :)

Gorgeous beach, great swim in the ocean, amazing (!!!) views, beautiful light hikes and a funky drive to the sanctuary. Definitely recommend.

A stunning regional park, so close to Auckland. A must see for all Enroute stop at Matakana famous for their markets and enjoy a good meal.

Clear water, clean reserve, great for birthdays in summer and for family and friends trips. Great for bbq. Breautiful

Without doubt this is one of the North Island's most beautiful places. Follow State Highway 1 to Warkworth and on through Matakana towards Omaha Beach but taking a right turn towards Tawharanui at the Country Park junction. Now the road is not sealed all the way but persevere because you will be rewarded. On arrival you drive through the predator proof fence gateway installed to keep out cats, dogs, ferrets, rats and other nasties. Drive until you reach Anchor Bay and you will see pristine beaches, coves, surf, depending on the conditions and places to picnic under the trees. (NB there are no rubbish bins-take it away with you). Aside from the tempting white sands and surf this is a bird sanctuary now with recently introduced Takahe pairs. If you are a "twitcher" (they know) take the ecology trail for bird song surround sound.There are many walks in this park offering splendid vistas out to the Pacific Ocean, Little and Great Barrier Islands together with lungfuls of clean fresh air. There are basic changing facilities and long drops but little else. Not a motel in site by the way. This is a place for solos, families, teens, couples and friends as long as you love New Zealand nature at its best.

This place is absolutely stunning! I spent the weekend camping in the campground with my partner and a friend. We took our mountain bikes, which I highly recommend doing as you can cover more ground and see more of the peninsula and wildlife in less time. On the first night we biked up to the nature walk at dusk to try and hear kiwi, we sat in the dark for a while and heard Kaka flying overhead, and what we later discovered, a Takahe call. No kiwi unfortunately. The next day we did a cycle loop around the park and saw Saddleback as well as countless other birds. In the evening as we were having a drink and a feed back at the tent... the Kaka flew high over head back to there evening roosts calling out to each other as they flew. The next day we finally saw the Takahe in the marsh walk at the entrance to the park. That was special :) The campground is pretty basic so come prepared. Long drops and drinking water taps are the only amenities. I recommend taking a bike.