Tawharanui Regional Park

Pristine beaches. Lovely waves and a beautiful place to swim/tent camp. The place where we swam had very nice ablutions AND fresh water near the car park to rinse the sand off! They have very friendly and 'awake' life savers there as well. Awesome!

A great natural reserve. Go with friends and family to make it a day picnic. Getting there can be a bit tricky f you have a small car filled with people as the access to the reserve for the last 5 to 10 kms from Matakan is windy and when wet slightly slippery. The roads are very well maintained but you need to be an experienced and patient driver. There are surf guards there on patrol. The views are typicall NZ.. One in a million, unique, pristine. Whether you love birds, nature or the sea. It is what we have and very grateful to all the DOC staff that maintain thd reserve

This place is amazing, I loved seeing all the birds, and in general it's just beautiful. We did look for Kiwis and we spotted 7! The last one we saw was clearly a very young one and it was so cute. A cool experience that I'll never forget!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Slice of Paradise in New Zealand Tawharanui Regional Park is an absolute gem! 🌿 The drive in itself is beautiful, with rolling hills and coastal views, but the real magic starts once you arrive. The combination of golden sandy beaches, crystal-clear water, and lush native bush makes it feel like you’re stepping into a postcard. The walking tracks are well-maintained, with options for all fitness levels—from peaceful coastal strolls to slightly more challenging bush walks. Along the way, you’ll spot native birds thanks to the predator-free sanctuary—tui, fantails, and even the occasional kiwi if you’re lucky! 🐦 The beach is stunning—perfect for swimming, surfing, or simply relaxing on the sand. If you love photography, sunrise here is absolutely worth waking up for. There are clean facilities, picnic spots, and plenty of space to spread out, so even on busy days it never feels overcrowded. It’s the perfect place to escape the city, reconnect with nature, and just breathe. Highly recommended for families, couples, and solo explorers alike. Me and my husband go to place whenever we get time love this park ❤️

First time in our Motorhome and it was perfect. Lovely calm night, sun shining, no one on the beach, just our footprints left behind. Beautiful walk in the morning. Saw a Dotterrl chick on it's own and heard the Kiwi calling last night. Also the Morepork was active. Birdlife incredible. We should have booked for more nights as one wasn't enough!

The beach was very busy. We went to swim and relax a bit further down the left side (if you look into the ocean). Very beautiful beach and golden sand.

We visited during daytime and night time. We really appreciate this park. The water can get rough. We visited at night during summer to try and see kiwis. Even tho the park closes at 9, as long as you enter BEFORE 9pm you will be able to leave at ANYTIME. Plenty of parking. We followed the ecological trail, walked in the dark for maybe 45 minutes before seeing our first kiwi. Red light is essential. We ended up seeing 3 in an hour and heard a few more. Definitely worth going !

Beautiful large campsite in protected wildlife area. Short walk to beach. Lots of birdlife and birdsong - love hearing that!! Clean composting toilets. Drinking water on tap. You will need to book and pay online to get access code for gate. Would definitely be back if up this way again.

If I had to pick a favourite day trip out of Auckland there's a high chance that Tawharanui would be it. It has the most beautiful beach, large enough for everyone to spread out over busy summer weekends but small enough to still feel intimate and easy enough to find friends who've had the same idea as you! You can walk out past the first bay and there is a huge stretch of beach - more popular with the surfers as the break is bigger on this side. If sunbathing and lazing isn't your thing, there are plenty of walks and wildlife in the regional park, and you can even camp here (something I've never done but is on my bucket list). Looking forward to plenty of day trips next summer already!

I'd been in Auckland for precisely two weeks when my friends insisted one hot hungover Sunday that they were going to drive me to Tawharanui beach for a day of sunbathing. Sit in a car for over an hour? On a boiling hot day? With a hangover? I still can't believe they managed to talk me into it...But I'm oh so glad they did. Tawharanui is without a doubt my favourite out of Auckland day trip. The beach is just gorgeous with perfect white sand, big crashing waves and lots of caves at the side you can explore. It literally makes the inner city beaches pale in comparison. Stop in Matakana for ice-cream or a meal on the way there or back. Load up a cool box with beer and sit and take in the amazing view. Tip: it gets really packed on sunny days so head there early to secure a good spot. Also, not drinking the night before will help to uphold your enthusiasm for the journey.

Tawharanui is a small piece of paradise that I've been lucky enough to grow up next to. I've spent many a summers day in the waves at Anchor Bay or picnicking under the pines along the coast. We love it so much we even spend every second Christmas at the campground. It's a magic place for me and if you're visiting the area would be my first recommendation. It's a bit of a drive out there, and the last part of road is treacherous, so plan to stay the day. The whole area is a Regional Park and is protected by DOC. There is a state or the art predator fence around the park, and animals (dogs included) are strictly forbidden. Part of the park is still an operational farm and there are many walking tracks over it. My favourite is the 'ecology trail' which is an easy walk through a beautiful piece of regenerated bush. You can continue up over the hills for some stunning views. The beach is bigger and less busy than others in the area, and there is decent swell for surfers (or boogey boarders like me). Tawharanui is the perfect day trip, or if you have time, summer camping trip.

A popular escape for Aucklanders, Tawharanui is usually buzzing on a fine weekend. It is an easy drive from Auckland and is a great swimmer's beach. It is only about an hour from the Supercity. There is plenty of parking, which is particularly useful when there are large crowds. The beach is just big enough for a bit of breathing room on busy days, while small enough you are able to easily find friends. There are plenty of beaches nearby also if Tawharanui proves to be too crowded. If the group is a mix of surfers and swimmers, as it were with us, the numerous beaches nearby provide other options for surfers, who favour less crowded places and better waves, whereas the swimmers might as well stick to where the crowds are, with Tawharanui being a swimmer's paradise anyway.

This place is amazing! Would definitely go if you are a surfer, great waves, never had one incident and I come here almost every weekend in the summer, by far my favourite beach!