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.The Hauraki Gulf is a truly outstanding maritime area.
This broad waterway open to the Pacific Ocean in the east has
a long, indented and diverse coastline that includes beaches,
harbours, seacliffs, and many islands large and small. Wildlife
is rich with many shorebirds, seabirds, penguins, fish, shellfish,
whales and dolphins. It offers a variety of beautiful landscapes
and seascapes. There can't be many places where sightsee-ers
can enjoy a better maritime and coastal natural environment.
Auckland's west coast offers a strong contrast to
the Gulf. Facing west it is fully open to the prevailing winds
and weather systems. As a result it is a wilder and harsher
environment, and the sea is rough and often dangerous. But it
is a place of great beauty, with beaches of black sand, high
sea cliffs, sea caves, a thick native forest cover coming in
places right down to the beach, and interesting wildlife.
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The beach at Wenderholm Regional Park.
Photo NC.
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| LOCATION |
DETAILS
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| Mangawhai Heads |
The Mangawhai Heads Walkway is
a superb walk first on the beach, then up pastures along
the clifftops. There are magnificent views over the northern
Hauraki Gulf, encompassing Hen & Chicken Islands, Mokohinau,
Great Barrier and Little Barrier Islands. 3 hours return. |
| Pakiri Beach |
This is a 24 km long
(15 miles) white sand beach, as pristine as any in the Gulf.
Much of the attraction comes from its undeveloped state
and rural setting. Many shore and seabirds. |
| Cape Rodney & Goat Island Marine Reserve |
Cape Rodney is a high promontory
facing the Hauraki Gulf, offering superb views. Snorkelling
is an ideal way to discover the rich wildlife of the reserve.
But schools of fish, especially blue maomao, can easily
be seen from the shore platform. There are interesting walks
on the clifftop above the reserve as well as at Leigh Harbour,
with coastal forest and native birds. |
| Auckland coastal Regional Parks |
Most Auckland's regional parks
are located in coastal areas, because one of their primary
aims is to preserve public access to the coast, especially
where it has remained in a relatively unmodified state.
For a naturalist each of them is worth visiting not only
for their scenic value,but also for native coastal forest,
native vegetation, geological formations, and wildlife. |
| Shakespear Regional Park and Whangaparaoa
Peninsula |
The peninsula stretches far into
the middle part of the Hauraki Gulf. Magnificent views spanning
Little Barrier and Great Barrier Islands, The Coromandel
Peninsula, Rangitoto Island. Fine patches of native coastal
forest, where native birds can be observed. Interesting
geological formations on the shore. A choice of walks. |
| Kaipara Harbour South Head |
This is a fine place to approach
the Kaipara Harbour, the largest in New Zealand. Papakanui
Spit is a roosting ground for wading birds. Inland, Lake
Otoatoa is an important habitat for many bird species. Caution:
the sand dunes south of Papakanui Spit are periodically
used as a bombing range by the Airforce. |
| Muriwai Regional Park |
It is located at the
southern end of the 48 km Muriwai Beach which extends north
to the entrance of the Kaipara Harbour. The most popular
attraction is the easily accessible gannet colony Also fine
views over the rocky coast and sea cliffs further south.
The pillow lava formations above Maori Bay are of international
significance. |
| Karekare |
The whole Waitakere coast between
Muriwai and Whatipu is magnificent, with a succession of
black sand beaches, high sea cliffs, little stream valleys
and coastal forest. Karekare offers fine walks through native
forest as well as along the coast. There are remnants of
the kauri milling activity. Paratahi Island is a resting
ground for New Zealand fur seals. |
| Whatipu |
More that anywhere perhaps on
the wild Waitakere coast, there is a strong feeling of wilderness
at Whatipu. Huge sandflats separate the old sea cliffs from
the sea. They are covered in scrub and grasses, with salt
meadows in places. They are also rich in native plants species,
and provide habitat and feeding grounds for a wide variety
of birds. Beach and bush walks. |
| Tamaki Drive |
This coastal drive
in an urban environment offers superb views over the Waitemata
Harbour, and a good introduction to some of its main natural
features. These include several volcanic cones including
the volcanic islands Rangitoto and Brown's Island. And other
islands such as Motutapu, Motuihe, Waiheke. Pohutukawa trees
are present over most of Tamaki Drive's length, either planted
alongside the road, or growing on or above the cliff. |
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Specific references for this page:
Ewen Cameron, Bruce Hayward and Graeme Murdoch 1997: A
Field Guide to Auckland - Exploring the Region's Historic Heritage.
Godwit.
Linda Bercusson 1999: The
Hauraki Gulf - From Bream Head to Cape Colville. Shoal Bay
Press.
Mark Pickering 1996: Wild
Walks - Sixty Short North Island Walks. Shoal Bay Press.
Ian Baker 1998: The
Gulf - New Zealand's Hauraki Gulf Explored. C.J. Publishing.
Bob Harvey 1998: Untamed
Coast. Auckland's Waitakere Ranges and West Coast Beaches.
Exisle Publishing.
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Top
| Locations on map: |
| 1 |
Mangawhai Heads |
| 2 |
Pakiri Beach |
| 3 |
Cape Rodney - Goat Island |
| 4 |
Whangaparaoa Peninsula - Shakespear Regional Park |
| 5 |
Muriwai |
| 6 |
Karekare |
| 7 |
Whatipu |
| 8 |
Tamaki Drive |
| 9 |
Kaipara South Head |
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| Auckland coastal regional
parks: |
| Am |
Ambury |
| Awh |
Awhitu |
| Du |
Duder |
| LB |
Long Bay |
| Mah |
Mahurangi |
| Mu |
Muriwai |
| Om |
Omana |
| Sha |
Shakespear |
| Tap |
Tapapakanga |
| Taw |
Tawharanui |
| Tawhit |
Tawhitokino |
| Wah |
Waharau |
| Wai |
Waitakere Ranges |
| Wen |
Wenderholm |
| Wha |
Whakanewha |
| Whak |
Whakatiwai |
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