Regional parks

Show gallery

Remember to be a tidy Kiwi!

All our regional parks are rubbish free. Whether you call it rubbish, trash or garbage, please bag it all up and recycle it or throw it away when you return home.

Important notice

Help protect our Kauri from Kauri dieback

Following the decision by the Environment and Community Committee to close a number of tracks and implement a further programme of high and medium risk track closures, staff and rangers have been working hard to identify more tracks for closure.

A rāhui has been placed over the Waitākere Ranges by iwi Te Kawerau a Maki. This cultural restriction by the mana whenua of the area urges people to stay away from the ranges to allow the forest to heal. The council supports the principles of the rāhui and recommends alternative walking and tramping tracks across the Auckland region.

For more information about kauri dieback disease click here.
About
Park facilities
Park activities
Tracks
History

About Muriwai

A windswept rugged coastline stretching 60km north showcases Muriwai's spectacular black sand surf beaches. At its southern end, Otakamiro Point is the site of one of our few mainland gannet (takapu) breeding colonies.

Park information

Pedestrian access: Open 24 hours
Summer gate opening hours:
7:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (Daylight savings)
Winter gate opening hours:
7:30 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (Non daylight savings)
Distance from CBD: 45 km
Park map: Click here to download a park map
Physical address: 458 Motutara Road, Muriwai Beach
Casual group size: 75

Dog walking restrictions

Dog walking with restrictions

Dogs are allowed under control on leash, except that

On Muriwai beach
  • Dogs are allowed under control off leash at all times in the dog exercise area on Muriwai beach from a point 450 metres north from Motutara road for a distance of approximately 10 km to the beginning of the Muriwai beach Marginal strip and adjacent Crown foreshore.
  • Dogs are allowed under control off leash on that part of Muriwai Beach from Motutara Road to a point 450m to the north from 7.00pm to 9.00am between the 1st Sunday in October and the 3rd Sunday in March, and are allowed under control off a leash at  all times from the day after the 3rd Sunday in March to the day before the 1st Sunday in October. Dogs are prohibited from 9.00am to 7.00pm between the 1st Sunday in October and the 3rd Sunday in March.
Otakamiro point - Maukatia special management zone (including Maori bay) and associated beach and foreshore areas Dogs are prohibited

Click here for information about which regional parks allow restricted dog walking

How to get to Muriwai

Follow State Highway 16 to Waimauku. Turn left into Muriwai Road and continue to the park.

View larger map

Maps

Download park map
Auckland Council GIS viewer
Get directions with Google Maps

Park facilities

BBQ
BBQ

There are electric BBQs provided or bring your own gas BBQ.

Beaches
Beaches

Maori Bay and Muriwai Beach.

Cellphone coverage
Cellphone coverage
Interpretation
Interpretation
Limited mobility toilet
Limited mobility toilet

There is wheelchair access to toilet blocks.

Mobility access (partial)
Mobility access (partial)
Native bush
Native bush

There is access to native bush at Muriwai.

Notice board
Notice board
Parking
Parking

Additional parking is available at Village Green and Five Mile Strip.

Picnic tables
Picnic tables

Find your own favourite spot. For larger groups special conditions apply.

Potable water
Potable water
Ranger contact phone
Ranger contact phone
Ranger office
Ranger office
Sealed access road
Sealed access road
Toilet block
Toilet block

Park activities

Bird watching
Bird watching
The gannet colony at the south end of Muriwai is well worth a visit between October and February.
Camping - vehicle based
Camping - vehicle based
For further information call (09)411 9262 or email muriwaibeachcampground@gmail.com.

 

Dog walking with restrictions
Dog walking with restrictions

Dogs are allowed under control on leash, except that

On Muriwai beach
  • Dogs are allowed under control off leash at all times in the dog exercise area on Muriwai beach from a point 450 metres north from Motutara road for a distance of approximately 10 km to the beginning of the Muriwai beach Marginal strip and adjacent Crown foreshore.
  • Dogs are allowed under control off leash on that part of Muriwai Beach from Motutara Road to a point 450m to the north from 7.00pm to 9.00am between the 1st Sunday in October and the 3rd Sunday in March, and are allowed under control off a leash at  all times from the day after the 3rd Sunday in March to the day before the 1st Sunday in October. Dogs are prohibited from 9.00am to 7.00pm between the 1st Sunday in October and the 3rd Sunday in March.
Otakamiro point - Maukatia special management zone (including Maori bay) and associated beach and foreshore areas Dogs are prohibited
Drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
Drones or Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

Click here to obatin rules and guidelines for flying UAVs and drones.  In particular pay attention to the code of conduct.

Fishing
Fishing
Take care when fishing off the rocks. The powerful surf that generally pounds onto Muriwai makes it dangerous to launch boats.
Horse riding
Horse riding

There is a designated loop trail through the Five Mile Strip lying between the dunes and Coast Road. The trails are sand based and mainly quite open. There are a number of minor trails cut through the regenerating vegetation that cross between the two sides of the main loop. Trails are marked with a simple home\away marker system.

Paragliding
Paragliding
Picnics
Picnics
Find your own favourite spot. For larger groups special conditions apply.
Sightseeing
Sightseeing
Surfing
Surfing
Good surfing can be found at Muriwai Beach and Maori Bay. Maori Bay is more consistent but usually more crowded.
Swimming
Swimming
Muriwai Beach and Maori Bay have dangerous surf. Swim only between the flags. If there are no lifeguards on duty, stay out of the water.
Walks (less than 1 hour)
Walks (less than 1 hour)

Take a short walk to one of the many lookouts at Muriwai, including the one overlooking the gannet colony. Click on the links below for track information:

Wedding or civil union
Wedding or civil union
Locations around Muriwai provide stunning backdrops for ceremonies. A permit must be obtained prior to commencement. Some locations are very popular over the summer months and early booking is recommended. Please contact the Arataki Visitor Centre on 09 817 0077 to discuss your requirements.

Tracks

Edwin Mitchelson Track Edwin Mitchelson Track ½ hour - 1.1 km From Oaia Road, the Edwin Mitchelson Track descends through regenerating coastal forest to Lookout Track (20 minutes) then continues to Edwin Mitchelson Road. Enjoy spectacular views north up Muriwai Beach.
Maukatia-Maori Bay Track Maukatia-Maori Bay Track 0.16 hour - 0.2 km Don't be put off by the fact that this track just seems like a connection between the two carparks; the track passes by a number of majestic Puriri trees. This shaded and peaceful track may be all you need to recharge your batteries after the crowds.
Muriwai Lookout Track Muriwai Lookout Track ½ hour - 0.7 km Though bush walking may not be the main reason for most people to visit Muriwai, this track should be able to convince most people that perhaps it should be. The track has a good surface and winds past mature coastal bush.
Muriwai Quarry Track Muriwai Quarry Track ¼ hour - 0.5 km From Waitea Road track climbs easily through mature nikau and pohutukawa, crosses small stream and eventually meets Lookout Track.
Takapu Refuge Walk Takapu Refuge Walk ½ hour - 0.8 km From the carpark at Maukatia/Maori Bay, the Takapu Refuge walk skirts around headland then descends to the end of Muriwai Beach Access Road. Two short branch tracks lead to lookouts over the gannet colony.

History

Māori occupied the area for centuries. Ngāti Te Kahupara, a sub-tribe of both Te Kawerau ā Maki and Ngāti Whatua descent, lived there from the 1700s until the late 1800s. They lived mainly at Ōtakamiro Point, at Oneonenui in the headwaters of the Ōkiritoto Stream (Totoanui Falls) and at Korekore Pā (Pulpit Rock). Two pā (defended settlements) were located on Ōtakamiro Point.

Land was sold to European settlers and in 1909 Sir Edwin Mitchelson, helped establish the forerunner to the present park, the Motutara Domain. Mitchelson built a large homestead and extensive garden overlooking Ōtakamiro Point. Many of the exotic and native trees Mitchelson planted are within the park – look out for them amongst the regenerating coastal forest.

  • twitter.com/aklcouncil
  • facebook.com/aklcouncil
  • linkedin.com/auckland-council
  • youtube.com/aklcouncil

Help make Auckland the best place in
the world to work, play, study and invest.

Find out more