At Te Haruhi Bay there are 3 electric BBQs available for casual use and 2 wood fired BBQs associated with bookable sites. They are able to be used if the site has not been booked. At Okoromai Bay there is 1 casual wood fired BBQ and 4 wood fired BBQ’s associated with bookable sites. They are able to be used if the site has not been booked. At Okoromai Bay the old wood BBQs are slowly being replaced with electric BBQs. All BBQ's are FREE to use.

There are three beaches at Shakespear. ●Te Haruhi Bay which is located inside the Open Sanctuary pest proof fence, at the south western end of the Open Sanctuary area. It is a beautiful sandy beach. ●Army Bay which is located at the park entrance on the north western side of the park. ●Okoromai Bay which is located outside the Open Sanctuary pest proof fence, at the south western end of the park. This is a very tidal beach where cockles can be gathered.

A boat ramp is located at Army Bay's eastern car park. Access is 24 hours, all year and at all tides. ●There is room for about 20 cars and trailers in the car park and parking available on Whangaparaoa Road. ●The ramp is exposed to northerly and nor-west winds that make it difficult to launch and retrieve your boat. The ramp does not extend all the way to the low tide mark and at low tide the ramp is just access to the beach to launch from.

Are not allowed in the general picnic areas, but are allowed on bookable sites. Conditions apply and the site must be booked. For details go to bookable sites on this page.

Patchy; some areas on the park have good coverage but some do not.

Are allowed in the general picnic areas, any pegs must be less than 300 mm long to ensure water and sewage pipes are not hit or broken. Over 3 meters x 6 meters are only allowed on bookable sites. Conditions apply and the site must be booked. For details go to bookable sites on this page.

The 1910 Shakespear Homestead is currently being used as a YMCA Lodge/Camp that can be booked out. This area is restricted to Lodge users. Contact the YMCA for information and booking details.

A number of informative interpretation panels can be found dotted around the park providing information on the park history, historic buildings, past farm operations, infrastructure and detailed descriptions of park features and landscapes. The Heritage Trail features interesting information on some of the parks history. The palisade at Waterfall Gully car park has information panels about the park’s wildlife and restoration work.

There is 1 designated car park at Army Bay next to the toilet block, and 1 at Okoromai Bay alongside the path to the toilets.

The toilet blocks at Army Bay and Okoromai Bay have paved paths suitable for limited mobility access to and from the designated limited mobility parking spaces in the car parks. ● Army Bay: 1 limited mobility female cubicle and 1 limited mobility male cubicle. ● Okoromai Bay: 1 limited mobility female cubicle and 1 limited mobility male cubicle. ● There is no limited mobility access to the three toilet blocks at Te Haruhi Bay.

Te Haruhi Bay and Okormai Bay have reasonable limited mobility access to the beachside grass picnic areas but no formed path for access to the beach. For special access provisions contact us on (09) 301 0101.

There are 2 tables near the casual electric BBQ at the eastern end of Te Haruhi Bay with extended table top ends and pads allowing for wheelchair access. Assistance may be required to get across the grass to reach both of these tables.

No amplified music is allowed. This includes bluetooth speakers and Amps.

There are two main forest areas with magnificent puriri, kowhai, kahikatea, kauri, and many other natives present. One of these areas is Waterfall Gully: An area of bush near the north end of the park. The second is at Kowhai Glen: An area of bush along the eastern end of the park which can be best accessed by taking a walk on a part of the Tiri Tiri track. This is an impressive remnant patch of bush left on the park.

The main notice board is located in front of the park office at Te Haruhi Bay. There are also notice boards at the campground, Army Bay, Okoromai Bay and at Waterfall Gully. Notice boards may contain a park map, visitor information, codes and bylaws, tide charts, park brochures and information about the parks walks and features.

There are five designated car parks. ●Army Bay East Car Park: 20 spaces for boat trailer parking. Access is 24 hours a day. ●Army Bay West Car Park: 50 spaces. Access is 24 hours a day. ●Waterfall Gully Car Park: 40 spaces. ●Okoromai Bay Car Park: 240 spaces. ● Lookout Car Park: 10 spaces. ●Te Haruhi Bay Car park 400 spaces. ●There is overflow parking of about 150 spaces at Te Haruhi Bay. This is opened as demand and ground conditions allow.

There are 8 fixed casual use picnic tables plus 6 others associated with the casual electric BBQ’s. 2 tables are associated with the bookable picnic site at Te Haruhi Bay. At Okoromai Bay there are 8 fixed picnic tables all associated with the bookable sites, and there are 2 fixed picnic tables at Army Bay. All the picnic tables at the booked sites can be used casually if the site is not booked.

All the park water comes from an artesian bore in Te Haruhi Bay and is filtered and treated through a treatment site to meet all drinking standards. ●There are drinking fountains at each of the designated picnic sites. ●There are drinking fountains at the lookout. ●There are several drinking fountains along each of the 3 beach fronts.

All beaches have reasonable pram access with Te Haruhi Bay and Okoromai Bay having large grassy flat areas. There are also grass verges along all of the roads suitable for prams. If you park at the lookout car park you can take your pram to the lookout. You'll need to push your pram over the two mountain bike ramps to get to there.

Located in front of the ranger office at Te Haruhi Bay.

Located near the western end of the Te Haruhi Bay car park. Follow the signs to Te Haruhi Bay, then to the park office

The major access roads to the park and on the park are all sealed.

An automatic gate is located near Army Bay on the road to Te Haruhi Bay and Okoromai Bay and just past the bus stop. This gate opens and closes automatically. See “about this park” for details. It will automatically open for vehicles exiting the park at all times.

Several security cameras are located on the park, overviewing some of the car parks.

Are not allowed in the general picnic areas, but are allowed on bookable sites. Conditions apply and the site must be booked. For details go to bookable sites on this page. All other generators are prohibited at all times.

There are five toilet blocks on the park. All have separate male and female facilities and changing rooms. ●Te Haruhi Bay: There are three toilet blocks at Te Haruhi Bay. One at the western end, one central and one at the campground. ● Army Bay: Located in the middle of Army Bay with a paved path leading to the toilet block. ● Okoromai Bay: Located in the middle of Okoromai Bay with a paved path leading to the toilet block.