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About

Park facilities

Park activities

Tracks

History

About Tawhitokino

This small scenic park is located at the end of the Kawakawa Bay Coast Road. Accessible from Waiti Bay only at low tide, Tawhitokino offers safe swimming and a beautiful, secluded stretch of white sand beach backed by regenerating bush and farmland.

Park information

Pedestrian access:	Open 24 hours
Summer gate opening hours:	Open 24 hours (Daylight savings)
Winter gate opening hours:	Open 24 hours (Non daylight savings)
Distance from CBD:	60 km
Physical address:	265 Kawakawa Bay Coast Road, Clevedon
Casual group size:	50
Access issues:	Access only at low tide.

Dog walking restrictions

Tawhitokino and Orere Point: Dogs are allowed under control off leash on the beach but are prohibited from the campsites.

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

How to get to Tawhitokino

From Clevedon follow the signs to Kawakawa Bay. Continue to Waiti Bay at the end of Kawakawa Bay Coast Rd. From there follow the Tawhitokino track on foot around the rocks and over Papanui Point to the beach. Access only at low tide.

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Park facilities

Camping Tawhitokino Campground

Beaches

Tawhitokino Beach is straight and unbroken stretch of sand. Taiwawe beach is broken into two parts.

Interpretation

Native bush

Parking

Parking at MCC car park only.

Toilet block

Toilets

Park activities

Bird watching

Boating

The nearest boat ramp is at Kawakawa Bay.

Camping - back country

Diving

Dog walking with restrictions

Tawhitokino and Orere Point: Dogs are allowed under control off leash on the beach but are prohibited from the campsites.

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

This is a good spot for fishing.

Kayaking

Launch at Kawakawa bay, kayaking is a great way to access the park.

Picnics

Sightseeing

Swimming

Tawhitokino is a relatively safe family beach with lovely clear water.

Walks (less than 1 hour)

Just getting to Tawhitokino is a walk in itself, remember to check the tide. Click on link below for track information:

Access to Tawhitokino

Wedding or civil union

This park has a beautiful backdrop but only has access by foot or water. If you think your guests won't mind the walk then please call the Senior Ranger Recreation on (09) 261 8001 to discuss your booking.

Tracks

Access to Tawhitokino Tawhitokino is only accessible by foot at low tide, or by boat. The route is relatively easy with a short, steep climb over Papanui Point. Remember to check the tides.

History

Between Papanui Point and Ōrere Point lie a series of stunning beaches on the south east coast of the Auckland region. Tawhitokino and Ōrere Point Regional Park refers to two small and relatively isolated areas approximately two kilometres apart, which were purchased in 1981 to initiate a coastal trail along this amazing coastline. As this coastal trail has not yet been developed, these two areas of park land remain separate with no pedestrian connectivity.

Named after the rivers of Ōrere and Tawhitokino, the park land is known by tangata whenua as Karaka, Ōrere and Taupo. Te Urikaraka (Ngāti Paoa) claim kaitiakitanga rights to the stream (Tawhitokino) and the adjacent headland pa of Papanui, Te Puhaetuatahi and Te Kaiohorewaru as well as the kainga Te Rangipakihi.

Tawhitokino contains historic logging sites, including the remains of a saw-mill erected by the Cashmore family in the 1870s and used to mill the logs that were driven down the streams to the coast. It also has deformed chert beds of regional significance that appear to be of Triassic age outcrop among Jurassic greywacke in the shore platform at the northwest end of Tawhitokino Beach (and also to the northwest of nearby Waiti Bay).