Tawharanui Regional Park — Attraction in Rodney

One of my favourite spots to walk/hike and swim.

Started walking on the North coast track slight up hill walking on gravel. The view is amazing. In the middle of the track you'll come across the Ecology track which we decided to continue staying on north coast track with a slight uphill again. Then walking on grass you'll come across South coast track or tokatu loop track 1hr return. Which is a must do track as the view out to the lookout is amazing and walk around the loop, down a slight hill is a cliff edge which was amazing. Then slight up hill and back onto the loop and only took us 40mins really. Depending on your walk.

Then continued onto the south coast track on grass. As you're walking you'll come across a sign post Fisherman track or Maori Bay steps 5mins. Which we decided to stay on south coast track doing the Fisherman track. Along that track you'll come across the ecology track or continue on to fisherman. Which we decided to do the Ecology track going up hill with alot of stairs to climb. So if you want an easy walk stay on north coast track, that way you're going down hill. Once you reach the top you'll come to a bay to srub and sanitised your shoe's area. Before walking back into North coast track down hill. As we were walking down hill we decided to take a short cut to the beach away from the very start and busy area of the beach. We had our own spot to take a quick swim, water was so shallow and clear and sand was white or so to walk on.

From there on the other side of the cliff is where a lot of surfers learn to surf school. And walking on the beach was so nice as it started to get abit crowded as people were coming as we were leaving. There is a nice and a few public toilets with 2changing rooms and a water fountain. Plenty of car parks, if you wanna be near the beach and walking tracks best to park at the end of the carpark and not at the very beginning as your driving in. The park itself is beautiful, well maintained and...

About 90km north of Auckland is yet another of the amazing Auckland regional parks and possibly one of the best kept secrets. This ranks right up there with the Waitakeres/Piha/Karekare with the added advantage of beautiful white sand beaches that are much safer for swimming and surfing. It's also a sanctuary for several endangered bird species including the Takahe and Kiwi - so no dogs, cats or pets of any kind are allowed and access is controlled through electronic gates. The best place to park is at Anchor Bay where you'll find nice picnic areas and extremely modern and clean toilet and changing facilities - and a choice of 4 beaches. From various points in the park you'll get views out to Little Barrier and Kawau Islands. It's also a walkers paradise with numerous well marked trails throughout offering beaches, rugged coastline, wetland and forest views. I'd recommend the following combination of trails: Start from Anchor Bay on the Ecology Trail and follow the coastline as much as possible before climbing up to the North Coast Track and on to the trig station. From the trig station follow the signs for the Tokatu Loop Track to Tokatu Point which will give you some great viewpoints. Continue around the North Coast Track following the white marker posts and then branch off onto the Fishermans Track which takes you through a beautiful stretch of native forest where you'll see a wide variety of birdlife including Bellbirds, Tui and Saddlebacks. You'll hear some of the best birdsong in New Zealand here. Continue back to Abchor Bay and then head to the...

This regional park is one of north Auckland's best-kept secrets. If a swell is running from the north or east, come ready to play in the surf. The road to Tawharanui heads east from the riverside town of Warkworth off State Highway 1. You'll soon pass through the rural area of Matakana, with its well-known craft studios, cafes and vineyards. The road continues through farmland and ends with a winding gravel section.

Once a large private farm, the Tawharanui Regional Park covers the end of a peninsula that extends into the Pacific Ocean just north of Kawau Island. The long, sandy beach on the northern side is considered to be one of the best swimming and surfing venues in the Auckland region. There are grassed areas above the beach furnished with shady pohutukawa trees - a picnic paradise.

An ecology trail starts at the far end of the beach, beyond a protected breeding area of very rare New Zealand dotterel birds. The trail passes along a rounded-stone beach before climbing up across farmland to a valley of beautiful native forest. Points of interest are marked along the way and copies of the trail guide are available from the hut at Anchor Bay. There are several longer walking trails in the area, including one to panoramic views from high on the end of the peninsula.

Tawharanui Regional Park is about 80 minutes drive north of Auckland. There is a tent camping site and bookings must be made by contacting the Auckland Regional Council. This popular site is booked well in advance for the summer...