Tawhitokino Beach – An East Auckland Hidden Gem
Accessible only by foot or boat, Tawhitokino Beach is one of the Auckland regions best kept secrets. This long white sand beach is the perfect place a for a hot summers day road trip for those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city.
Auckland is well known for its many beaches that are scattered all along the coast lines. However, many people stick with beaches they have been to lots and are easily accessible. This results in hundreds of people going to the same popular beaches, making them a crowded nightmare. Tawhitokino Beach is different.
Tawhitokino beach is relatively unknown so there is a high chance you will get the whole beach to yourself while you are there. With towering Pōhutukawa trees at the base of the beaches surrounding cliffs, there is plenty of shade for you and your group to set up your hang out spot for the day.
If Tawhitokino Beach sounds like it could be the perfect place for you, then there are a few important things you need to know before you head out there.
Why should you visit Tawhitokino Beach?
The secrecy of Tawhitokino Beach is certainly a main draw card when it comes to why you should visit. However there are also a few other reasons why this beach should be added to your list of places to go this summer. The walk over the cliff, the clear waters and the campground at the other end of the beach all contribute to make Tawhitokino Beach a must see.
The effort required to get to Tawhitokino Beach makes the trip there, an adventure in itself. A drive down a twisty narrow road and the walk through the native bush really epitomises the meaning of a true kiwi summer. Enjoy the sounds of native birds and the crashing waves as you make your way to the beach.
The beach itself stretches right down as far as the eye can see with the white sand glistening in the sun. Pōhutukawa trees line the edge of the beach offering shelter form the sun. Whether you want to play in the water or relax under the trees, Tawhitokino Beach is the perfect place.
The reasonably flat sand also makes it great for large groups who may want to play a few games or spread out a bit. Unlike some other Auckland beaches there aren’t too many shells or debris, so it’s no problem to have bare feet if you want to run around on the sand.
Being further out of Auckland, the water at Tawhitokino beach is much more clean and clear than other beaches closer to the city. On some days the water almost looks like you are on a tropical island.
Tawhitokino Beach is one of those places that you will fall in love with straight away, and will be a spot you will want to come back to every summer.
how to get to Tawhitokino beach
The access to Tawhitokino beach is located just over an hours drive east of Auckland, near Kawakawa bay. This beach can be a little difficult to get too and is not easily accessible for everyone. There is a one hour walk from where you park your car to get to the beach, that involves walking over rocks and up a few sets of stairs.
The drive and walk to get to Tawhitokino Beach are an added bonus for this beach trip and really make the day seem like a fun adventure.
Kawakawa Bay drive
Leaving Auckland City and driving through the farm lands in Clevedon and Kawakawa bay you will instantly feel at peace. There is something about the open scenery that makes the area and everyone in it just feel relaxed.
Continuing on through the farm land you will pass a few cute little beaches before you arrive in Kawakawa Bay. This is the stop for food or drink so make sure you stock up at the local shop before you continue on.
The final part of the drive is getting to the carpark at Waiti Bay. The road down to Waiti Bay is quite narrow and windy so make sure to take your time and watch for oncoming traffic. This road goes along the edge of the peninsular right down to the carpark.
The carpark at Waiti Bay is quite small but usually not too busy, so it is quite easy to get a park. Just make sure to avoid arriving too late if you are going at peak times over the christmas holidays. There is a bathroom here too which is handy before you head out on your walk.
the Walk from Waiti Bay
The next part of you journey to Tawhitokino Beach is the walk over from Waiti Bay. This walk can only be done at low tide so make sure you organise your drive out to get there at the right time. The reason for this is the climb over the rocks to get to the next bay over. If the tide is too high, the water covers the rocks and you can’t get to the other side of the cliff.
With the tide low it is easy to climb over to the next bay where the track starts to head into the bush. To find the start of the track walk towards the other end of the beach to the small creek. Here you will find a newly built set of steps which take you up onto the track up the hill.
The track itself is well maintained and easy on the knees and ankles. It is a little bit steep but taking your time it is easily achievable. Enjoy your surroundings and enjoy the views back down the beach while you stop to catch your breath. The walk takes around 30 minutes one way.
The best thing about a hill walk is making it too the top and getting to walk back down. Once you get to the bottom of those last few steps you will get your first glance right up Tawhitokino Beach. The walk to get to this beach will certainly be worth it once you arrive there.
What can you do at tawhitokino Beach?
One of the best things about Tawhitokino Beach is that it really allows you to enjoy the beautiful nature New Zealand has to offer. As the beach is often not very busy, there is plenty of space to relax, have some fun in the water or go exploring.
The large Pōhutukawa trees that line the edge of the beach are perfect to relax under if you want to get out of the sun. You are still on the the beach under these trees which is perfect if you have kids that still want to play in the sand. They can still do this while being protected from the sun.
Taking a wander up the pristine beach and seeing what you can find is also a great way to enjoy Tawhitokino Beach. There are small rock pools at each end by the cliffs which you can look for some wildlife in. The sand is quite flat so it is an easy walk.
With nice flat sand, Tawhitokini beach is great for families with kids as the beach is perfect for making sand castles and playing games. Build the biggest sand castle you have ever made or play a friendly game of touch rugby with the whole family. Tawhitokino Beach may not have a park or facilities like other beaches in the Auckland area, but the fun to be had with nature, more than makes up for it.
When is the best time to go to Tawhitokino Beach?
Getting your timing right is important when you are planning a visit to Tawhitokino Beach. You must work with the tides to be able to get to the walk over to the beach. The time of year is also important if you want to guarantee that it wont be too busy and crowded. When both of these are timed perfectly you are guaranteed a great day out.
Tides at Tawhitokino Beach
Due to the walk to Tawhitokino Beach going over the rocks by the water, you will need to start your walk when the tide is low enough. The best way to find out when it will be low tide is to check online or through a tide app. You can find out here what the low and high tides will be at Tawhitokino Beach on the day you go.
The tide does not to be right at its lowest point for you to be able to walk over the rocks. This does allow some flexibility for when you arrive and leave at the end of the day, but it is recommended to not to attempt the walk 2 hours more or less than the low tide. If you are more confident walking over the rocks then you can leave it a little bit longer.
The best way to get your times right is to spend most of the day there. You will start your walk when the tide is low and get to spend time over at Tawhitokino Beach while the tide is higher. You can begin your walk back when it gets low enough again to get over the rocks.
This does mean you have to spend quite a bit of time at the beach so do come prepared for a whole day. As long as you get your timings right, you will have no problems getting over to Tawhitokino Beach.
Avoiding peak summer
Tawhitokino Beach is not very well known, so most of the year it is very quiet. However, this changes quite a bit over the busy Christmas period. As other beaches around Auckland get very crowded, everyone tries to escape the crowds and find a less known beach. This leads them to find Tawhitokino Beach.
Over this busy time in the summer, you might find Tawhitokino Beach to not be its usual calm, secluded self. However, it will still most likely be quieter than other beaches around Auckland. Being quite large, it will still be easy to find your own space on the beach.
The main problem you will find in the peak of summer is the lack of parking. The parking lot a Waiti bay is very small. This is fine during the rest of the year, but becomes a big problem over the Christmas holidays. If you are going at this time of year, you definitely need to get there early in the morning to grab a parking spot.
While it is recommended to avoid Tawhitokino Beach during its busy time in summer, there are ways to get around these problems and make your day trip perfect.
Where to stay near tawhitokino beach
Tawhitokino Beach is a bit of a drive out of Auckland, especially if you are coming from areas further out from the city. There are a few options for accommodation close to the beach if you were wanting to make an overnight stay for your visit.
Camping
If you are looking for a cheap and fun option for a place to stay, then camping at Tawhitokino Beach Campground is a great choice. The campground is located at the far end of the beach and has views directly out to the water. You can’t get any closer to the beach than this.
While the camp ground is basic it allows you to really enjoy the simplicity of the surrounding nature. There is a long drop (composting toilet) on site, however there is no power or running water. This means you will need to take all of the supplies you will need in with you.
It may be a bit more effort to Camp at Tawhitokino Beach, but it is a unique experience and lets you relax in nature.
Kawakawa Bay
Another option for accommodation is staying at nearby Kawakawa bay. This cute little area is full with kiwi bach style homes. There is a small shop where you can grab a few small food items making it perfect for a short overnight stay.
Kawakawa Bay also has a great beach of its own where you can relax at the end of the day. The area is very quiet and is a great place to stay to escape Auckland city. Tawhitokino Beach is only a 5 minute drive away, so it is really easy and quick to get there from Kawakawa Bay.
You can check out AirBnB for some of the best local spots to stay. The choices are limited, but being such a good peaceful area you can’t really make a bad choice.
Other important things to note
There are a couple of other things that are important to remember on your trip to Tawhitokino Beach. These are for your convenience and to protect the environment so that everyone who comes to the beach after you, can enjoy it just as much.
There are two toilets available near Tawhitokino Beach. The first one is at Waiti Bay and the other at the campground at the other end of the beach. Make the most of the nicer toilets at Waiti Bay, otherwise you with need to walk up the beach to the long drops at the campground which aren’t as good.
There are no rubbish bins at Tawhitokino Beach so please take all your rubbish back with you. This includes food scraps and any empty food packets you end up with. Take an extra bag with you so you can put this all together and dispose of correctly once you get home.
And lastly, protect the nature and wildlife. Stick to the marked walking track in order to prevent damage to the surrounding native bush. The track is very well marked so it is impossible to veer off. Leave the wildlife alone, while it is awesome to look in the rock pools for fish, crabs and other creatures, admire them without touching them. This allows the numbers to grow and you will be able to find even more cool creatures the next time you come back.
Is Tawhitokino Beach on your to do list?
Tawhitokino Beach is such a unique and beautiful place, it is no surprise that it will be added to your list of summer road trips. The walk, the sorrounding nature and the beach itself truly are one of a kind. Whether you do it in a day or make a weekend trip out of it, you will not be disappointed with the hidden gem that is Tawhitokino Beach.
