Auckland
North Shore Coastal Walk - OPEN
(North to South)
All-tide route follows cliff top tracks, pedestrian shortcuts, steps and footpaths. After heavy weather events, some parts can be affected so follow marked alternatives or self-navigate the streets.
Long Bay to Torbay
From Long Bay, near Marine Education Recreation Centre at the bottom of Beach Road, head up the Oneroa Track to Cliff Road. Go down Cliff Road to Rewi Street, turn left into Rock Isle Road, right into Waiake Street, left onto Beach Road and head down to Waiake Beach (Torbay).
Torbay to Browns Bay
Walk along the Waiake beachfront at Torbay, go up Beach Road a little way and turn left into Sharon Road. At the end of Sharon Road, follow the Lotus Walk down to Manly Esplanade and Browns Bay Beach.
Browns Bay to Rothesay Bay
At the southern end of Browns Bay Beach follow the concrete path to the footbridge, which leads round onto the North Shore City Cliff Top Walkway, up the steps to Beechwood Road, past Dan Jones Bluff and down to Rothesay Bay.
Rothesay Bay to Murrays Bay
Coming out of the Cliff Top Walkway at Rothesay Bay, follow the path across the footbridge, through the reserve, and up into Rothesay Bay Road. From there turn left into Churchill Road, and just before the road curves right, head down Gumdiggers Trail and onto the Cliff Top Walkway, to emerge on Murrays Bay Reserve.
Murrays Bay to Mairangi Bay
From the reserve at the northern end of Murrays Bay, walk along the beachfront and then up the steps to the Cliff Top Walkway at the southern end of the beach. This leads up and over, to come out on Mairangi Bay beachfront.
Mairangi Bay to Campbells Bay
From Mairangi Bay Beach head up Forde Way to Whitby Crescent. Turn left into Whitby and a little way along find Te Araroa signs pointing up Sea Dog Alley to View Road. Head left down View Road until you reach the Possum Ladder track on the left. This will take you down to Campbells Bay.
Campbells Bay to Castor Bay
Walk along Campbells Bay Beach, and up Huntly Road to Beach Road. Stay on Beach Road as far as JF Kennedy Memorial Park. Go through the park to the eastern edge and follow the track through to Rahopara Historic Reserve. From here take the path down to Castor Bay Reserve.
Castor Bay to Milford
From The Esplanade at Castor Bay there is no access, at any time of the tide, around the beach to Milford. Wairau Creek cannot be safely forded.
At the southern end of Castor Bay Esplanade turn right along the concrete path, and follow it left to climb the steps between the houses, emerging on Beach Road at the top of the hill. From there go down to Inga Road, and across the footbridge over Wairau Creek, through the reserve and onto Milford beach.
Milford to Takapuna
You can walk all the way along the beach and rocks from the northern end of Milford Beach to the southern end of Takapuna Beach. Between Milford Beach and Takapuna Beach the route follows the North Shore City heritage trail Takapuna – Milford Walk and crosses private property thanks to the owners’ goodwill. Please respect the environment and the privacy of local residents, and do not trespass on private property outside the described route. The pathway in this area is not properly constructed so please take care. Neither North Shore City Council, Te Araroa Trust, nor the private property owners accept any responsibility for any loss, damage or injury to you or your property arising from your use of this walkway.
Takapuna to Devonport
From the southern end of Takapuna Beach, head up Clifton Road to Lake Road. Walk down past Takapuna Grammar School and Belmont Intermediate School, turn left into Winscombe Road, and then right along Seacliffe Avenue and Hamana Street. At Old Lake Road, turn left to reach Narrow Neck Beach. From the southern end of the beach follow Vauxhall Road up and over, down to Bath Street on your left. At Bath Street turn left to reach Cheltenham Beach and walk along the sand as far as Cheltenham Road.
You may leave the beach at Cheltenham Road, and walk straight through to Devonport, or you may go to the end of the beach and up North Head to come down Takarunga Road. Then head left along King Edward Parade to finish at Devonport Wharf.
From here, you can catch a Fullers ferry to link with the next stage of Te Araroa, Auckland’s coast to coast walk.
Caution: Parts of the signed route are very steep. There are steps and narrow grassy tracks which may become slippery in wet weather.
At low tide only: check tide times on - www.niwa.co.nz/our-services/online-services/tides
It is possible to walk almost all the way on the shoreline, but Auckland Council does not recommend this route. Rocks may be very slippery and unstable underfoot. Because high sandstone cliffs are subject to sudden rockfalls, please keep at least 10 metres out from the cliffs.
You will need to take careful note of the time of low tide, as there are several points where you can be cut off by the rising water. If you want to walk the whole way during one low tide, prepare to do some wading. Alternatively, break the walk part way, and complete it at low tide the following day.
All walkers must come inshore between Castor Bay Esplanade and Milford Beach to cross Wairau Creek. There is no foreshore route between these two beaches. Wairau Creek cannot be safely forded at any stage of the tide.
If you are unsure of the state of the tide, please follow the signed all-tide route.
Follow this link for a printable map of the route.
Dog restrictions apply on the beaches.
- Vehicles on road or track - take care when walking in urban areas
- Tides, waves & rivers - safer at low tide
- Track exposed to sun, wind or cold
(North to South)
All-tide route follows cliff top tracks, pedestrian shortcuts, steps and footpaths. After heavy weather events, some parts can be affected so follow marked alternatives or self-navigate the streets.
Long Bay to Torbay
From Long Bay, near Marine Education Recreation Centre at the bottom of Beach Road, head up the Oneroa Track to Cliff Road. Go down Cliff Road to Rewi Street, turn left into Rock Isle Road, right into Waiake Street, left onto Beach Road and head down to Waiake Beach (Torbay).
Torbay to Browns Bay
Walk along the Waiake beachfront at Torbay, go up Beach Road a little way and turn left into Sharon Road. At the end of Sharon Road, follow the Lotus Walk down to Manly Esplanade and Browns Bay Beach.
Browns Bay to Rothesay Bay
At the southern end of Browns Bay Beach follow the concrete path to the footbridge, which leads round onto the North Shore City Cliff Top Walkway, up the steps to Beechwood Road, past Dan Jones Bluff and down to Rothesay Bay.
Rothesay Bay to Murrays Bay
Coming out of the Cliff Top Walkway at Rothesay Bay, follow the path across the footbridge, through the reserve, and up into Rothesay Bay Road. From there turn left into Churchill Road, and just before the road curves right, head down Gumdiggers Trail and onto the Cliff Top Walkway, to emerge on Murrays Bay Reserve.
Murrays Bay to Mairangi Bay
From the reserve at the northern end of Murrays Bay, walk along the beachfront and then up the steps to the Cliff Top Walkway at the southern end of the beach. This leads up and over, to come out on Mairangi Bay beachfront.
Mairangi Bay to Campbells Bay
From Mairangi Bay Beach head up Forde Way to Whitby Crescent. Turn left into Whitby and a little way along find Te Araroa signs pointing up Sea Dog Alley to View Road. Head left down View Road until you reach the Possum Ladder track on the left. This will take you down to Campbells Bay.
Campbells Bay to Castor Bay
Walk along Campbells Bay Beach, and up Huntly Road to Beach Road. Stay on Beach Road as far as JF Kennedy Memorial Park. Go through the park to the eastern edge and follow the track through to Rahopara Historic Reserve. From here take the path down to Castor Bay Reserve.
Castor Bay to Milford
From The Esplanade at Castor Bay there is no access, at any time of the tide, around the beach to Milford. Wairau Creek cannot be safely forded.
At the southern end of Castor Bay Esplanade turn right along the concrete path, and follow it left to climb the steps between the houses, emerging on Beach Road at the top of the hill. From there go down to Inga Road, and across the footbridge over Wairau Creek, through the reserve and onto Milford beach.
Milford to Takapuna
You can walk all the way along the beach and rocks from the northern end of Milford Beach to the southern end of Takapuna Beach. Between Milford Beach and Takapuna Beach the route follows the North Shore City heritage trail Takapuna – Milford Walk and crosses private property thanks to the owners’ goodwill. Please respect the environment and the privacy of local residents, and do not trespass on private property outside the described route. The pathway in this area is not properly constructed so please take care. Neither North Shore City Council, Te Araroa Trust, nor the private property owners accept any responsibility for any loss, damage or injury to you or your property arising from your use of this walkway.
Takapuna to Devonport
From the southern end of Takapuna Beach, head up Clifton Road to Lake Road. Walk down past Takapuna Grammar School and Belmont Intermediate School, turn left into Winscombe Road, and then right along Seacliffe Avenue and Hamana Street. At Old Lake Road, turn left to reach Narrow Neck Beach. From the southern end of the beach follow Vauxhall Road up and over, down to Bath Street on your left. At Bath Street turn left to reach Cheltenham Beach and walk along the sand as far as Cheltenham Road.
You may leave the beach at Cheltenham Road, and walk straight through to Devonport, or you may go to the end of the beach and up North Head to come down Takarunga Road. Then head left along King Edward Parade to finish at Devonport Wharf.
From here, you can catch a Fullers ferry to link with the next stage of Te Araroa, Auckland’s coast to coast walk.
Caution: Parts of the signed route are very steep. There are steps and narrow grassy tracks which may become slippery in wet weather.
At low tide only: check tide times on - www.niwa.co.nz/our-services/online-services/tides
It is possible to walk almost all the way on the shoreline, but Auckland Council does not recommend this route. Rocks may be very slippery and unstable underfoot. Because high sandstone cliffs are subject to sudden rockfalls, please keep at least 10 metres out from the cliffs.
You will need to take careful note of the time of low tide, as there are several points where you can be cut off by the rising water. If you want to walk the whole way during one low tide, prepare to do some wading. Alternatively, break the walk part way, and complete it at low tide the following day.
All walkers must come inshore between Castor Bay Esplanade and Milford Beach to cross Wairau Creek. There is no foreshore route between these two beaches. Wairau Creek cannot be safely forded at any stage of the tide.
If you are unsure of the state of the tide, please follow the signed all-tide route.
Follow this link for a printable map of the route.
Dog restrictions apply on the beaches.
North Shore (Auckland)
Te Araroa traverses 10 cities en-route. The North Shore Coastal Walk was Te Araroa’s first fully marked up urban section.
Signage: Te Araroa logos, markers on posts, and small Council-Te Araroa fingerboards on poles mark the all-tide route.
Terrain: A mix of suburban footpath, steep paths and steps, with some slippery and uneven surfaces and unstable rocks.
Equipment: Wear comfortable clothes and strong walking shoes, carry water, snacks, raincoat, sunscreen and hat
Long Bay Regional Park, 2000 Beach Road, Long Bay. Duty Ranger 24/7. Pedestrain access - Open 24 hours,
For bus transport to/from Long Bay Regional Park
North Shore Taxis - P: 09 488 8000 -
Short detour to Mairangi Bay Village
A range of shops including supermarket, cafes, banks and a pharmacy
Short detour to Milford township
A range of shops including supermarket, cafes, banks and a pharmacy
Short detour to Takapuna township
A range of shops including supermarkets, cafes, banks and pharmacy's.
Short detour to Devonport township
A range of shops including supermarkets, cafes, banks and pharmacy's.
Devonport i-SITE Visitor Information Centre - Devonport Wharf, Devonport P: 09 3659906
Auckland
Auckland boasts landscapes shaped by a volcanic field, its two harbours, 600 years of Maori occupation, and some farsighted colonists.
The Auckland isthmus is New Zealand's narrowest neck of land, never more than nine kilometres from north to south and less than 2 kilometres east to west. Given the distance, Maori used these as canoe portages, from the Waitemata Harbour and Pacific Ocean on one side, to the Manukau Harbour and Tasman Sea on the other.
in 1840, New Zealand's first Governor, Captain William Hobson, acquired some 3000 acres of Isthmus land from the Nagti Whatua chiefs, a triangle whose base stretched some 12 kilometres along the Waitemata southern shore and whose apex was the summit of Maungawhau (Mt Eden).
Aside from the colonial governors, the best known early Aucklander was the Scot, John Logan Campbell. An adventurer and one of the first Auckland settlers, he became the city's most prominent businessman and mayor. He gifted Cornwall Park to the people of Auckland, with the park still run by a trust he helped to establish. Te Araroa passes by a statue of Campbell in that park. His grave, with the Latin inscription - si monumentum requires circumspice - "if you want a memorial, look about you" - is on the summit of Maungakiekie/One Tree Hill.
- Respect private land
- Dog restrictions on beaches.
- Take all rubbish with you
- Use toilets provided
(Start)
- Car park
- Picnic area
- Toilets
- Shop - Kiosk in summer; restaurant operating all year.
- Duty Ranger 24/7
(On Route)
- Full range of amenities
- Carpark
- Picnic area
- Toilets
- Shop Cafes, dairies & nearby shopping centres
- Phone
- Accommodation
- Bus stops
(End)
- Full range of amenities
- Accommodation YHA Auckland International and YHA Auckland City - see above
