Parks and beaches

CLEVEDON SCENIC RESERVE (PA NIKAU)

(end of Thorps Quarry Road)
Take a steep walk on formed tracks through native bush, climbing to 225 metres, where you will be rewarded with a spectacular 360˚vista from the viewing platform. Look out for the Auckland Sky Tower, Waitakere Ranges, Hauraki Gulf, Coromandel Peninsula, Hunua Ranges and of course the Clevedon Valley and Wairoa River. The bush has a wide array of native flora which include kauri, rimu, puriri, kahikatea, taraire, lancewood and
nikau. Watch for the NZ pigeon perched in the trees and listen for the sounds of the tui and warbler.

AUCKLAND BOTANIC GARDENS

(Hill Road, Manurewa). Open Daily 8.00 am – 6.00 p.m.
The Gardens cover 64 hectares, which includes 10 hectares of native forest. A free guided walk is available every Wednesday at 1.00 p.m, departing from the Visitor Centre. The Potter Children’s Garden has a maze and interactive walled garden. Longer walks are available from the Botanic Gardens, Puhinui Stream Forest Trail. There are native bush walks in Totara Park which are a good example of the rich variety of vegetation that once covered the Manukau region.

WAITAWA REGIONAL PARK

(13kms east of Clevedon on Kawakawa Bay Road) Waitawa Regional Park caters for horse riding, biking and walking. There is a safe swimming beach, good fishing from the wharf and extensive coastal views.

KAWAKAWA BAY TO TAWHITOKINO BEACH

(20 mins drive east of Clevedon)
Pack your togs and a picnic and take a drive to Kawakawa Bay, following Kawakawa Bay Coast Road past the boat ramp to the end. Park at Cashmore Bay then follow the signs to Tawhitokino Beach at low tide. This beautiful, unspoilt, sandy beach is great for swimming and relaxing.

DUDER REGIONAL PARK

(North Road, Clevedon)
This 148-hectare coastal farm park is located on the pohutukawa-fringed Whakakaiwhara Peninsula. Swim here at high tide, spot the endangered NZ dotterel or take the Farm Loop walk and branch off to Whakakaiwhara Pa Walk to experience 360˚views across the Hauraki Gulf.

OMANA REGIONAL PARK

(Whitford-Maraetai Road, Maraetai)
Omana Regional Park lies on a gently contoured knoll with expansive views of the inner Hauraki Gulf. The working farm and has pet farmyard animals and is suitable for children. There is a safe swimming beach, a playground, a BBQ, a gentle perimeter walk along the clifftop and a well-formed bike track through middle of park.

TAPAPAKANGA REGIONAL PARK

(East Coast Road – 1 hour south-east of Clevedon)
This park sits atop rolling farmland, with expansive coastal views across Firth of Thames. The original Ashby homestead on the property was built in 1900). See the large spreading, pohutukawa line the coast and take a swim.

Walks

WAIROA RIVER

(end of McNicol Road)
The Wairoa River walk forms part of Te Araroa Track. The one-way tracks follows the banks of the Wairoa River, with one deviation around a gorge section, and through to the Cossey Dam Access Road. Parts of the Wairoa River are popular for swimming over the summer.

COASTAL PATHWAY

(Maraetai – Pine Harbour/Pine Harbour-Maraetai)
This beautiful coastal pathway begins at Maraetai Beach, heading west through Omana Regional Park, Te Puru Park, Beachlands and finishing at Pine Harbour. The pathway is suitable for pushchairs and there are cafes in Maraetai and Pine Harbour where you can stop for a drink and a bite to eat. The pathway is a four-hour return walk.

HUNUA RANGES

The Hunua Ranges are around 15 minutes from Clevedon, following Monument Road southbound. There are many walks to chose from of all difficulties, ranging in distances from 600m to over 20km. Some walks are closed to protect Kauri trees, so be sure to check their status before departing.

HUNUA FALLS

Before Hunua Village, turn left into White Road then left into Falls Road and follow this road to Hunua Falls. You can choose from the Hunua Falls Loop Walk (an easy 20 minute return journey) or the more adventurous Cossey/Massey loop – a three-hour journey which will take you up to Cosseys Reservoir and past some good swimming holes at Cosseys Creek.

WAIROA LOOP TRACK

The Wairoa loop track is one of the best walks in the Hunua Ranges, offering magnificent views of both Wairoa Reservoir and Mangatawhiri Reservoir. Take a backpack and some refreshments and combine the loop with the one-hour Suspension Bridge Loop which begins shortly after the car park, looping up the ridge then heading down towards the Wairoa Reservoir. Continue on to the Wairoa Loop Track, a two-hour walk which climbs steeply from southern end of reservoir. To get here, after driving
through Hunua, continue for 8km then turn left into Moumoukai Road. Wairoa Reservoir is on the left, 1km up the road.

History and culture

McNICOL HOMESTEAD

(McNicol Road, Clevedon)
This beautiful historic kauri homestead is also a museum, set on attractive grounds overlooking the Wairoa River. Open on Saturdays and Sundays from 1pm until 4pm, the restored homestead, which was originally built in 1878, offers a glimpse into what Clevedon was like in the 1800s. Visit the display rooms, discover the ways farm equipment has evolved over the years and take a picnic lunch to enjoy in the gardens.

NZ WARBIRDS AT ARDMORE

NZ Warbirds at Ardmore features two large hangars displaying some of the NZ Warbirds Association’s collection of aircraft. There are over 20 different aircraft on display, spanning over 100 years of aviation history. See some of the aircraft in action or even take an adventure flight of your own! NZ Warbirds at Ardmore is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10.30am until 3pm.

PŪKOROKORO MIRANDA SHOREBIRD CENTRE

(East Coast Road)
Thousands of shorebirds can be seen on the shellbanks and tidal flats at Miranda on the Firth of Thames. The Miranda Shorebird Centre shares some of their stories, including the epic journey of the Arctic migrants which travel from the tundra of Eastern Siberia and Alaska to Miranda. Each year, over 20,000 Pied Oystercatchers return to Miranda after breeding in South Island and up to 2,500 Wrybill also flock to Miranda for the non-breeding season. If you’re lucky, you may even see hundreds of endangered
Banded Dotterel.

CLEVEDON SUNDAY FARMERS MARKETS

(Monument Road, Clevedon)
The weekly Clevedon Village Farmers Market is held every Sunday morning from 8.30a.m until midday (except over Christmas). The market features over 60 permanent and seasonal stalls, selling fresh, local produce and provisions from just-picked seasonal fruit and vegetables to meat, cheese, coffee and fresh flowers. Don’t forget to bring your own bag!