Top picks:

• Fire up one of the barbeques in the beautiful Shakespear Regional Park
• Walk the Tiritiri Loop Track and check out the views from the spectacular lookouts
• Play a round of golf at the world-renowned Gulf Harbour Country Club

Fact file:

• Whangaparaoa is Māori for ‘bay of whales’
• The NZ Defence Force owns part of the peninsula
• Auckland Council has started a pest eradication programme at the Shakespear Open Sanctuary

Why visit?

If you’re looking for beauty and tranquility, take a trip to Shakespear Regional Park. It’s the perfect picnic spot to fire up the barbeque, play cricket and say hello to the resident peacocks. The panoramic views of the inner Harauki Gulf are spectacular as you relax on the beach or take a dip in the sea. Whether you launch a kayak or explore one of the walking or mountain bike tracks, you’ll be hard-pressed to have a better day. To extend your stay, pitch a tent in the Te Haruhi Bay campground and unwind in the peaceful surroundings.

Birds from nearby Tiritiri Matangi Island sanctuary have migrated across to the regenerating native forest on Shakespear. Listen for the sweet song of bellbirds and watch for the occasional kakariki. The expansive rural pasture is also home to a working farm so you’ll come across grazing sheep and cattle.

Location

View Whangaparaoa Peninsula in a larger map