Shakespear Regional Park is one of several Auckland City regional parks as you head north of Long Bay, all of which combine access to the coast, regrowth forests and active farms. The city is also working hard on making these parks predator-free to encourage native birds, and these programmes have been very successful.
This park is at the eastern tip of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula. As you enter the park, there are a couple of options for parking. Go straight ahead to walk through the predator proof fence into the forest section of the Heritage Track, or take a right towards Te Haruhi Bay and campground. There is also some parking as you head towards the beach near track access points.
The park has several trails. The best is the Heritage Track which heads through a section of forest, accessed from the first parking area, then up a farm paddock to the high point in the park, before heading back down a farm road and looping back to the start. The short Kanuka Track also allows you to take a bit of a short cut.
From the top, you can also follow three other options that take you down to Haruhi Beach. The most interesting is Tiritiri Track via Pink Beach. All of the tracks with the exception of the forest section of Heritage are shared with cyclists.
There is a lot of open space by the beach but it does get very busy in summer!
Heritage Track – Forest Walk
The Heritage Track at Shakespear Regional Park is a loop that begins at the carpark immediately in front of you as you enter the park, past the turn down to Haruhi Beach.
The track has two main sections; the first is through native forest surrounded by a predator-proof fence, and the second is across farm paddocks to the highest point in the park, before looping back to the carpark.
The forest section is a mix of old puriri trees and regenerating native forest, helped by substantial planting, including kauri trees. Tree identification is aided by a good number of signs along the path. The track follows a gully with a stream and after about 10 minutes you reach a pretty waterfall in quite a large natural amphitheater. This waterfall is best viewed after recent rain as it does largely dry out during long spells without rainfall.
But what makes this track interesting is the old puriri trees, many of which are twisted into an amazing array of multifaceted gnarled shapes. Along with the short forest walk at Long Bay Regional Park, this is one of the best places to see puriri.
Heritage Track – Farm Walk
As you exit the forest section of the Shakespear Regional Park Heritage Track, head uphill across the paddock towards the viewpoint on the high point. It may be a bit muddy after rain. This part of the park is a working farm and some of the nearby paddocks will be occupied by sheep, plus a few pukekos.
Once on the ridge, the views are superlative, looking out to Hauraki Gulf and the various islands and back towards Auckland City in the very far distance. Go up the viewpoint for the best views, plus explanatory panels.
From there, you can continue down the farm road to link up with the Heritage loop, including a WW2 pillbox, or take one of the tracks that end up at Te Haruhi Bay.
Manuka Walk
The Manuka Walk at Shakespear Regional Park is a short and pretty link track between the forest section of the Heritage Track and the lower end of the farm walk section. It is mostly flat and easy and traverses a section of replanted manuka bush, plus a number of other native bushes and trees, while maintaining a rural outlook.
The forest end of the track meets the Heritage Track near the waterfall.
Te Haruhi Bay
Te Haruhi Bay is on the southern side of Shakespear Regional Park. Turn right to take the road to the bay just before the parking area for the Heritage Track. There is a large parking area at the end of the road, but this is an especially popular place in summer and it can be very busy.
The bay includes a large grassed area, with a scattering of mostly pohutukawa trees behind a pretty crescent-shaped beach. Like all the beaches on the inner part of the Hauraki Gulf it is safe to swim. There is also camping which you can book through the Auckland Council website.
There are shared tracks that link up with the Heritage Track on the ridge above the bay if you prefer to walk or ride down to the beach.
Tiritiri Track
The Tiritiri Track at Shakespear Regional Park runs up the east side of the park from eastern end of Te Haruhi Bay. It provides nice views back to the beach as you climb up the hill, then mostly follows the clifftop with views to Tiritiri Matangi Island, the best-established bird sanctuary in the Auckland region. The track also provides access to Pink Beach down a staircase. This is a popular rock fishing spot directly opposite Tiritiri Matangi.
There is also a brief forest section before you reach the ridge and connect with the Heritage Track. These forest sections are important as they provide an easy connection for native birds as they move to establish themselves beyond Tiritiri Matangi.
Army Bay
Army Bay is immediately on your right as you enter Shakespear Regional Park. There is actually a long-established army base on the northern edge of the park which explains the name.
At high tide the water comes right up to the edge of the grassed reserve and cliffs in front of the bay, but there is a nice beach as the tide retreats. You can walk west along the top of the cliffs for a distance, with a number of mature pohutukawa trees and nice views north of the coast and Kawau Island. The large cliff on the east side of the bay is also a feature, especially at golden hour when it directly faces the sun.
Immediately at the start of the western cliffs, there is a pohutukawa grimly hanging on. This must be one of the most photogenic trees around the Auckland region at dusk.
Want more Trip Ideas?
Check out our blogs on Northeast Auckland Part 1, Long Bay Regional Park, and the North Shore Coast Walk Part 5.