Exploring the North Shore Coastal Walk
The North Shore Coastal Walk stretches 23 km from Devonport to Long Bay along the Auckland Hauraki Gulf coast. This scenic route is part of Te Araroa and mostly follows the coastline. The walk features several beaches and cliffs, with some sections below the cliffs flooded at high tide. Always check the tides before starting. The beaches along the way are safe for swimming, and there are numerous spots to pause and enjoy the surroundings.
You can choose a shorter section of the track, and there is easy access to main roads and public transport. If you plan to complete the entire walk in one day, allocate a full day.
Starting Your Journey in Devonport
Begin your walk by taking the ferry from Downtown Auckland to the charming village of Devonport. From there, head east along the coast to the historic Maungauika North Head. Continue down to Cheltenham Beach and follow the stony coast west beneath the cliffs to Fort Takapuna and Narrow Neck. The route then leads along the rocky cliff line to St Leonards Beach, and onwards to Takapuna Beach, which is framed by some of the city's most colourful cliffs. Takapuna is a great spot for a café break.
Takapuna to Milford: A Rugged Path
The path from Takapuna Beach to Milford Beach and Wairau Creek is more rugged. It begins with an ancient fossilised kauri forest at Fossil Point, followed by narrow rocky sections leading to the picturesque Thorne Bay, accessible only via the walkway. This section ends with a lovely park and the Waiau Marina by Milford Beach.
Castor Bay, Rahopara Point to Murrays Bay
From Waiau Creek, continue towards Castor Bay, or use the footbridge and road if the tide is high. From Castor Bay, the track leads from the north end of the beach to the top of Rahopara Point. This area includes a historic pā site and a stunning viewpoint above Rahopara Point, followed by a cliff-top walk into Kennedy Park. Here, you'll find a memorial to John F. Kennedy and historical gun emplacements.
The steep stairs down the cliffside to the rocky beach and reef below are a highlight. From the base of the steps, walk beneath the impressive cliffs to Red Bluff and then to Campbells Bay. Two more city beaches, Mairangi Bay and Murrays Bay, are accessible via well-formed paths below the cliffs.
Murrays Bay to Long Bay Regional Park
From Murrays Bay, continue to Winstone Cove, passing through Rothesay Bay, Browns Bay, and Torbay Waiake Beach. Coastal cliffs separate each bay, but you can walk around their bases at low tide. Alternatively, a clifftop path between Murrays Bay and Rothesay Bay offers lovely viewpoints and a pleasant reserve at the northern end. These suburban bays are popular with locals and easy to access. Tatarata and Tipau, the two main coastal points, are worth visiting for their substantial rocky platforms and colourful, eroding cliffs.
Reaching Long Bay Regional Park
From Torbay, proceed around the coast at low tide to Long Bay Regional Park. This expansive Auckland City park lies between Torbay and the Okura River mouth to the north. The northernmost section of the walk traverses the park to the Okura estuary.
Long Bay's main attraction is its beach, backed by a large grassed parkland and a wetland area between the park and the suburb of Long Bay. The park can be very busy during holidays and Summer weekends, but ample parking is usually available.
The northern end of the beach features the mouth of Vaughan Stream, with the shore mostly lined by cliffs and several magnificent old pōhutukawa trees. Walk below the cliffs to two smaller bays. At Pōhutukawa Bay, join the track above the cliffs for the remainder of the walk over farmland to the estuary, or walk around Piripiri Point at low tide. If time permits, explore the short nature walk near the historic Vaughn House, which is home to several mature pūriri trees.
Getting to the North Shore Coastal Walk
Devonport to the south and Long Bay to the north are the two ends of the walk. You can also join the walk at any of the places named here, except for Throne Bay. You can reach Devonport by ferry from Downtown Auclland, and all the other locations by car and bus. Lake Road (Devonport to Takapuna), Hurstmetn Road (Takapuna to Milford) and Beach Road (Milford to Long Bay) are the main connecting arterial routes.
You can also find more detailed descriptions of the main sections of the walk at Narrow Neck to St Leonards Beach, St Leonards Beach to Takapuna Beach, Fossil Point to Thorne Bay, Thorne Bay to Milford Beach, Rahopara to Red Bluff, Campbells Bay to Murrays Bay, Torbay Cliff Walk, and Long Bay Coastline Walk. For those interested in geology, check out North Shore Rock Formations.
