Waitākere Bay's Unique Features
Waitākere Bay, located immediately north of Te Henga / Bethells Beach, is a small bay in the Waitākere Ranges in Auckland. This picturesque bay is framed by natural landmarks such as Ihumoana Island, Erangi Point, Kotau Point and Taumaiti Cliff.
Kotau Point and Erangi Point both have distinctive conical shapes and are connected to the mainland by a high sand dune. While Kotau Point can be accessed by scrambling up the dune, Erangi Point is restricted due to private property.
The bay's most captivating feature is the natural tunnels under Kotau Point, which can be explored from the northern end of the bay during low tide.
Bird Sanctuary
Ihumoana Island is a bird sanctuary, and access to the island is prohibited to protect the wildlife.
How to Get There
From the west end of Scenic Drive, take Te Henga Road, which becomes Bethells Road, to the main car park and access to the beach. Walk west along the south side of the Waitakere River and lagoon, which is easy to cross as you approach the tide line. Cross the river and. walk past Ihumoana Island to the bay.
Nearby, O’Neill Bay can be accessed by crossing the dune linking Kotau and Erangi Points. Heading south along Te Henga, you will discover a big sea cave and can access Raeakiaki Point and Wigmore Bay at low tide. Lake Waianamu is another option back along Bethells Road.
