PLEASE NOTE: For the first time ever, we are asking guests on this trail to drive themselves to the beginning of the trail at Anchor Bay and meet our guides there at 8.45am. We’ve worked very hard this year to keep our costs down and this is one trail that starts and ends at the same point, and allows us to remove the need and cost for a bus. When complete, you’ll be able to hop in your car and drive straight home. How cool is that? And all for the low low cost of $20.

Welcome to Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary. This 10km walk begins at the Anchor Bay carpark. We head east initially, observing Anchor Bay beach (dotterels, oystercatchers, seagulls and black-backed gulls may be present) and views towards Ti Point and Leigh. Sometimes dolphins can be seen close to shore. Walking past the dam through regenerating bush, we may encounter bellbirds, tui, pateke, saddleback and robins.

Continuing along the track we enter Ecology Bush, a mature stand of magnificent coastal forest. Wood pigeons and tui abound and we may see kaka playing in the treetops. Following the stream, we branch to the left at the footbridge and climb through forest to the ridgeline to meet the farmland once more. There are expansive views to the north and west.

Heading east, we follow the farm track past the trig and enter the unique prostrate manuka growing at the eastern tip of the peninsula. The end of this track is our lunch spot – Tokatu Point – where we get 360 degree views over the Tāwharanui Marine Reserve and can see the Hauraki Gulf up to Whangārei Heads, and Hen and Chicken Islands, Little Barrier, Great Barrier, Coromandel and Kawau.

After lunch, we return to the trig and, veering towards the south, follow the undulating South Coast track. Kawau Island is the predominant view with Mahurangi Peninsula and Whangaparaoa in the distance. Our final descent zig zags down towards the lagoon, across the boardwalk to complete your Tāwharanui experience.

We will point out things that aren’t necessarily obvious and also give some history of the peninsula and development of the Sanctuary. Tāwharanui Open Sanctuary is currently home to four nationally vulnerable takahe. While there are no guarantees that we will see them, it is possible we may encounter a pair of these special birds on our walk.

Kiwi continue to thrive within the sanctuary and are regularly finding homes along the peninsula towards Matakana. A real success story, but, as they are nocturnal, it is extremely unlikely that we will see any.

Note: This walk may be done in the reverse direction, i.e. begin at the Lagoon carpark and finish at Anchor Bay carpark.

Shoes/boots with grippy soles are recommended as there are some steep slopes.

Contact the host of Insiders' Tawharanui 2026

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