Where?
KEY POINTS:
Shakespear Regional Park sits at the tip of Whangaparaoa Peninsula, about 50km north of Auckland city.
How to get there:
Follow State Highway 1 north from Auckland CBD and take the Silverdale off-ramp. Go through Silverdale, turn right on to Whangaparaoa Rd and follow the signs to the end of the peninsula.
How long?
40 minutes to an hour from the city, depending on traffic.
What to do:
This park, stretching over almost 400ha, is home to many birds, including white-face herons, stilts, native pigeons, tui and occasionally dotterils. There are also glow worms at Waterfall Gully and peacocks at Te Haruhi Bay, the park's largest beach.
If you're feeling more active but only have a couple of hours, it's best spent making the one-hour return walk up to the lookout, near the park's centre, for its panoramic view of the Hauraki Gulf.
There are other longer walks as well. The 3.9km Heritage Trail passes through native forest, wetlands and farmland to reach historic sites that include a World War II gun emplacement.
The 4.8km Tiri Tiri Track from Te Haruhi Bay follows the cliff-line for views of Tiritiri Matangi Island. There are good mountainbike trails, as well as fishing and snorkelling spots.
For a longer stay there are campsites, but you'll need a permit from the ARC.
Hungry?
Pack a lunch and pick a picnic spot.
Need to know more?
www.arc.govt.nz/parks/our-parks/parks-in-the-region/shakespear/
www.shakespear regionalpark.aotearoacam.com
- Detours, HoS
