This is a great stop while exploring West Auckland and all the stunning black sand beaches along the coast. Lake Wainamu is a small freshwater lake near Te Henga (Bethells Beach), and it’s a perfect place to relax and enjoy the scenery.

To get to the lake, you’ll need to follow a 30-minute trail from the car park. The walk is 2km each way and follows streams of water flowing from the lake, so be prepared to get your feet wet. I’d recommend wearing sandals that can handle wet conditions, as you'll be walking through both sand and water for most of the trail. Along the way, you'll pass some incredibly large sand dunes, don’t forget to take a moment to admire them. If you're up for it, try some dune surfing, but be careful because the dunes can be pretty steep.
The lake itself is about 1km long and 200 meters wide, fed by three streams and surrounded by the sand dunes. There's also a short boardwalk with a ladder that lets you jump into the lake for a swim if you're keen.

It’s a really peaceful spot, perfect for unwinding