Tāwharanui Regional Park is located on the northeast coast of Auckland, about 80-90 minutes from the CBD. It’s one of the city's most popular regional parks, incredibly easy to fall in love with, and it's no surprise it’s such a local favourite!

The beauty of Tāwharanui is that it's just far enough from the Auckland CBD that it doesn't get swamped with tourists, although I wish more people came out here to see it! It’s not on the usual tourist routes, and there’s no public transport here, so you’ll need a car or campervan to get out this way.

But the drive is worth it! There is a campsite nearby if you’d like to stay overnight. Otherwise, if you’re coming for the day, I recommend visiting on a Saturday and stopping at Matakana Village Farmers Market on your way up for coffee, juice, or picnic supplies. Matakana is an ultra-cute small town and very popular. It gets busy on a Saturday, so factor some time in traffic into your schedule.

The park has white sandy beaches and panoramic ocean views in every direction. Most people come here for the beach, which, if the weather is just right, is also great for surfing/body boarding. I have so many fond childhood memories of my family lugging a chilly bin and BBQ down to the waterfront, ready to spend the whole day running in and out of the water. It wasn’t until I got older that I realised there are also amazing hiking trails here. The North and South Loop track is a decent hike across farmland, and if you visit during lambing season, you might see some cuties running around, too!