Whakanewha Regional Park

Opened in 2007, Whakanewha Regional Park is known for its mature coastal forest with taraire, kohekohe and old kanuka trees, cascading streams, and crescent-shaped beach with forested headlands.

Located on the South side of the Island, Whakanewha has a large wetland, home to some uncommon birds, bittern, banded rail, spotless crake and the New Zealand dotterel.

At high tide the shelly beach is often calm & ideal for swimming with nearby picnic areas. At low tide a sand/mud flat is exposed, so any pleasure boat anchoring should be wary of the depth.

Whakanewha means “to shade the eyes from the setting sun.”

The Auckland Council manages the Poukaraka Flats Campground at Rocky Bay, Whakanewha Regional Park on Waiheke Island.

Bird watching information;

Common native birds at the park include Kereru, tui, fantail, silver eye and grey warbler. Other bird species sighted in the parks include shining cuckoo, harriers, morepork and the occasional red crowned parakeet. The wetland supports banded rail and spotless crake.

Along the coastal margin you may find, white faced heron, paradise shelduck, grey duck, South Island pied oyster catchers, pied stilt, spur winger plover, eastern bar tailed godwit and Caspian tern. The Variable oyster catcher and New Zealand Dotterel also nest in the area and drive an intensive trapping programme.

You may also spot blue reef heron, kingfishers, black, pied and little shags and white fronted terns.

Kauri dieback is a deadly disease, killing Kauri trees throughout the Auckland region. The Kauri in Whakanewha Regional Park are currently healthy, please help us keep it that way!

For more information visit Kauri protection.

Auckland Councils Regional parks information site can be found here.