This walkway can be completed as return walk or using the track one way and the coast the other depending on the tides

Very good quality track with wonderful views along the way. You’ll walk right past two lovely beaches where you can get down onto the sand and stop for a rest or lunch maybe.

At low tide you can walk the coastal track back along the beach to Long Bay. Pretty beach, wonderful views, great lunch spots, lovely easy walk.  Awesome way to spend a lazy Sunday at Long Bay Beach in Auckland.

The signs are a bit confusing, this is the Okura River Walk as well.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: Auckland, North Shore
  • Distance: 5.80 kms
  • Time needed: 2.5 Hours
  • Difficulty: Medium
  • Wheelchair Access: No
  • Route: Round Trip
  • Elevation: 40m
  • Wet Feet: No, unless you walk the beach with an incoming tide, watch out!
  • Toilets: Yes, in the reserve
  • Dogs: No
  • Mobile Coverage: Yes

Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

Granny's Bay and Pohutukawa Bays are a great place to stop for lunch or a break.

Track Quality

Very good track, mostly gravel then over farm land. At low tide you can walk back along the beach. A little rocky, but still easy. In a few places the rocks can be very slippery if still wet.

Hazards

The track follows the cliff face most of the way around the coast. Rocks can be slippery if you walk back on the beach. Check the tides if walking back along the beach.

Transport

Phone 09 3666400 or 0800 10 30 80

Water

Plenty in the park

Driving Instructions

Take State Highway 1 North. Take the exit 410 at Oteha Valley Rd. Turn right and drive underneath the motorway. Follow the Oteha Valley Dr for 1.8k to the next set of lights, turn left onto East Coast Bay Road, drive for .9k, and look out for a large water tank as you drive up the hill, turn right into Glenvar Rd. This road runs downhill for 3.6k. At 1.9k, there is a sharp right hand turn. Don’t get caught out and drive straight past the turn off. Left into Watea and left in to Beach road. All in a short distance. The park is another 100m on your left. There is plenty of parking. Drive to the end of the road.

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

The new Long Bay village development has an array of restaurants/cafes, supermarket and other businesses/shops for refreshments, it’s literally a short walk from the beach.

Long Bay Regional Park Map Location

Points of interest along the walk​

Nature walk at Long Bay Regional Park in Auckland
Vaughan homestead at Long Bay Regional Park
Nature walk at Long Bay Regional Park in Auckland

Long Bay Short Walks

Walk to Vaughan homestead:  5 mins

Walk to the end of the road, through the gate and then onto the homestead. Once across the bridge, there is a nature trail leading off to the left. The 1863 homestead is open to the public, go in and have a look.

Nature trail. 30 mins – .8k

Follow the yellow marker posts. This loop track will take you through wet land, native trees and farmland, and take you back to the car park.

Sign at the start of the Long Bay Regional Park coastal track
Lovely views at the start of the Long Bay Regional Park coastal track
Lovely views of Grannys Bay - Great walks in Auckland

Start of the Long Bay Regional Park Coastal Track walk

From the end of the carpark the coastal track begins, it’s a very wide gravel track. Be prepared for a bit of an up hill walk, good work out here. Then it’s through lovely green farm land on your way to Grannys Bay beach.

20 mins into the coastal track and you'll be at Grannys Bay Beach
Views of Grannys Bay Beach as you walk down to it on the Coastal Track at Long Bay
At Grannys Bay Beach on the Long Bay Regional Park Coastal Track

Grannys Bay Beach

After a lovely 20 minute walk you’ll see Grannys Bay beach as you come down the hill. Step off the coastal track and relax on the beach for awhile before you continue on your way.

Pohutukawa Bay Beach on the Long Bay Regional Park Coastal Track in Auckland
Looking down at Pohutukawa Bay Beach as you walk down to it on the Coastal Track
Pretty Pohutukawa Bay Beach on the Long Bay Coastal Track in Auckland

Pohutukawa Bay Beach

Another 15 minute walk from Grannys Bay Beach and you’ll hit the lovely little beach at Pohutukawa Bay on the Coastal Track. Take a minute and sit on the beach or have lunch here if you’ve packed it.

Looking over the Okura River at the end of the Long Bay Regional Park Coastal Track in Auckland
Looking over the Okura River at the end of the Long Bay Regional Park Coastal Track in Auckland

End of the track at the Okura River

Another 45 minute walk from Pohutukawa Bay Beach and you’ll arrive at the end of the walk at Okura River. Great spot for a well deserved lunch break.

Back to car park via Beach.  1h 5 min – 3 km

Another story. The tide must be on the way out by at least 1 hour. But you will know if you are too early, just sit and wait.  If the tide is out, or on the way in, don’t squander time. Get a move on. Check the Long Bay tides here.

It is a continuous cliff face till you reach Pohutakawa Bay, and then to Grannys Bay, to far to swim if you get caught out.  Watch your step; the rocks can be very slippery when they are still wet. In some places the rocks will have a thin coating of mega slippery mud over them.

At the end of the Long Bay Regional Park Coastal Track in Auckland
At the end of the Long Bay Regional Park Coastal Track in Auckland
The beach at Long Bay Regional Park in Auckland

Back at the carpark and Long Bay beach

Back at the park, the two places for food, the kiosk and the restaurant and café are both closed now. In conclusion this is a great walk, quite a bit of up hill and down, good work out. Excellent little beaches along the way with wonderful views and farm land along the way.

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