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Park activities

Bird watching
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Bird watching

You'll probably see pied oystercatchers, shags and kingfishers. Inland you might see tui, tiny grey warbler and fantail.

6 out of 10

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Camping - vehicle based
Dog walking with restrictions
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Dog walking with restrictions

Dogs are allowed on the beach at Omana in winter but prohibited from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm during daylight saving time (summer). Dogs are prohibited from the farmed areas, campsites and picnic areas.

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Farm Animals - Viewing
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Farm Animals - Viewing

Omana has chickens, pigs, rabbits for children to come and see. During lambing there is the opportunity to feed the lambs. Contact 09 536 6007 to check the feeding times.

6 out of 10

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Fishing
Kayaking
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Kayaking

You can launch your kayak from the beach or boat ramp at Omana Esplanade. Kayaking is best at high tide.

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Mountain biking
Orienteering
Picnics
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Picnics

Omana has bookable sites available for groups or just find your own favourite spot.

8 out of 10

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Pram walks
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Pram walks

There is pram access to the playground and BBQ area. Perimeter walk is pram accessible but may be challenging in places and is dependant on conditions.

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Sightseeing
Swimming
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Swimming

Omana beach is suitable for swimming and is more attractive at high tide. Oysters grow on the rocks so wear shoes to protect your feet.

7 out of 10

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Volunteering
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Volunteering

Please contact 09 536 7012 if you are interested in volunteering on our southern parks.

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Walks (less than 1 hour)
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Walks (less than 1 hour)

Take a stroll through the rural setting of Omana and find native forest, coastal views and a Maori pa site.

7 out of 10

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Wedding / civil union
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Wedding / civil union

Ceremonies are often held on the park with the area near the pohutukawa trees on the cliff edge especially popular. A permit is required, contact the Senior Ranger Recreation on 09 366 2044.

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Tracks

Farm Walk
 ¼ hour / 0.5 km
Perimeter Walk
1 hour / 2.5 km
Print view

Omana

Omana Regional Park lies on a gently contoured knoll from which visitors can enjoy expansive views of the inner Hauraki Gulf.

Located south east of Auckland city, between Beachlands and Maraetai, Omana is an ideal family park with a shelly beach offering safe swimming at high tide, picnic areas and barbecues. It has friendly, pet farmyard animals, which are always popular with the kids.

The park has an intriguing name which is a shorthand version of O-Manawatere ("the dwelling place of Manawatere") a Ngai Tai pa site in the park. Ngai Tai tradition records that this ancestor travelled from the Pacific homeland not by canoe, but by gliding over the waves on a Taniwha.'

Park facilities

Camping - view details
Bookable Site - view details
BBQ
3 single wood BBQs and 8 double wood BBQs. Bring your own wood or buy from the park ranger.
Beaches
There is access down to the beach at the entrance to the park. The rest of the park is up on cliff tops.
Boat ramp
The nearest boat ramp is at Omana Espanade in Maraetai.
Campervan access
Campervans can stay overnight in the campground or in the car park.
Cellphone coverage
Interpretation
Limited mobility access
There is disabled toilet facilities by the car park.
Notice board
Parking
Additional parking available in paddocks
Picnic tables
Omana has bookable sites available for groups or just find your own favourite spot.
Potable water
There is a drinking fountain in the playground.
Ranger contact phone
Ranger office
Sealed access road
Security gates
Toilet block

History

Ngai Tai lived here for many generations, and built the O Manawatere pa. The pa is a small rectangular area on the cliff edge with a defensive "ring" ditch around the tree inland sides. Ngai Tai and members of other Hauraki tribes lived on the park when it was part of William Fairburn's Maraetai Mission Station which included a small school for Maori from 1837 - 42. Omana was part of the mission farm, developed from 1837. It was one of the region's first farms. As with the surrounding district, the forest was felled for timber. The area was dug for kauri gum and even prospected for gold and silver. The land continued to be farmed from 1837 until 1970, when the Auckland Regional Council purchased it for a regional park.

Wildlife

The forest is home to native birds such as fantails (piwakawaka), grey warblers (riro riro), tui and native pigeon (kereru). Pukeko, spur winged plover and paradise shelducks (putangitangi) roam around the farmed area of the park. Look out for South Island pied oystercatchers (torea), pied shags (kawau tikitiki) and kingfishers (kotare) on the foreshore and pohutukawa-fringed cliffs.

Native bush

As well as the large grassy areas and farmland you will find areas of regenerating native forest. Trees such as tanekaha, puriri, taraire, rewarewa, mapou, kowhai and kahikatea are flourishing here.

Picture of Omana

Try the perimeter walk - it only takes an hour and you will be rewarded with great views and close up encounters with farm animals.

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Park opening hours:

Summer:
8:00am - 8:30pm
Winter:
8:00am - 5:00pm

Weekend opening hours:

Summer:
8:00am - 8:30pm
Winter:
8:00am - 5:00pm

Public holiday opening hours:

Summer:
8:00am - 8:30pm
Winter:
8:00am - 5:00pm

How to get to Omana

Turn off State Highway 1 at Highbrook Drive and bear left. Continue into Allens Road and turn left at Te Irirangi Drive. Turn right into Ti Rakau Drive at Botany Town Centre then left into Chapel Road. Turn right at the next roundabout (1.6km)onto Whitford Road. Travel straight through the next two roundabouts (5.6km). Continue through Whitford Roundabout and follow the Whitford Maraetai road (10km). The park is on the left just before you enter the township.

Distance from Auckland CBD: 42 km

  
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