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Park activities

Bird watching
Camping - backpack
Camping - vehicle based
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Camping - vehicle based

You may park and camp at the Whatipu Lodge campground. This campground is managed privately. For more information please contact: Telephone: 09 811 8860 Email: whatipulodge@xtra.co.nz

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Dog walking with restrictions
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Dog walking with restrictions

Dogs are not permitted in the scientific reserve but can go on tracks (Omanawanui, Gibbons, Muir) but are not permitted on the track to the caves or on the beach.

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Fishing
Picnics
Sightseeing
Surfing
Walks (1 hour or more)
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Walks (1 hour or more)

Take the Kura Track which follows the Whatipu Stream past the Gibbons timber mill.

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

Take a short walk to the Whatipu Caves, where dance parties were held in the 1920s.

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Wedding / civil union
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Wedding / civil union

Contact the Arataki visitor Centre on 09 817 0077 to organise your permit for your wedding or civil union at Whatipu.

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Tracks

Destruction Gully Track
 ¾ hour / 1.2 km
Gibbons Track
2 hours / 3.2 km
Kura Track
1 ¾ hours / 3.6 km
Muir Track
 ¾ hour / 1.2 km
Omanawanui Track
2 ¼ hours / 3 km
Pararaha Valley Track
 ½ hour / 1.1 km
Signal House Track
< ¼ hour / 0.4 km
Whatipu Caves Track
 ½ hour / 1.5 km
Whatipu Coast Walk
< ¼ hour / km
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Whatipu

The Whatipu area is a Scientific Reserve owned by the Department of Conservation and managed on behalf by the Auckland Regional Council.

It is a spectacular area of coastal dunes and wetlands. It is also the breeding ground for endangered species such as the New Zealand Dotterel. Due to its status as a scientific reserve no dogs are permitted at Whatipu.

Swimming is not recommended at Whatipu beach as the surf and tidal conditions are extremely dangerous.

Park facilities

Camping - view details
Lodge - view details
Beaches
Historic homesteads
Interpretation
Long drop / vault toilet
Native bush
Notice board
Parking
Overflow parking at both campground and turners paddock (150)
Toilet block
Unsealed access road
Picture of Whatipu
Whatipu is the breeding ground for endangered species such as the New Zealand Dotterel.

Park opening hours

Pedestrian access
 
Open 24 hours
Open map of this park in ARC-GIS
(our mapping application)

How to get to Whatipu

Take the North-Western Motorway to the Great North Rd Exit. Follow Great North Rd onto Ash St which leads onto Rata St. Take Titirangi Rd right through Titirangi Village to the roundabout, take Huia Rd through to Huia. Continue on to Whatipu Rd for access to Whatipu at end of Whatipu Rd.

Distance from Auckland CBD: 42 km

  
Get directions with Google Maps

Friends of Whatipu

The Friends of Whatipu is a friendly group of people who have resolved to act as guardians of the area. They are involved in fundraising, protection and volunteer projects such as beach clean-ups and tree planting. For more information and to become a member phone Bruce Harvey on 09 817 3651.