Exploring the Long Bay Nature Trail
Located in Long Bay Regional Park on the North Shore of Auckland, the Long Bay Nature Trail is a short, easy loop that begins just below the Vaughan Homestead. This trail is part of the North Shore Coastal Walk / Te Araroa, but it stands out for its impressive mature pūriri trees, which are some of the finest in the region.
The Pūriris of Long Bay
The pūriri trees along the trail have the distinctive appearance of big older trees - big with a creamy coloured trunk, but gnarled, twisted, and decrepit, looking somewhat worn and moth-eaten. This is due to the pūriri moth larvae, which feed on the trees for up to five years. The pūriri moth itself is notable for its large wingspan, reaching up to 15 cm, although it has a very brief lifespan dedicated solely to breeding.
How to Get There
Long Bay Regional Park is at teh end of Beach Road, the winding road that links the North Shore coastal suburbs from Milford Beach to Long Bay. There is plenty of parking at the park. The walk to Vaughan Homestead and Nature Trail is at the north end of the main car park.
While in the park, you can also explore a loop north of the Nature Trail that incorporates the North Shore Coastal Walkway and the cliffs and minor beaches of the Long Bay coastline (at low tide). Long Bay Beach is also one of the most popular beaches on the North Shore.
