Discover Anchor Bay at Tāwharanui Regional Park
Anchor Bay, located on the north side of Tāwharanui Peninsula in Auckland, is the main beach within Tāwharanui Regional Park. This beach is known for its crescent shape and striking white sand with hints of gold. The bay sits within a marine life sanctuary, with rocky promontories and sea caves on the east side. It's a beautiful location for beach activities and swimming.
Exploring the Beach and Surroundings
The beach faces north into the Hauraki Gulf and is a short walk through a grassed reserve from the car park, which is situated just below the beach. It's important to stick to the marked paths, as the dunes are protected areas. During spring, you will see fenced-off areas, which are nesting sites for dotterels.
The beach stretches westward from the car park, past Comets Rocks / Moana Lookout and the campground. As you walk along the beach, you'll see the striking orange cliffs, historically used by local Māori for red pigments. At the east end, Flat Rock, a prominent gold and orange rocky point, can be explored at low tide. This area also features walk-through caves accessible when the tide is out. Beyond Flat Rock, the beach transitions to a rockier foreshore.
Activities and Marine Life
Anchor Bay is a safe spot for swimming, with generally moderate surf conditions. The marine sanctuary in front of the beach makes it an excellent snorkelling spot, with a chance to observe diverse marine life.
Be aware, due to its popularity, the car park can fill up quickly on warm weekends and holidays, so consider arriving early or later in the day to avoid the crowds.
Getting to Anchor Bay
From Downtown Auckland, Tawharahui is a 75-minute drive, 86 km. Take the northern motorway to Warkworth, then follow the signs for Matakana. From Matakana, take Leigh Road, then turn east onto Takatu Road, which leads directly to the car park.
The regional park walking tracks are also superb and include the Ecology Trail, Fishermans Track, the South Coast and North Coast Tracks and the Takatū Point Loop.
