Discover Tāwharanui's Ecology Trail
Located within Tāwharanui Regional Park in Auckland, the Ecology Trail is a fantastic walk through diverse landscapes. The trail combines coastal scenery, with sandy beaches and rock formations, with a climb through farmland, and then a forest walk, ending with a wetland before returning to the start at the Anchor Bay car park.
The forest is particularly rich in native bird life, including kiwi and several other very rare species. It also features young kauri trees on the steeper slopes and runs through a gully with a modest stream. Here, the forest becomes more mature, with old pūriri trees standing out prominently.
Birdwatching on the Ecology Trail
While the forest itself is appealing, the main attraction of this part of the Ecology Trail is its exceptional birdlife. In about half an hour, including time for photos, you can expect to encounter a variety of rare native birds. Common species such as tūī and pīwakawaka (fantails) are abundant, but you should also spot kererū and korimako, which have been largely extinct in urban Auckland for many decades.
The trail also provides opportunities to see the exceedingly rare takahē and the very rare tīeke (saddlebacks). Additionally, native robins, bitterns, and various species of native ducks and water birds can be observed. To increase your chances of sightings, walk carefully and quietly, as these birds are often just a few metres away.
Trail Options and Duration
The full loop of the Ecology Trail, including the coastal walk east of Anchor Bay, takes over an hour and a half to complete. This is best done clockwise, heading along the coastal trail first, then climbing through mostly pastureland, crossing over the North Coast Track, and entering the forest. There is a sign there that this is the best spot to look out for kiwi at night. The track runs south down through the forest to the gully, then heads west along the gully to the wetlands and back to Anchor Bay.
For a shorter experience, from the Anchor Bay car park, follow the southern side of the loop (also Fishermans Track) into the forest gully, and return the same way. This takes about 40 minutes and gives access to the best of the birdlife.
Getting to Tāwharanui Regional Park
Tāwharanui Regional Park is approximately 80 minutes by car from Downtown Auckland, via the northern motorway to Warkworth and then Matakana Road and Leigh Road towards Ōmaha. From Leigh Road, turn west onto Takatu Road and follow this all the way to Anchor Bay inside the park. Once in the park, follow the signs for the Ecology Trail.
Other options in the park include the South Coast and North Coast Tracks, which can be done as a loop, the Takatū Loop to Taktrū Point and the full length of Fishermans Track to the rock platforms on the south coast.
