Kennedy Park: Clifftop park and military history
Tucked onto the headland north of Castor Bay on the North Shore of Auckland, Kennedy Park is a small but richly layered reserve. With sweeping views out to Rangitoto Island, a dramatic staircase dropping down to the beach, links to the North Shore Coastal Walk (also part of Te Araroa), and remnants of military and Māori heritage, it makes a perfect short outing for coast, history and views.
Historical context
From the gently undulating clifftop lawns at the top of 20 metre cliffs, you get views across the Hauraki Gulf and Rangitoto Island. The stairs at Kennedy Park descend the cliff face to a rocky beach and reef at low tide. This is a popular spot for fitness fanatics and scenic descents. The viewpoint at Rahopara Point, immediately to the south and looking towards Takapuna, adds to the vista and is the site of a Māori pā.
A feature of Kennedy Park is the WWII gun emplacements and tunnels on the clifftop. This was part of the Castor Bay Battery, a WWII coastal defence installation. It was linked to gun batteries at Stony Batter (Waiheke Island), Whangaparaoa and Motutapu Island. The fort was subsequently developed as a park, which was named in memory of US President John F. Kennedy.
Kennedy Park also has a good playground, toilets and parking off Beach Road.
How to get there
Kennedy Park lies on Beach Road in the suburb of Castor Bay. From Downtown Auckland, take the northern motorway to the Northcote off-ramp. Head east on Northcote Road, then turn northwest on Taharoto Road, with a northeast turn onto Shakespeare Road shortly after that. Follow Shakespeare Road and continue onto Omana Road. Shortly after curving around the Milford Shopping Centre, turn left into Inga Road, which then becomes Beach Road. Parking is available off Beach Road at Kennedy Park. The trip will take around 18 minutes and is 17.5 km.
From Kennedy Park, you can walk south to Milford Beach on the North Shore Coastal Walk / Te Araroa or north to Red Bluff and Campbells Bay. It is also a short drive to Lake Pupuke.
