Magazine Bay on the Pōhutukawa Coast
Magazine Bay is located on the Pōhutukawa Coast of Auckland, east of Maraetai along Maraetai Coast Road. This bay, facing the Tāmaki Strait, provides stunning views of Waiheke Island and Ponui Island. Its beach features striking white to gold sand and a central wharf, a reminder of the bay's past as an ammunition storage site.
A Secluded Beach Experience
Despite its proximity to the road and the short walk from Maraetai, Magazine Bay, along with neighbouring Waiomanu Beach, feels surprisingly secluded. A large grove of pōhutukawa trees offers a natural barrier, enhancing the sense of privacy. However, the area can become crowded during summer holidays and weekends, so visiting during quieter times is advisable. Parking is located on the north side of the road.
Kakaremea (many colours)
The bay is known to Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki iwi as Kakaremea, meaning "many colours", which is a fitting reflection of the blues, golds, and greens of this coast. The nearby headland was once the site of a pā called Te Aute. In the late 1600s, Rangatira Te Whatatau gifted Kakaremea and the surrounding land to the followers of his wife, Te Raukohekohe. There is also a historic karaka tree, associated with the death of Māhia, an ancestor of both the Ngāi Tai iwi and the Ngāti Pāoa iwi.
European Industrial History
Magazine Bay's European history is marked by industrial activity, though little evidence remains beyond the pier. From 1850, a gold mine operated for a decade. There was little gold, but a pile of clay left behind later supported a brickworks from 1899 to 1907. In 1912, the Nobel Explosives Company established an explosives magazine, hence the name of he bay. This was expanded and camouflaged during World War II, with soldiers stationed in Maraetai to oversee operations.
The area was eventually cleaned up, and Magazine Bay and Waiomanu Beach have been protected as a public reserve since 2010.
How to Get There
To reach Magazine Bay, head east from Maraetai along Maraetai Coast Road. The bay is directly southeast of Waiomanu Beach, separated by a rocky point. You can also access the bay via the Maraetai Beach Path, an easy walk that connects Maraetai and Waiomanu Beach, keeping you off the main road.
Other places to explore on the Pōhutukawa Coast include Beachlands, Ōmana Regional Park, Ōmana Beach, Umupuia Beach and Duder Regional Park.
