Āwhitu Regional Park

Āwhitu Regional Park is a regional park on the Āwhitu Peninsula that covers about 1.55 square kilometers of mixed landscapes. It includes regenerating forests, wetlands, and active farmland spread across the eastern edge of the peninsula.

The site became a regional park in 1975, combining farming operations with conservation efforts from the start. This approach of protecting native species while maintaining agricultural use has shaped how the land is managed today.

The land carries deep ties to Māori iwi communities who lived here for centuries before Europeans arrived in the region. These cultural connections remain visible today through how local people relate to and care for the landscape.

The park provides camping sites, a lodge, picnic areas with barbecue stations, and multiple walking trails through the different landscape zones. You should be prepared for changing ground conditions as paths cross through forest, wetland, and open areas.

The park brings together working farmland and public recreation in an unusual way, letting visitors watch farming happen while they explore. This blend of productive fields and protected areas creates a setting where land management and natural recovery exist side by side.