Tāwharanui Regional Park, Regional park and natural sanctuary on Kawau Bay, New Zealand.
Tāwharanui Regional Park is a nature reserve on a peninsula in the Rodney region of New Zealand, covering sandy beaches, rocky shores, wetlands, and native forest. The park sits along the northern edge of Kawau Bay, where the land narrows into open sea on three sides.
The land was farmed for much of the 20th century before being set aside for conservation, and it became a regional park in 2008. Before European settlement, it held deep meaning for local Māori communities who had long connections to the area.
The park is one of the few places on the North Island where visitors can hear kaka, tui, and North Island robins calling from the trees. Walking the forest paths feels different here because the absence of predators means birds behave more freely and are easier to spot.
There are no shops or services inside the park, so it is worth stocking up on water and food in nearby towns like Warkworth or Matakana before arriving. The access road is unpaved and can get muddy after rain, so a vehicle with reasonable ground clearance makes the drive easier.
A predator-proof fence runs along the base of the peninsula, making this one of New Zealand's first open sanctuaries that the public can walk through freely. Unlike closed enclosures, the setup allows farming to continue alongside conservation in the same unfenced landscape.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
![St Andrew's Church [Relocated]](https://img9.digsty.com/1R4tWqofCrSUsUMtrDCpbUNB8rk7x5luFVE7YXSahvw/rs:fill:230:230:1/g:fp:0.5:0.5/czM6Ly9hcm91bmR1cy8xNC80NzE2NTE1LTI5YTY4ZmJiLmpwZw.jpg)
