Striking New Zealand Scenery

Long Bay Regional Park

Just 30 minutes north of Auckland downtown striking New Zealand scenery awaits you in Long Bay Regional Park. Plan a day tour to a small paradise placed on the east coast over viewing the Hauraki Gulf. The park extends to  the Okura Marine Reserve.

The Regional Park offers:

Park visitors reach Long bay Regional Park by bus with the public transport system www.maxx.co.nz, with their own car or their rental car for a day trip. Motor home drivers on the other hand can stay within the park for up to 3 nights. Follow this link to Google maps to get directions.

• Public trasportation the bus stop is on Beach Road at the park entrance
• Changing rooms and Toilets  
• Showers
• Playground and children’s train
• Disabled access
• Seven bookable picnic areas with a capacity from 75 to 500 persons, some with electric BBQ
• Restaurant and kiosk are found at the park entrance
• Walks, nature trail about 1/2 hour, coastal walk about 3h
• Historic sight, to hire for wedding and civil union
• Stay over night, bookable for a SCC approved motor home 

Booking and map details:

Here ia a detailed park map to download in pdf format. The map is perfect to familiarize yourself with the park facilities. The number to call for any pre-bookings at the Auckland Regional Council is: 09 366 2000.

The thumbnail leads to e-cards of NZ beach photos.

Long Bay Regional Park 

Long Bay Beach is very popular with its prime location overviewing the Hauriki Gulf. This particular beautiful New Zealand scenery allures masses of beach lovers especially on weekends, school holidays and public holidays.

Many Aucklanders in smaller and larger groups, private family festivities, club gatherings, or business events are drawn to this park. Groups book and use the picnic and BBQ facilities whenever there is a chance to enjoy a fantastic family day out or celebrate at the beach. 

Formal events and weddings may take place in the historical Vaughan Homestead that features sweeping views over park and beach. A particular delightful scene for the best wedding photographer to capture this special day. The Auckland Regional Council administers hiring requests.

One reason why beach party initiators arrive early is the gentler morning sun. The second one is even more important. Booked beach picnic spots require someone to be there before 9am. Why? Otherwise the next party in line is the lucky occupant of the place.

The advantages of Long Bay Beach though are the comfort of changing rooms, restrooms, and restaurant or kiosk at the park entrance. An exciting playground with an electrical miniature train keeps little ones engaged with a playscape to climb, swing, slide and balance on. For young and old the park grounds have plenty of space for sporting activities and offer a lot protective shade from park trees additional marquieses are allowed to put up by request. Every New Zealander knows that this is the number one skin care action to take when spending a summer's day outdoors apart from generous sunmilk distribution on every inch of uncovered skin.

A coastal walk starts at the north end of Long Bay Beach. Following the coastline either along the beach at low tide or up on the cliff top to reach  two smaller bays, Granny Bay and Pohutukawa Bay. Both are a lot quieter, almost deserted, when Long Bay experiences a very busy day. Hikers that keep on wandering the track reach Okura River. This delta has a remarkable effect of vastness especially at low tide. It is a Marine Reserve embedded in a magnificent New Zealand scenery. So leave the fruits of the sea like fish, shellfish, sea anemones and seaweed where they belong and take only pictures to remember.

Finalize the loop and return to the park depending on tide conditions on top of the cliffs enjoying scenic views from above or admire the erosive work of the surf along the beach.

After the busiest hours of the day when swimmers retreated kitesurfers often speed along the full length of Long Bay Beach. This is a colourful spectacle set into New Zealand scenery and gives a wonderful contrast to the light blue of the sky. All in all I am sure that a day spent at Long Bay Regional Park offers highlights for many tastes.  

Do you have a New Zealand beach story to tell? Do this here.

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