Tapapakanga Regional Park
Located just south of Orere Point, beside the Firth of Thames, Tapapakanga takes you back to the world of the early settlers with its isolated beachfront homestead and pohutukawa-fringed coast. As well as its rich Maori and European history this beautiful park offers rolling farmland, a winding stream and expansive coastal view, all within easy reach of Auckland. It's also more recently known as the incredible venue for the popular SPLORE festival.
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Thirty minutes drive from Clevedon, or an hour from Auckland, this spot is reached by driving along Clevedon-Kawakawa Bay Road, which takes travellers along the coast road through Waharau, Whakatiwai and Kaiaua (which has a fabulous fish and chip shop, btw).
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Aside from lounging on the beach, exploring rock pools and tarzaning on rope swings, there's great walking around here, including the Tapapakanga Coastal Walk - 7.4km of fantastic walking requiring a reasonable level of fitness. It also boasts historic Ashby Homestead (c1900), donated by the Ashby family, a truly stunning relic from the past.
If you can't bear to leave, the beachfront DoC camping ground is an enviable option, although in the high season you'll need to book well in advance to nab one of the 40 positions.
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The beach is ideal for swimming. Other recreational activities at Tapapakanga include picnics, barbecues, camping, fishing, kayaking, family walks and mountain biking.
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Access to Tapapakanga
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Gate access winter - 6am to 7pm (Non daylight savings)
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Vehicle access - No access or exit after closing hours.
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Pedestrian access - Open 24 hours
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Gate access summer - 6am to 9pm (Daylight savings)
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On your return home, why not do a full loop and swing by Miranda Hot Springs and the Shorebird Centre.
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Splore Festival
The park is the site of the annual Splore music festival held in late February when up to 8,000 revellers camp for the weekend of music and arts festival fun. Splore runs with a zero waste and zero footprint philosophy, fitting for a park as beautiful as Tapapakanga.
Splore is a three-day music and arts festival staged annually on the shores of Tapapakanga Regional Park – perhaps the most beautiful festival setting in the world.
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Throughout the three days — and deep into the night — an eclectic lineup of musical artists from New Zealand and abroad play the multiple festival stages. Performing arts, installations, workshops and forums flower across the site. And people dance like no one is watching. It's the best sort of party. But it's more than a party, it's a community - to come to Splore is to be part of Splore.
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For more information visit: Splore Info
