North Shore Beaches.

Information on North Shore Beaches.

My top 3 favourite North Shore beaches in order of preference are:

Best North Shore Beaches -
1) Long Bay -
Has about a kilometre of sand beach.
Adjoins a marine reserve with safe swimming for the family. Has toilets, changing rooms, picnic and barbecue areas, and a restaurant and kiosk.
A childrens playground with a flying fox, (a t-bar seat that slides down along a cable.)
The adjacent Regional Park that has a coastal walkway that continues 6 km along the coast to Granny's Bay ,Pohutukawa Bay to Okura estuary offering great views of the Hauraki Gulf.The cliff top walkway can be traversed at any tide. The forshore can be walked when the tide is below halfway out.( Warning there are slippery rocks.)
The park also has stands of native bush, including large Puriri trees.
Large car park areas.
Vaughans Homestead -
The original family home of the Vaughan family that farmed the area, has been restored by the Torbay Historical Society, including a small museum with old photos and items of interest.
Openall year Sat - Sun, 2 - 4pm (unless booked for a private function)
All public holidays (except Christmas Day and Good Friday)For private functions contact the Torbay Historical Society on 09 473 9371.

2) Narrow Neck -
Close to Devonport has -
Has about 800 metres of sand beach, with safe swimming and easy access.
Adjacent childrens playground and a small shop for refreshments.
Picnic and BBQ facilities.
Home to Wakatere Boating Club, that has small sailing dingy races off the beach.
Large car park area.
Vehicle beach access, for launching small boats.

3)Takapuna Beach -
Has about 1.1 kilometres of sand beach, with safe swimming and easy access.
Has toilets and a changing block, as well as a picnic area.
North shores best boat ramp. A slopng concrete ramp with adjacent trailer parking.
Home to Takapuna Boating Club.
Many cafes , restaurants within easy walking distance.
Close to the business area, which can create parking shortages during business hours.

A list of beaches on the North Shore following the coast from the inner harbour moving out is as follows-

Island Bay-
Has a small beach,a boat Ramp and a short wharf with a small adjacent carpark and grassed picnic area.

Little Shoal Bay-
Has a safe tidal beach suitable for swimming and boating, with a launching ramp and haul out area, as well as a BBQ and adjacent grassed reserve area.

Stanley Bay.
Has about 300 metres of sand at below half tide.
With about 100 metres of grassed area with seats and rubbish bins.
With a public toilet and a raft moored off the beach.

Devonport Beach-
The Devonport ferry departs from downtown Auckland city and arrives at Devonport wharf adjacent to the beach.
It's a small safe swimming beach that gets stoney as you move east away from the wharf.There is a cold fresh water shower by the beach.
With Devonport Yacht Club, moorings and a pontoon.
Close to the shopping centre and cafes and restaurants.
You can fish off the wharf with parking close by.
A children's playground is on the adjacent reserve as well as a petanque pitch and public toilets.

Torpedo Bay -
Has a small safe swimming beach, although quite stony, best to swim near high tide.
With a concrete boat launching ramp at one end, with a parking area close by.

Cheltenham Beach -
Is about a 750 metres long and has safe swimming best at high tide.With grassed areas for picnics close to the sand.
Has a toilet block.
Easy access to North Head. A restaurant protrudes onto the beach giving diners great views.

Narrow Neck -
As above in favourites.

St Leonards -
Has a number of small secluded beaches between rock outcrops with safe swimming.
Restricted access above half tide.
There is all tide access, down a long flight of steps, at the end of St Leonards Road, off Lake Road.
Has been unofficially used as clothing optional ( nude ) bathing,but the police have tried to stop this, as some locals are offended.

Takapuna Beach -
As above in favourites.

Thorne Bay -
Has a small beach about 50 metres of sand that is safe for swimming.
Spoilt a bit by neighboring fence builders.

Milford Beach -
Is a bit more than a kilometre long, with a large grassed area at the northern end.
Has a playground for the children and a toilet block.
There is a marina at the northern end, including a boat ramp and parking off Inga Road.
The marina has restricted tidal access. Sea scouts and the Milford Cruising Club are close by.

Castor Bay -
Has a sheltered beach about 200 metres long.
With safe swimming, a jungle gym/ childrens play area,a grassed picnic area and a small toilet block.
It has a boat ramp onto the sand with trailer parking nearby.

Campbells Bay -
A beach with about 500 metres long, and is safe for swimming. Has a playground for children, toilet block on Huntly Rd.
No boat ramp, but you can carry small boats from Huntly Rd or The Esplanade to launch.
There is a small grocery shop and restaurant on The Esplanade.

Mairangi Bay -
A beach about 750 metres long.
Is home to the Mairangi Bay Surf Lifesaving Club.
There is vehicle access to the beach for small boat launching.
Has a Childrens playground and a small grass reserve area and a toilet block.
You can park and have a good view from your vehicle across the Hauraki Gulf.
The Mairangi Bay shopping centre is close by including restaurants, cafes takeaways and a supermarket.
Has a clifftop walkway between Mirangi Bay and Murrays bay, with spectacular views of the Hauraki Gulf.

Murrays Bay -
A beach about 500 metres long.
Is safe for swimming.
Home to the Murrays Bay Sailing Club.
There is a wharf that you can fish from.(Best at high tide).
Has a good coastal walkway connecting to Mirangi Bay.
There is an adjacent grass reserve and toilet block.
A restaurant is across the road.
You can launch small boats from the beach.

Rothesay Bay -
A small beach safe for swimming.
Has a large grass area with a playground for children and a small toilet block.
Car parking with a good view.
No vehicle access to the beach for boat lauching.

Browns Bay -
A beach about 800 metres long.
Is safe for swimming.
Facilities include a toilet and changing block.
There is a skateboard ramp on the reserve area.
Has vehicle access to the beach for small boat launching, and there is a ski lane off the shore.
Car parking with a good view at the northern end.
Most of the forshore has grassed areas adjacent with a childrens playground.
Has a walkway at the northern end with good views.
Close to a large shopping centre with a number of restaurants, cafes, takeaways, supermarkts and a wide range of shops and boutiques and a police station.

Waiake Beach -
A picturesque sheltered beach about 400 metres long with what locals call the "Tor", a small rock outcrop with a some vegetation on top, making it photogenic, and the feature of some pictorial adverts.
Is safe for swimming and has a pontoon that you can swim out to.
It has a small playground, toilets and changing rooms.
With two vehicle access ramps for launching boats off the beach.
This is home to the Torbay Sailing Club.
There are a number of permanent swing moorings in the bay.
I wouldn't moor a boat here though, because I've seen strong easterly storms wash a number of boats up on, both the beach and rocks in the area.

Long Bay -
As above in favourites.

Go to Hibiscus Coast ( north of North Shore ).

Go to Eastern foreshore.

Go to West Coast.

Go to Auckland beaches.

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