Lake Wainamu Sand Dunes & Falls Loop is a 6.5km walking track near Auckland, New Zealand. The trail features black sand dunes, native bush, swimming opportunities at Lake Wainamu, and Wainamu Falls. It takes approximately 2-3 hours to complete and is rated moderate difficulty due to steep dune climbs.
Find more walks in this area… explore our comprehensive guide to West Auckland walks.
By Car: From central Auckland, take State Highway 16 towards Kumeu. Turn left onto Waitakere Road, then right onto Bethells Road. Follow this winding gravel road for approximately 8km until you reach Bethells Beach car park. The final stretch of Bethells Road is unsealed and narrow, so take it steady. Allow 50-60 minutes drive time from the city.
Parking: There’s a large gravel car park at Bethells Beach. It can fill up on summer weekends, so arriving before 9am is advisable. The car park is free but theft from vehicles does occur, so don’t leave valuables visible.
Public Transport: Unfortunately there are no direct public transport options to Bethells Beach. Your best bet is to drive or arrange private transport.
👉 👉 Freedom Camp Between Walks – Hire a Campervan – We’ve got the best deals
Lake Wainamu sits tucked behind massive sand dunes like nature’s best-kept secret. The contrast between the dark iron sand beaches, golden dunes and the emerald lake creates this otherworldly landscape that doesn’t quite feel like New Zealand. It’s more Sahara-meets-Tasman, if that makes any sense.
The real insider knowledge here is that this track combines three distinct ecosystems in one short walk. You’ll move from coastal forest to massive dune fields to freshwater lake to wild west coast beach. Each section has its own personality and challenges, which keeps things interesting when your legs are screaming at you.
Let’s be honest about those dunes. They’re brutal. Walking up loose sand is like using a treadmill where someone keeps increasing the resistance without telling you. For every two steps forward you’ll slide half a step back. The locals have a technique: take shorter steps and try to step where the sand looks slightly firmer or where previous hikers have compressed it.
Here’s what the track descriptions won’t tell you: the dunes shift constantly. The exact route over them changes with the wind, so orange markers on poles guide you. Sometimes these markers seem optimistically spaced apart. If you lose sight of the next marker, stop and scan the horizon before charging off in the wrong direction.
The upside? The descent is absolutely brilliant fun. You can run, jump or slide down in a fraction of the time it took to climb up. Kids love this bit. Adults pretend they’re too dignified, then inevitably join in.
The lake is genuinely swimmable, which comes as a surprise to many visitors. It’s a freshwater dune lake fed by underground springs, and the water is remarkably clear. Summer temperatures can make it quite pleasant, though it never gets truly warm.
The western edge of the lake has easier access points for getting in and out. The water deepens quickly, so it’s not ideal for small children unless they’re confident swimmers. There are no facilities, changing rooms or lifeguards, so plan accordingly. The locals swim here regularly but they treat it with respect.
Wainamu Falls will never make anyone’s list of New Zealand’s most spectacular waterfalls, but that’s not really the point. It’s a modest cascade dropping about 4 metres into a shallow pool, tucked away in a ferny grotto. The pool is deep enough for a quick dunk to cool off, which after climbing those dunes feels absolutely magnificent.
The track to the falls is less maintained than the main loop. You’ll push through some low-hanging branches and step over tree roots. The falls run year-round but are more impressive after rain. In dry summer spells they reduce to a trickle, though the pool usually retains enough water for a quick swim.
👉 👉 Freedom Camp Between Walks – Hire a Campervan – We’ve got the best deals
Te Henga (Bethells Beach) is classic west coast Auckland: wild, windswept and dramatic. The black iron sand is magnetic, literally, you can test it with a magnet. The beach stretches for kilometres and is popular with surfers when conditions are right.
Swimming at this beach is dangerous. The surf is powerful, there are strong rips, and people drown here regularly. Enjoy the beach for its raw beauty, but save your swimming for the lake. If you must paddle, stay ankle-deep and never turn your back on the waves.
Early morning walks offer cooler temperatures and fewer people, which matters when you’re slogging up dunes. The sand hasn’t had all day to heat up, and you’ll have the place largely to yourself. The light is also gorgeous for photographs.
Late afternoon works well too, particularly in summer when you can time it to finish with a beach sunset. Just make sure you allow enough daylight to complete the walk safely – getting lost in the dunes at dusk is no fun.
In summer, the black iron sand can reach temperatures over 60°C (140°F). It will cause second-degree burns to bare feet or dog paws. Footwear is mandatory in summer.
The west coast creates its own weather systems. It can be sunny in central Auckland and absolutely bucketing down at Bethells. Check the forecast but also look at the radar before you leave.
Wind is constant here. On really windy days the sand whips into your face and eyes like tiny needles, making the dune sections miserable. If the forecast shows winds over 40km/h, consider postponing or choosing a more sheltered walk.
Rain turns the bush tracks muddy but doesn’t make the walk impossible. The dunes actually become slightly easier to climb when damp because the sand compacts better. Just be prepared to get dirty.
It’s possible but challenging. The dune climbs are tough for short legs, and the distance might be too much for under-8s. Consider doing just the lake section as an out-and-back rather than the full loop. Definitely bring a child carrier if you have toddlers, though carrying extra weight up those dunes will test your determination.
The bush sections are clearly marked with orange triangles. The dune sections use orange poles which are visible but sometimes spaced far apart. It’s possible to go off track on the dunes, so pay attention. The overall route is logical once you understand the geography, but first-timers should consider downloading an offline GPS track.
The lake area and bush sections can have sandflies, particularly on calm, humid days. They’re not as bad as Fiordland but they’re present. Insect repellent helps, and keeping moving through the worst sections is your best defence.
Freedom camping is not permitted at Bethells Beach car park. There are no official campgrounds immediately adjacent to the track. The nearest accommodation options are back towards Waitakere or Piha.
Summer weekends see decent numbers, particularly Aucklanders escaping the city heat. However it never feels crowded like some of Auckland’s more popular tracks. Weekdays and winter months you might have long stretches to yourself. The dune sections naturally spread people out anyway.
The bush and beach sections work fine for running, but the dunes are extremely challenging. Some ultra-fit runners tackle them for training, but most people end up walking the steepest bits regardless of their fitness level. It’s a solid workout if that’s your thing.
The track started innocuously enough through native bush, but I should have paid more attention to the warning signs about soft sand. Within twenty minutes, my calves were burning as I trudged up what felt like an endless dune. The sand gave way with each step, and I found myself doing that awkward half-slide backwards that makes you question your fitness level.
When I finally crested the top, the view stopped me mid-complaint. The dunes rolled out like golden waves toward the Tasman Sea, and suddenly the leg workout seemed worth it. I sat there longer than planned, watching the wind reshape the ridges.
The descent to the beach was pure chaos—part run, part controlled fall. Sand filled my shoes within seconds, so I gave up and went barefoot. The black iron sand beach stretched out dark and dramatic, nothing like the golden beaches I’d grown up with. The waves crashed with enough force that I kept a respectful distance.
Finding the waterfall involved more bush bashing than I’d anticipated. The track markers were there, but easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention. When I heard the water, I pushed through some nikau palms and there it was—a modest but perfectly formed cascade dropping into a clear pool. A couple of other hikers were already there, dunking their heads under to cool off.
The climb back over the dunes nearly killed me. Going up loose sand is infinitely harder than coming down, and I had to stop three times to catch my breath. By the time I reached my car, I was sunburned, exhausted, and picking sand out of places sand shouldn’t be. But I’d already started planning when I could go back.
