The Muriwai Cliff Top Walk is a scenic 3.5km coastal track near Auckland, New Zealand, offering dramatic views of black sand beaches, rugged cliffs, and the Tasman Sea. The trail passes the famous Muriwai gannet colony and features accessible pathways with viewing platforms, taking approximately 1-2 hours to complete.
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By Car: From central Auckland, take State Highway 16 west towards Helensville. Turn off at Waimauku onto Muriwai Road and follow the signs for about 10km to Muriwai Beach. The main car park is at the end of Motutara Road. The drive takes roughly 45 minutes from Auckland CBD.
Parking: Free parking available at the main beach car park. It can get busy on weekends and during gannet season, so arrive early or consider a weekday visit.
Public Transport: Unfortunately there’s no direct public transport to Muriwai. You’ll need your own vehicle or consider joining a tour.
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The Muriwai gannet colony is one of only two mainland gannet colonies in New Zealand (the other being at Cape Kidnappers). These impressive seabirds with nearly two-metre wingspans return to the same nesting sites each year, creating an aerial spectacle that’s both chaotic and mesmerising. The colony sits on several rocky sea stacks just offshore, close enough for excellent viewing without disturbing the birds.
The black sand beaches below are formed from iron-rich volcanic material, and they stretch for kilometres in both directions. On a clear day you can see all the way to the Waitakere Ranges in one direction and the distinctive profile of South Head in the other.
Let’s be honest about the wind. Muriwai sits fully exposed to the Tasman Sea and the prevailing westerlies can be relentless. On a calm day it’s a gentle stroll suitable for families with prams. On a wild day it’s an entirely different experience that will test your jacket’s zip and possibly your resolve. The wind is both the main challenge and part of the walk’s character.
The track itself is well-maintained and mostly accessible. The boardwalk sections protect the coastal vegetation and provide stable footing. However, the clifftop location means there are steep drops in places. While there are safety barriers at key points, you need to stay alert, especially with children or dogs.
The black sand below might look inviting but access is limited and the surf is notoriously dangerous. Strong rips and dumping waves make Muriwai one of Auckland’s more hazardous beaches for swimming. Stick to the clifftop track unless you’re an experienced surfer who knows the breaks.
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Gannets are proper seabirds that spend most of their lives at sea, only coming to land to breed. They can dive from heights of up to 30 metres, hitting the water at speeds around 145 kilometres per hour. Their skulls have special air sacs that cushion the impact—nature’s crash helmet.
The colony at Muriwai was established in the 1940s when a few enterprising gannets decided the rocky stacks looked perfect for nesting. The colony has grown steadily since then and now hosts several hundred breeding pairs. They’re migratory birds that winter in Australian waters before returning to Muriwai each year.
Watch for their remarkable fishing technique. They’ll circle high above the water scanning for schools of fish, then fold their wings and drop like missiles. Multiple birds often dive on the same school creating an impressive feeding frenzy. If you see a concentration of gannets working an area, there’s serious fish action happening below.
The gannet breeding season runs from August through March, with peak activity from September to February. Outside these months many birds are at sea or in Australia, and while the coastal views remain spectacular, you’ll miss the avian theatrics.
Early morning offers calmer conditions and better light for photography. Weekday visits mean fewer people sharing the viewing platforms. Summer weekends can get crowded, particularly in the car park.
Winter walks have their own appeal—dramatic seas, fewer visitors, and that raw coastal atmosphere cranked up to eleven. Just be prepared for serious weather.
The Muriwai area offers more than just the clifftop walk. The beach itself stretches for kilometres and is popular with surfers, fishermen and those who enjoy windswept coastal wandering. Beach horse riding is available through local operators if that appeals.
The nearby Maori Bay is quieter and more sheltered, offering a different coastal experience. The drive between Muriwai and Piha via Scenic Drive takes you through the Waitakere Ranges and is worth the detour.
Is the track suitable for wheelchairs and mobility scooters?
The initial section to the first viewing platforms is wheelchair accessible with smooth boardwalk. The full clifftop track has some rougher sections and gradients that may be challenging for some mobility devices.
Can I bring my drone?
Drones are not permitted near the gannet colony as they disturb nesting birds. The Department of Conservation takes this seriously and fines apply. Don’t be that person.
Are there gannets year-round?
No, the main colony is only present during breeding season (August to March). Some juvenile birds may hang around outside this period but the full spectacle is seasonal.
How close can I get to the gannets?
The viewing platforms put you impressively close without disturbing the birds. You’ll be near enough to see individual birds clearly and watch their behaviour. Binoculars or a decent zoom lens will give you intimate views.
Is it safe in strong winds?
The track remains open in most conditions but use your judgment. If you’re struggling to stand upright, perhaps reconsider. The clifftop location means exposed conditions, and while there are barriers at key points, the environment demands respect.
Can I access the beach from the clifftop track?
Not directly from most of the track. Beach access is available from the main car park area. The cliffs along most of the walk are too steep and dangerous for descent.
What’s the mobile phone coverage like?
Generally good as you’re not far from civilisation, though it can be patchy in some spots along the track.
The wind hit me the moment I stepped out of the car at Muriwai. Not a gentle breeze—a proper coastal gust that made me zip my jacket all the way up and wish I’d brought a beanie.
The clifftop path stretched ahead, hugging the edge where grass met sky met ocean. Black sand beaches sprawled below, and the waves came in with that relentless Pacific energy, white foam spreading across the dark shore like lace. I could taste salt in the air.
What caught me off guard were the gannets. Hundreds of them clustered on the rocky outcrops, their white bodies bright against the dark stone. They wheeled overhead too, riding the updrafts with barely a wing flap, close enough that I could hear the wind through their feathers. Some dove straight down into the water like white arrows, disappearing beneath the surface.
The path itself wasn’t difficult, but the wind made everything feel more dramatic. I had to lean into it at times, and my eyes watered constantly. Other walkers passed with windswept hair and red cheeks, exchanging quick nods of solidarity.
I stopped at one of the viewing platforms and just stood there for a while, watching the ocean roll in and the gannets go about their business. The cliffs dropped away sharply, and it struck me how raw everything felt—not polished or tamed, just the coast doing what it’s done for thousands of years.
By the time I headed back, my face felt sandblasted and my legs were tired, but in that good way that comes from being outside in wild weather.
