The Eastern Beaches Track on Motuihe Island is a scenic coastal walking trail in Auckland’s Hauraki Gulf. This easy-to-moderate track connects multiple sandy beaches on the island’s eastern shore, offering panoramic gulf views, native bush, and opportunities to spot wildlife. The island is accessible only by ferry or private boat.
Find more walks in this area exploring the Hauraki Gulf’s island tracks and coastal routes
Motuihe Island has no permanent public ferry service, which is part of what makes it feel wonderfully uncrowded. Your options include:
The lack of regular ferry service means you need to plan your visit carefully. Check tides if you’re arriving by private boat, as the wharf can be tricky at low tide. Most visitors allow a full day for the island, giving plenty of time to explore multiple tracks without rushing.
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The Eastern Beaches Track delivers that rare combination of accessibility and isolation. You’re only 20 kilometres from Auckland’s CBD, yet you’ll likely have entire beaches to yourself. The island’s pest-free status means the dawn chorus is genuinely spectacular – bring earplugs if you’re camping and hoping for a sleep-in.
Unlike the volcanic moonscapes of Rangitoto next door, Motuihe has proper beaches with sand that won’t destroy your shoes. The swimming here is significantly better than most Hauraki Gulf islands, with gentle shelving and usually clear water. Pack snorkel gear because the underwater visibility around Administration Bay regularly exceeds five metres.
The track’s eastern exposure means it cops the full brunt of nor’easters. When the wind’s up, the beach sections become sandblasting exercises that’ll leave you finding grit in peculiar places for days. Check the marine forecast before you go, not just the land forecast.
There’s virtually no shade on the beach sections. That gorgeous coastal exposure that delivers those postcard views also means you’re basically walking through a solar oven on hot days. The track notes say “2-3 hours” but that assumes you’re moving steadily. Factor in swimming stops, photography breaks and general dawdling and you could easily spend four hours in full sun.
The return inland section through kanuka forest offers welcome shade but tends to hold moisture, making it slippery after rain. The track isn’t particularly technical but those smooth clay sections can be treacherous. Proper tramping boots aren’t essential but you’ll want something with decent grip – not your ancient tennis shoes.
Motuihe’s ecological restoration has been remarkably successful. The island now hosts North Island saddlebacks, which were extinct on the island for over a century. These cheeky birds are curious and will investigate any rustling in your pack, hoping you’ve brought lunch to share.
Keep your eyes on the water between November and March for breeding little blue penguins. They nest in burrows around the coastline and you’ll occasionally spot them porpoising through the shallows. Stay well back from any nesting sites and never use flash photography.
The rock pools at low tide are brilliant for kids and adults who’ve retained their sense of wonder. You’ll find cushion stars, sea anemones, and various crabs. The large flat rock platforms at Rocky Bay are particularly good for this, though watch the tide times so you don’t get cut off.
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Keep it simple but don’t skimp on sun protection. A lightweight daypack should contain:
Technically you’re not supposed to remove anything from the island as it’s a conservation area. Small empty shells for kids are generally tolerated but leave the live creatures and anything substantial. The shell beds contribute to the beach ecosystem.
Coverage is intermittent at best. You might get signal near the wharf but assume you’ll have none on the eastern beaches. Download offline maps and let someone know your plans before you go.
This is why you exchange phone numbers with your water taxi operator and build buffer time into your schedule. The island has camping facilities if you get genuinely stranded, though you’d need to sort permission with the Motuihe Island Trust.
Standard Hauraki Gulf cautions apply – avoid swimming at dawn and dusk when sharks feed, be aware of stingrays in shallow sandy areas, and check for jellyfish blooms before diving in. Realistically, the biggest danger is underestimating the sun and wind exposure.
Yes, standard Auckland fishing regulations apply. The eastern coastline can produce decent snapper and kahawai. Be extremely cautious on wet rocks and always watch for rogue waves.
Absolutely, though the soft sand sections will slow your pace. The loop works well for runners who don’t mind beach running. Just remember the limited water sources and plan your hydration accordingly.
The trail opened up just past the dunes, and suddenly I could see the entire coastline stretching north. I’d heard about Eastern Beaches Track from a colleague who swore it was the best coastal walk in the area, but I’d put it off for months.
The sand was firm under my feet, still damp from the morning tide. I passed a few early morning joggers and a woman throwing a ball for her border collie, who barely acknowledged the ocean crashing beside them. The path wound between scrubby coastal vegetation and rocky outcrops, each turn revealing another small cove or cluster of tide pools.
About halfway through, I stopped at a lookout point where someone had built a rough bench from driftwood. The wind was stronger there, carrying salt spray up from the breakers below. I watched a pair of dolphins working their way south, their fins cutting through the water in perfect rhythm.
The return section took me along the clifftop, where the track narrowed and I had to watch my footing on the loose gravel. Native grasses brushed against my legs, and I startled a small lizard that had been sunning itself on a flat rock.
By the time I reached my car, my legs were tired and my face felt tight from the sun and salt. I sat there for a few minutes, watching other hikers set out on the same loop I’d just finished, all of them with that same eager expression I must have had two hours earlier.
