Te Ara Tahuna - Ōrewa Estuary Path

8 km • 1.5 hours • Easy • Ōrewa Estuary Path is a great loop walk on an excellent wide concrete track made for walkers and bikers. Walk at high tide to ensure lovely views around the whole track © Freewalks.nz

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Walk Author: Sandra from Freewalks.nz

Sandra personally reviewed, documented, photographed and walked Orewa Estuary Path in Auckland on 30 July 2022.

Orewa Estuary Path is just a short drive or bus ride north of Auckland and perfect for anyone looking to escape the busy city for the day.

Unfortunately, the second time I walked around the Orewa Estuary, the tide couldn’t have been any lower. It being an estuary meant I was viewing mud flats instead of pretty ocean views. However, it’s still a great walk on an excellent wide path, and I enjoyed it. Fortunately, I added the photos from my first walk when the tide was in, and the sun was out, see below.

I took a slightly different route which was 8 km instead of the 7.6 km the Auckland council map shows of the Orewa Estuary Path shows on their website. In my opinion, my route was better!

If you still need to fill your day, you could stop off at Long Bay Regional Park and do the coastal walk there or one of the shorter walks. It’s on the way to Orewa.

Also out this way on the alternative route to Orewa are two amazing fun activities for the whole family. Snowplanet: Save $37 off a ticket for a 2 hour Pass, including equipment & lift pass. You’ll also drive close by Auckland Adventure Park where you can get 65% off and save $42 on an unlimited ride pass. Great fun for the whole family.

Start of the Orewa Estuary Path

The start of the walk is easy to find with a nice big free car park located right next to the path. Turn left directly at the bottom of the bridge just before you get to Orewa town. There is a good set of toilets and a water fountain here too.

My comments and description of the walk

You’ll be sharing the path with a number of cyclists and residents from surrounding suburbs, along with their dogs and kids. It’s a very family friendly walk.

The walk itself isn’t particularly long, but combine it with a swim in at the nearby Ōrewa beach, enjoy the shops, have lunch, and you’ve got a full day ahead of you!

The walk is almost entirely along the water’s edge. It winds its way through parks, residential areas and along the footpath next to the road on occasion. There are some stunning houses, gardens, mangroves and farmland to admire. For nature lovers, you will see kauri, pohutukawa, cabbage, flax, and plenty of wetland birdlife, including lots of noise Tui.

The recommended route is anti-clockwise, starting at the Western Reserve. You’ll find the Estuary Arts Centre here, which is a great way to start or end the walk.

The area was a significant food gathering place for Māori. As a tribute to this history, you will find Māori carvings on benches along the path. These also make wonderful picnic spots with the other ones along the way.

This walk is best done at high tide.

Enojy this 3d video of my walk around Te Ara Tahuna - Ōrewa Estuary Path

Quick Facts about this walk

Location: Orewa, Auckland, North Island, New Zealand
Time needed: 1.5 hour walk
Distance: 8 km
Difficulty: Very easy
Bikes allowed: Yes
Wheelchair friendly – Yes, the full path is built for wheelchairs, bikers & walkers.
Route: Loop
Elevation: Mostly flat with one very small hill
Wet Feet: No
Toilets: There are toilets at Western Reserve and Millwater (about halfway).
Dogs: Yes, sometimes on and sometimes off leash.
Mobile Coverage: Yes, very good
Last Updated: July, 2022

Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

This track offers views of the estuary - best at high tide though. You will also see Maori carvings and native wildlife.

Track Quality

The track is an excellent wide concrete path and well-maintained. Plenty of room of everyone to enjoy.

Hazards

Nothing to worry about on this very safe walk.

Transport

From Central Auckland, take the NX1 bus until Hibiscus Coast Station (about 40 minutes). Then take the 981 bus towards Waiwera. Get off the bus at the Hibiscus Coast Highway/Te Ara Tahuna Estuary Walkway stop.

Water

Drinking water is available at the start of the walk, at Western Reserve.

Driving Instructions

Head north from Auckland on SH1 for 26km, then exit onto Twin Coast Discovery Hwy. Follow this road for another 4.5km. Turn left directly after the bridge and you will be in the Western Reserve, where you will find the Estuary Arts Centre and the skatepark. There is plenty of free parking here.