The North Shore Coastal Walk is a scenic 7km trail along Auckland’s coastline from Long Bay to Devonport. It features stunning harbor views, beaches, and coastal reserves. The mostly flat, well-maintained path takes 2-3 hours to complete and offers opportunities for swimming, picnicking, and wildlife spotting along the way.
For Long Bay (northern start): Take the Northern Motorway (State Highway 1) north from Auckland. Exit at Constellation Drive and follow signs to Long Bay Regional Park. There’s ample parking at the regional park.
For Devonport (southern start): Head north on the Northern Motorway, take the Esmonde Road exit, and follow signs to Devonport. Street parking is available throughout the village.
Long Bay is serviced by several bus routes from the city including the 891 and 893. For Devonport you can catch the ferry from downtown Auckland (Quay Street) which runs frequently throughout the day and takes about 12 minutes. The ferry option is particularly handy if you’re doing a one-way walk as you can park at one end and catch public transport back.
Most seasoned walkers start at Long Bay and finish in Devonport so they can enjoy a well-earned beer or ice cream in the village before catching the ferry back to the city. This also means you’re walking with the prevailing northerly wind at your back rather than in your face.
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Here’s the thing about the North Shore Coastal Walk that catches most people off guard: it’s not just one type of walking experience. You get dense native bush that feels like the middle of nowhere, then suddenly you’re on a suburban street with million-dollar homes, then boom you’re on a wild coastal track with waves crashing below. This variety is exactly what makes it brilliant for both hardcore trampers and casual Sunday strollers.
The real magic happens at the headlands. These jutting points give you 270-degree views of the Hauraki Gulf and if you time it right with the tide you’ll see why Auckland is called the City of Sails. On any given day dozens of yachts dot the water like confetti on a blue tablecloth.
Walk this track at different times and you’ll swear it’s a completely different trail. Early morning offers the best chance of spotting little blue penguins returning from their night fishing. They nest in some of the coastal reserves along the route and if you’re quiet and lucky you might catch them waddling up the beach at dawn.
Avoid weekends between 10am and 2pm unless you enjoy playing human slalom with families, dogs and enthusiastic joggers. Tuesday and Wednesday mornings are gloriously quiet.
Between Mairangi Bay and Murrays Bay there’s a short section that runs along suburban streets rather than the coast. It’s not particularly scenic but here’s the trick: duck down to the beach itself at low tide and walk along the sand instead. You’ll add maybe 10 minutes to your journey but save your sanity from traffic noise.
The bush section near Okura is prone to mud after rain. Not just a bit damp but proper shoe-sucking, ankle-deep mud in places. Locals know to check the weather from the previous few days not just the forecast. If it’s rained heavily in the past 48 hours either skip this section or embrace the mess.
Long Bay itself has the best swimming at the start of the walk with a patrolled beach in summer and relatively gentle waves. But the real gem is Cheltenham Beach near the Devonport end. It’s sheltered, has calm water perfect for a quick dip and there’s usually someone’s golden retriever creating absolute chaos chasing a ball which provides free entertainment.
Mairangi Bay offers good facilities including changing rooms and showers if you want to properly freshen up mid-walk. The water here is surprisingly clear and you can often see small fish darting around your ankles.
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This walk has a reputation as being “easy” which is mostly true but there are a few reality checks worth knowing about. The track has more ups and downs than you’d expect from looking at a map. Nothing dramatic but by the end those gentle inclines have accumulated in your calves and you’ll definitely know you’ve done some walking.
The exposed coastal sections can be brutally windy. I’ve watched grown adults nearly get blown sideways on particularly blustery days. If the forecast shows winds above 40km/h seriously consider postponing unless you enjoy wrestling with invisible forces.
Navigation is generally straightforward but there are a few spots where the track markers aren’t obvious particularly where the path crosses through suburban areas. Download an offline map before you start or keep this guide handy.
The Hauraki Gulf is a marine park and the water here teems with life. Dolphins are regular visitors and you’ve got a decent chance of spotting them especially in the morning. Orcas occasionally cruise through although they’re less common. Little blue penguins nest along several sections of the coast and while they’re nocturnal you might spot burrows or nesting boxes that have been installed to help protect them.
In the bush sections keep your ears open for tui and bellbirds. Their songs are distinctive and once you learn to recognise them you’ll hear them everywhere. Kereru (native wood pigeons) are also common and surprisingly loud when they take flight with their distinctive wing beats sounding like someone shaking out a heavy blanket.
Summer obviously offers the warmest weather and best swimming conditions but it also brings crowds and intense sun exposure. Autumn is arguably the best time with mellower temperatures, fewer people and still warm enough ocean water for a dip. Winter walking is perfectly pleasant on fine days and you’ll have the track largely to yourself but the wind can be cutting and swimming becomes a very brief polar plunge situation. Spring brings wildflowers to the coastal reserves and baby birds but also unpredictable weather so pack layers.
Absolutely. The beaches along the route make natural breaking points and most have bus access if you want to split it up. Mairangi Bay is roughly the halfway point and makes a logical place to call it a day.
Yes and it’s popular with runners. The varied terrain keeps it interesting though watch your footing on tree roots in the bush sections and be mindful of walkers on the narrower coastal paths. Most runners complete it in 60-90 minutes.
Public toilets are available at Long Bay, Mairangi Bay, Browns Bay and Devonport. The bush sections between beaches have no facilities so plan accordingly. The gaps between toilets can be over an hour of walking.
Every beach along the route has bus services that can take you back to the city or to your starting point. It’s one of the advantages of this coastal walk compared to more remote tracks. You’re never more than 20 minutes from civilisation.
Some sections of the walk pass through controlled airspace due to proximity to local airports. Check the Civil Aviation Authority’s airspace map before flying. Also be aware that flying drones over beaches with people can be contentious and may disturb wildlife including nesting seabirds.
Generally yes throughout most of the walk as you’re never far from suburban areas. There might be a few dead spots in the deeper bush sections but nothing extended.
The trail hugged the cliff edge so closely that I could hear waves crashing against rocks below before I could see them. I’d started the North Shore Coastal Walk just after dawn, when the light was still soft and golden across the water.
About halfway through, I stopped at a lookout where the path curved around a headland. A pod of dolphins was moving through the bay, their fins cutting through the surface in perfect rhythm. I stood there for twenty minutes, maybe longer, just watching them feed and play. No one else was around—just me, the dolphins, and the smell of salt air.
The sections through native bush were my favorite parts. The canopy created this cool, green tunnel that felt completely different from the exposed coastal stretches. Tree roots crossed the path in gnarled patterns, worn smooth by thousands of footsteps. Every so often, the trees would break open to reveal another stunning view of the Tasman Sea stretching out to the horizon.
I passed a few other walkers along the way. We exchanged quick nods or brief comments about the weather, then continued on. There’s something about coastal walks that makes people comfortable with silence.
My legs were aching by the time I reached the end, and my water bottle was nearly empty. But I felt completely clear-headed, like the wind and the walking had blown away all the mental clutter I’d been carrying around. I sat on a bench at the final lookout, reluctant to leave, knowing I’d be back.
