Long Bay Regional Park
2000 Beach Road, Long Bay

About Long Bay Regional Park

Long Bay Regional Park - Aerial view of the main beach, Vaughan Stream, and Okura River (2014).

Long Bay is a busy seaside park, protecting the most northern of the east coast bays and lying adjacent to the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve.

To check for live information on water quality and safe swimming conditions at Auckland beaches, see the Safeswim website.

Book accommodation at Long Bay Regional Park

Book a picnic site at Long Bay Regional Park

You need to know

Animals

Dogs, other animals and pets are prohibited at all Auckland Council regional parks' bookable sites and accommodation. The exception is registered aid dogs. You will need to advise our staff at time of booking if you have a registered aid dog for an exemption.
Dogs are allowed in regional parks only as stated in the dog walking section. All other animals are prohibited at all times, unless you have a permit issued by Auckland Council.

Alcohol

Visible and excessive consumption of alcohol is prohibited.
We may ask you and your group to leave the park and terminate your permit.

Smokefree regional parks

Our regional parks are smoke-free.
Please observe this while staying on or using our regional parks.

Waste

All our regional parks are rubbish free. Take all rubbish and recycling with you when you leave.

Outdoor fires

It is illegal to light a fire outside in all public areas in the Auckland region.

Long Bay Regional Park

Map of Long Bay Regional Park

PDF download1.11MB

Dog walking at Long Bay Regional Park

Our tip

Always follow the rules shown on our website for where you can walk your dog, even if the information on park signs does not match. Call us on 09 301 0101 if you need help.
Read more about dog access rules in Policy on dogs.

Long Bay Beach
Image of dog sign SummerSummer Off seasonOff season
Off-leash
5pm - 10am (under control)
Off-leash
All times (under control)
Prohibited
10am - 5pm
Summer rules apply from 1 December to 1 March.
Off season rules apply from 2 March to 30 November.
Southern car park
Image of dog sign All timesAll times
On-leash
All times (under control)
Applies to:
- the southernmost parking area next to the beach
- the tracks with direct access from the parking area to the beach
- the path and pedestrian bridge from the parking area to Beach Road.
Vehicles must access the car park from Beach Road.
Dogs are not allowed in vehicles and can not be walked through any other areas of the park to access the beach, including from the Glenvar Ridge Road entrance.
All other park, beach and foreshore areas
Image of dog sign All timesAll times
Prohibited
All times
Applies to:
- any grassed areas, playground, paths and tracks (like paths from Glenvar Ridge Access Road, the Coastal Track, Nature Trail and 100 Acre Track)
- any beach or foreshore areas north of Vaughan Stream (like Granny's Bay, Pohutukawa Bay, Piripiri Point, Long Bay Okura Marine Reserve and Okura River)
- any roads and parking areas (like Glenvar Ridge Access Road, on any internal road, bus turnaround and car parking areas)
- dogs in vehicles.

Long Bay Beach
Image of dog sign	SummerSummer	Off seasonOff season
	Off-leash 5pm - 10am (under control)	Off-leash All times (under control)
	Prohibited 10am - 5pm

Southern car park
Image of dog sign	All timesAll times
	On-leash All times (under control)

All other park, beach and foreshore areas
Image of dog sign	All timesAll times
	Prohibited All times

Dog access rules for other public places

Visit Rules for dogs in public places to check the rules for walking your dog in other public places.

Visit Find a park or beach to check dog-walking rules for other parks and beaches.

Long Bay Regional Park

Map of Long Bay Regional Park

PDF download1.11MB

Facilities at Long Bay Regional Park

Pedestrian access

Open 24 hours

Mobility access

Long Bay has gently sloping access ways to the beach and grassed areas are on gently rolling slopes. The BBQ, shelter site and Variety Children’s Charity Playground are designed for limited mobility access. The Coastal Walk is partially accessible.

Pram access

The picnic area and the beach are pram friendly.

Sealed access road

All roads leading to, and including the main access roads within Long Bay are sealed.

Gate access summer

7am to 9pm (Daylight saving)

Gate access winter

7am to 7pm (Non-daylight saving)

Security gate

Automatic gates are located at the park entrances at the end of Beach and Glenvar Ridge roads. They will open at any time for vehicles exiting the park.

Mobility parking

There are accessible car parks near each of the three toilet blocks. The northern parks are on grass, and are flat and accessible. The southern and playground parks are marked on the tarmac. Car parks are monitored and unauthorised vehicles are towed.

Parking

There are approximately 1625 car parking spaces within seven car parking areas, and 10 bus parking spaces. Some parking areas are seasonal and open depending on the ground conditions. Expect delays on weekends and public holidays over the summer.

Limited mobility toilet

One accessible cubicle in the male and female toilet of all toilet blocks: Central - next to playground. Southern - centre of south ground car park. Northern - north of the northern car parks. You may need help across the grass to the northern block.

Toilet blocks

Central: next to the playground.
Northern: just north of the Northern car parks.
Southern: in the centre of the south ground car park.

Showers

Three outside cold water showers are located along the foreshore at the top of the formed access points, from the picnic area across the dunes to the beach.

Security cameras

Cameras are in place at various locations around the park and overlook many car parks.

Notice boards

Notice boards by the ranger office and southern beach access of the park have maps, information about park facilities, activities, codes, rules and tides. A board just past the main entrance gate shows the bookable sites and who has the site booked.

Interpretation boards

Several interpretation panels can be found around the park Vaughan Homestead and stream, and the sand dunes providing information on park history, historic buildings, trees, nature and restoration work.

Mobile phone coverage

Good coverage over most of the park.

Ranger office

Located in the middle of the park's main access road on the western side of the road, 300 metres from the main gate.

Picnic tables

Several casual use picnic tables are located around the park. Six of these are associated with casual use electric BBQs. Others are associated with our designated bookable picnic areas.

Barbecues

There are four electric barbecues available for casual use. There are another two electric barbecues on two of the bookable sites. Can be used when the site has not been booked.

Water supply

Drinking water is from a town supply and is safe to drink. Drinking fountains are located around the foreshore.

Vaughan Homestead

An 1863 farm cottage restored by the Torbay Historical Society. Ground floor has a meeting room, kitchen, toilets and a small information room. Upstairs is set up as a historic homestead room. Visit the Torbay Historical Society website to book the room and arrange access.

Beaches

Long Bay Beach: 1km of sandy beach a short walk across the parkland from the main car parks. Grannys Bay: a 20 minute walk north along the coastal tracks. Pōhutukawa Bay: a 30 minute walk along the northern coastal tracks. Note: you may see nude bathers.

Music

No amplified music allowed. This includes bluetooth speakers and amplifiers.

Boat ramp

None, nearest boat ramp is at Waiake Beach about a 5 minutes drive south.

Native bush

An area of mature coastal forest with a canopy of pōhutukawa, pūriri and taraire exists on the northern slopes of the Vaughan Stream. A fringe of pōhutukawa forest and an area of regenerating bush can be found around Vaughan Bush and next to Grannys Bay.

Coastal Walk

3 hours, 6 km
Tramping track. Not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. Check if Coastal Walk is open.

Nature Trail

30 minutes, 800 m
Not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. Check if Nature Trail is open.

Long Bay Regional Park

Map of Long Bay Regional Park

PDF download1.11MB

Activities at Long Bay Regional Park

Walking

Take in stunning views of the Hauraki Gulf and its offshore islands by walking the Coastal Track towards the Okura River. Grannies and Pohutukawa Bay offer a picturesque opportunity for a rest or swim.

Walking

The picnic area and the beach are pram friendly. Access is not suitable north of the main beach due to rocks and stairs.

Picnics

Long Bay is a great place for a picnic and it’s easy to find a picturesque spot. Bring your own gas barbecue. Groups of 100 people or more must book one of the six bookable sites.

Swimming

The sandy 1km-long beach is ideal for swimming and relatively safe. Children should be supervised at all times.

Lifeguards patrol the main beach during the peak summer months. Swim between the red and yellow flags and stay within your limits.

The bays further north can be accessed via the Coastal Track or around the beach at low tide only. Long Bay Marine Reserve is a great place to snorkel. You may come across nude bathers at Pōhutukawa Bay.

Check www.safeswim.org.nz for information about tides, safety and water quality.

Fishing

Fishing is prohibited in all areas of Long Bay Regional Park.

This is to protect the Long Bay Okura Marine Reserve that runs along the entire coastline. Visit the Department of Conservation website to check the boundary maps and rules for the area.

Surfing

If there is a big swell on the east coast there are often waves at this beach.

Diving

The Okura Marine Reserve runs along the eastern coastline of the park.

The Long Bay Marine Reserve along the northern coastline of the park.

Both reserves have great diving opportunities. They are protected marine areas so look but don’t touch. Visit the Department of Conservation website to learn more.

Kayaking

In calm weather you can launch kayaks are easily. You can paddle to Piripiri Point and into the Okura River.

Always wear a life jacket.

Boating

All beaches here are generally calm and make for a pleasant boating experience.

There is no boat ramp at Long Bay, but you can hand-launch and retrieve boats of up to 3m.

You need to carry boats over the park land from the car park to avoid damaging the grass.

Always wear a life jacket.

Drones

Check Flying drones or unmanned aerial vehicles for current rules and guidelines for flying in our parks.

Sightseeing

From the picturesque main beach of Long Bay to the visible offshore islands, Long Bay Regional Park offers spectacular views.

Farm animals viewing

Long Bay is a working farm so you may meet cattle during your visit. Feel free to wander through the paddocks containing farm animals. You must follow all safety signs and respect restricted areas. Please leave gates as you find them.

Bird watching

A wide variety of native, shore and exotic birds can be found within Long Bay Regional Park such as fantail, kererū, kingfisher, oyster catchers, quail, rosella, tūī and white faced heron.

Education

Long Bay lies adjacent to the Okura Marine Reserve. Marine environment programmes are available for primary school children.

Education

Learning Through Experience programmes are available for primary, intermediate and secondary schools. Check Learning outside the classroom or phone 09 890 8646.

Volunteering

Every Tuesday a team of volunteers do tree planting, track maintenance, mulching and pest management. There are also opportunities to work alongside the ranger staff and at the Long Bay nursery.

Weddings

You may need a permit to hold a wedding or civil union ceremony at this regional park. Check Apply for a permit to have an event or wedding in a regional park for more information, or call 09 301 0101 and ask to speak to a Senior Park Ranger.

Long Bay Regional Park

Map of Long Bay Regional Park

PDF download1.11MB

Long Bay Regional Park2000 Beach Road, Long Bay

About Long Bay Regional Park

Long Bay Regional Park

Map of Long Bay Regional Park

Long Bay Regional Park
2000 Beach Road, Long Bay