Recreational horse riding is allowed in nine regional parks and on several Auckland beaches. You need a pass to ride in a regional park. We will include the code you need to access locked areas or gates when we send you your horse riding pass.
Ngā wāhi eke hōiho Where you can ride a horse
Ride a horse in a regional park
When you ride a horse in our regional parks you need to take care and follow the general and individual park rules.
- Groups are limited to 10 riders unless otherwise stated for individual parks.
- Dogs are prohibited at all times.
- Leave all farm gates as you find them.
Read more about your responsibilities when riding in our parks:
Follow these rules to help us prevent this disease from spreading.
Before you leave home:
- thoroughly clean your horses' hooves and your footwear with soapy water
- brush your horses' coat to remove any soil
- wash down you horse float and vehicle.
When you arrive at the park:
- park your truck or horse float on a dry gravel surface
- tie your horse to your truck or hitching post (if available) on a dry surface
- spray your horses' hooves with sterigene disinfectant (if provided).
During your ride:
- stay on tracks and follow all signs
- avoid riding through soft, wet ground.
Before you go home:
- thoroughly clean your horses' hooves and your footwear with soapy water
- brush your horses' coat to remove any soil
- put items like footwear, stirrups and saddle bags in a bag to wash when you get home and to avoid soil contamination in your vehicle
- spray your horses' hooves with sterigene disinfectant (if provided).
Learn more about how to Keep kauri safe while horse riding (PDF, 557 KB).
- Ātiu Creek Regional Park
- Āwhitu Regional Park
- Duder Regional Park
- Hūnua Ranges Regional Park
- Muriwai Regional Park
- Pae O Te Rangi Farm – Te Piringa / Cascade Kauri, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park
- Te Ārai Regional Park
- Te Rau Pūriri Regional Park
- Whakanewha Regional Park
- Waitawa Regional Park
Ride a horse on a beach
Karioitahi Beach
- You can only unload horses in the signed area near the beach entrance. Remove all manure from the unloading area.
- There is a walking-only zone for 500m either side of the entrance between 10am and 6pm from Labour Day to the end of March.
- Within this 1km walking-only zone, horses must remain within 10m of the water’s edge when possible. Horse manure must be removed from this area.
- Noticeboards at the beach entrance include all the rules relating to horse riding.
Other beaches
You can also ride your horse on the following beaches:
- Algies Beach
- Hatfields Beach
- Martins Bay Beach
- Omaha Beach
- Ōrewa Beach
- Snells Beach.
From 1 December to 15 February, horses are only allowed on these beaches before 10am and after 7pm. Horses are prohibited on Easter weekend and Labour weekend.
If you are riding a horse on these beaches, you must:
- remove and safely dispose of all horse manure
- show consideration for other beach users at all times
- ride below the high tide mark if on a beach, so manure can be washed away.
You must not ride or lead your horse:
- through bird breeding areas
- on coastal dunes – except when using a direct route to access the beach
- at high tide – to avoid potential conflict with other beach users
- in a way that intimidates, causes danger or is a nuisance to other people.