Relaxing at Muriwai Beach: Gannets, Walking, Swimming & Picnic

If you’re looking for a peaceful spot to relax and enjoy nature, Muriwai Beach is a great place to visit.

📍Location: Muriwai Regional Park

🚗🏖️Driving on Muriwai Beach: apply for a permit

It’s only about a 40-minute drive from Auckland, so it’s an easy trip for a relaxing outing. The beach has black sand, big waves, and a long stretch of coastline that feels like it goes on and on forever. You can take a walk along the shore or even have a swim if you’re up for it. It’s a nice spot to unwind, and the surf is just right at this time of year for a bit of fun.

On our recent visit, the weather was perfect for a summers day—not too hot, with just enough cloud cover to keep things comfortable. The water was refreshingly cool, the waves were high, and we had a great time enjoying the beach. Nisha had a fun time body surfing, while I had a relaxing paddle, but I still managing to get drenched by the waves whenever a big one rolled in! It’s a place that’s good for both a bit of action and some quiet time.

One of the best parts of Muriwai is the Gannet Colony, located on the southern end of the beach. It’s home to one of the few mainland gannet breeding sites in New Zealand. These birds come all the way from Australia, and it’s wonderful to watch them flying in and out, bringing food back to their chicks on the nests. It’s captivating— noisy, head-bobbing, bill scraping, chicks calling, feathers flying!

If you’ve never seen it, it’s worth the short walk up the Maukatia Gannet Track, which has recently reopened after some damage from Cyclone Gabrielle. See map of access track here. The view from up there is impressive, and you can get a good look at the chicks.

Right now, there are still many chicks on the nests, and they’ll remain until about February or March before they head off to Australia.

The track to the colony:

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After our beach and gannet adventures, we had a nice picnic dinner. I made a bacon and onion quiche (get the recipe), and Nisha brought a salad. We sat on the grass and watched the waves and the sunset. It was a great way to end the day.

Muriwai Beach is a nice spot for anyone who loves nature or just wants to enjoy a peaceful day. Whether you’re into the beach, wildlife, or simply having a quiet picnic, it’s a good choice. We’ll definitely be back again soon.

See you at the beach!

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