North Shore City Coastal Walk
From Long Bay to Devonport
This 23 km urban walk takes you from Long Bay in the north to Devonport in the south, where you can catch a Fullers Auckland ferry to link with Auckland’s coast to coast walk.
Te Araroa logos, markers on posts, and small fingerboards on poles mark the all-tide route. This route follows cliff top tracks, pedestrian shortcuts, steps and footpaths.
At low tide only, it is possible to walk almost all the way on the shoreline, but North Shore City Council does not recommend this route. Rocks may be very slippery and unstable underfoot, and there are high unstable cliffs above you.
You will need to take careful note of the time of low tide, as there are several points where you can be cut off by the rising water. If you want to walk the whole way during one low tide, prepare to do some wading. Alternatively, break the walk part way, and complete it at low tide the following day.
All walkers must come inshore between Castor Bay Esplanade and Milford Beach to cross Wairau Creek on the Inga Road bridge. There is no foreshore route between these two beaches. Wairau Creek cannot be safely forded at any stage of the tide.
Route description (all-tide route)
Details and directions are available for the following segments of the walk
- Long Bay to Torbay
- Torbay to Browns Bay
- Browns Bay to Rothesay Bay
- Rothesay Bay to Murrays Bay
- Murrays Bay to Mairangi Bay
- Mairangi Bay to Campbells Bay
- Campbells Bay to Castor Bay
- Castor Bay to Milford
- Milford to Takapuna
- Takapuna to Devonport.
Te Araroa walkway map PDF 
(442KB)
Walk Facts
Length
Twenty-three kilometres from Long Bay to Devonport.
Walking time
Seven hours.
Track standard
A mix of suburban footpath, steep paths and steps, with some slippery and uneven surfaces and unstable rocks.
Equipment
Wear comfortable clothes and strong walking shoes, carry water, snacks, raincoat, sunscreen and hat. There are cafes
and dairies en route.
Caution
Parts of the signed route are very steep. There are steps and narrow grassy tracks which may become slippery in wet weather.
On the coastal route many sections involve boulder-hopping. Rocks may be unstable or slippery, and there is the danger of falling rocks from the cliffs above.
It is easy to be cut off by the rising tide without any way up the cliffs. If you are unsure of the state of the tide, please follow the signed all-tide route.
Management
The North Shore City Coastal Walk is maintained by North Shore City Council. Reports of any track hazards or damage to signs en route can be lodged by contacting North Shore City Council Actionline.
| Telephone | 09 486 8600 |
| Actionline@northshorecity.govt.nz |
Te Araroa Trust
Te Araroa Trust was formed by a small group of enthusiasts to pursue the goal of a New Zealand hiking trail from Cape Reinga to Bluff – a total distance of 2,920 km.
Te Araroa Trust has:
- Designed the trail route.
- Won the support of 14 district, city and regional councils.
- Signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Conservation.
- Signed up five regional trusts to administer the trail in their regions.
Te Araroa will traverse 10 cities en-route. The North Shore City Coastal Walk is Te Araroa’s first fully marked up urban
section.
Te Araroa Trust acknowledges the assistance given by North Shore City Council, Rotary Club of Devonport, and the Devonport Community Board.
North Shore City Parks