Beaches in Auckland

people swimming at a beach Auckland city is unrivalled in the number and quality of its parks and beaches. With 28 beaches inside the Auckland isthmus, it's easy to find somewhere to play, explore and be inspired! And best of all, they cost nothing to visit!

You don't have to travel far to enjoy Auckland's stunning seashores. Spend a day wandering through native bush on Rangitoto or experience the excitement at Mission Bay on a summer's afternoon.

View a map of Auckland's beaches.

Surf lifesaving at beaches

The days are getting warmer and as of Labour Day, surf lifesaving patrols are back on our beaches, encouraging water safety and rescuing people who get into trouble.

Here are some important beach safety tips:

swim only at lifeguard patrolled beaches
always swim between the red and yellow flags
follow the advice of lifeguards and any safety signs
always swim with a friend
children must have adult supervision
never run and dive into the water
never swim under the influence of alcohol or drugs
don't depend on flotation devices as you can lose them
be aware of rip currents
don't wear long clothing, such as jeans, in the water
if you get into trouble raise your arm for assistance, float and wait for help
stay out of the water if you are in any doubt about the surf conditions or your own ability.

Auckland City is continuing its support of Surf Lifesaving Northern Region with partnership funding of $82,000 in the second year of a three-year agreement. This funding helps the service to employ lifeguards over the busy eight-week summer holiday period. The lifeguard service receives funding from 11 councils in the northern region, with Auckland City giving the biggest share.

For more lifesaving information visit www.lifesaving.org.nz.

Dial before you dive this summer

From November until the end of April beach lovers can find out how clean the water is before they even get wet.

The Safeswim service tests the quality of the water at 64 beaches throughout the Auckland region. Call 0800 Safeswim.

The tests check for levels of Enteroccoci bacteria in beach water. High levels of Enteroccoci could indicate the presence of harmful bacteria that may cause illness, such as mild diarrhoea or respiratory infections.

If this is the case, the source of pollution will be quickly checked and warning signs may be put up at the affected beaches advising people not to swim there.

As a general rule, don't swim at the beach for 48 hours after heavy rain, as there is a higher risk of stormwater or sewerage overflows.

Check the test results or call 0800 Safeswim (0800 723 379).

Events at Auckland City beaches

There are many events both on and off the water which take place around Auckland city beaches. To find out more about these events and how to get involved you can:

check out other Ak@play information on this site
check out the back page of City Scene every week
sign up for the weekly Ak@Play email newsletter
check out event listings on your mobile phone - Go to WAP browser, type AUCKLAND.com (or 28255263.com) and 'Go'!

Weddings and photos on Auckland City beaches

If you are planning on having a beachy wedding or just taking some sandy wedding pics contact us and we can give you some more information about weddings and photos on Auckland city beaches.

Wharves and boat ramps in Auckland City

Fancy going fishing? Or maybe you're looking for somewhere to launch your boat for a family day of fun. There are many wharves and boat ramps for your use in Auckland city.

Dogs on Auckland beaches

Feel like taking your dog for a walk on the beach this summer? Then make sure you are up to date with changes to the council's dog policy (which sets out regulations around owning dogs and taking them out in public). The changes came into effect on 1 September 2004.

They state that:

dogs can have off-leash access to city beaches between 4pm and 10am from the Tuesday after Easter Monday until the Friday before Labour weekend

dogs can have on-leash access to city beaches between 7pm and 9am from Labour weekend Saturday through to Easter Monday. The exception is Mission Bay beach where dogs can have on-leash access any time before 9am and after 9pm during the summer months

Drinking on beaches

Eight new suburban alcohol bans and an extended CBD alcohol ban came into force on 18 October 2004.

The alcohol bans operate between 10pm and 6am on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in the shopping and business areas of Avondale, Glen Innes, Onehunga, Otahuhu, Panmure and Mission Bay beach, and between 10pm and 6am on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights in Parnell and Newmarket.

The CBD alcohol ban operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The ban has also been extended to cover a wider area that includes Albert Park, Nelson and Symonds streets, The Strand and Beach Road.

Sandy plans for harbour's beaches

Eight beaches around Auckland’s harbours are being considered for sand replenishment, as part of a citywide coastal management plan being prepared by Auckland City. The eight beaches were chosen for rebuilding using criteria such as the beach’s popularity, recreational use, environmental benefits and the impact on the city's infrastructure.

The beaches are Pt England Reserve, Pt Chevalier, Herne Bay, Home Bay, Sentinel Reserve, St Heliers, Blockhouse Bay and Taylor's Reserve. The estimated cost of rebuilding the eight beaches is $5 million.

Sand has already been pumped onto Kohimarama Beach, which was identified in 2002 as needing urgent work to protect the seawall. St Heliers has been made a priority for similar reasons.