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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -35.13185, 173.97828. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- 3.7 km one way
- Walking time
- 45 - 60 min one way
- Track grade
- Easy
- Location
- Kerikeri area
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
Walking the track will take you through a mixed landscape of pasture and wooded areas to the beautiful white sands of Taronui Bay.
This DOC directory entry covers Taronui Bay Recreation Reserve Track in Northland, within Kerikeri area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: 3.7 km one way
- Walking time: 45 - 60 min one way
- DOC grade: Easy
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
On your way to Taronui Bay itself you will cross three stiles.
Getting there
The Taronui Recreation Reserve Track starts approximately 16.2 km north of Kerikeri.
From Kerikeri, take the Heritage Bypass north, turn right onto Waipapa Road, then Landing Road, then Kapiro Road. You can also get to Kapiro Road turning off from SH10.
From Kapiro Road, turn into Purerua Road, then left into Hewitt Road. The reserve is signposted on the corner of Hewitt Road, and there is a carpark at the entrance.
There is no vehicle access to Taronui Bay. You can only walk to the Taronui Recreation Reserve along the track. Signs and orange warratahs along the track mark the route.
Alternatively, the reserve can be reached from Tapuaetahi Beach at low tide.
Know before you go
Camping, shooting and pets are not allowed on the track or in the recreation reserve.
The track is quite exposed, so appropriate clothing/hats/sunscreen and a good supply of drinking water is essential.
While the track is mostly flat and well-formed, it does include inclines and some scrub, so may not be suitable for the very young or the elderly.
Take care on the muddy section of track.
Track and beach can only be accessed by foot.
Vehicles:
Vehicles must be parked in the carpark next to the DOC sign. Do not park in front of the gate.
Before leaving for your walk, make sure your vehicle is locked and any valuables out of sight.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
