Wenderholm Regional Park
37 Schischka Road, Waiwera

Parts of the park closed

Helicopter flights to transport building materials to Maungatauhoro Te Hikoi track are scheduled for the weeks of 22 September and 6 October 2025. Exact dates of flights will be weather dependant.

Parts of the park will close on the days the flights happen. Please follow signs and instructions from contractors and park rangers.

Maungatauhoro Te Hikoi track closed 1 July to 17 October 2025

The track is closed for maintenance. The Couldrey House and Puhoi tracks are open and provide an alternative route.

Part of Perimeter Track closed until 17 October 2025

The tramping grade section from the junction of the Couldrey House Track to Kokoru Bay is closed for the winter due to poor ground conditions. You can use the Puhoi track (dark blue marker posts) as an alternate route.

About Wenderholm Regional Park

Wenderholm Regional Park - Aerial view of the park from the Maungatauhoro Headland (left) to the Pūhoi River estuary (right).

The picturesque mouth of the Puhoi River, surrounded by forested headlands, is Wenderholm, the first and perhaps still the most beautiful regional park.

Wenderholm contains one of Auckland's best examples of mainland coastal forest.

Book accommodatin at Wenderholm Regional Park

Book a picnic site at Wenderholm Regional Park

Check if it's safe to swim at this beach

To check for live information on water quality and safe swimming conditions at this beach, see the Safeswim website.

History

Read the Wenderholm Regional Park - Our history brochure (PDF 8.5MB) to find out about some of the people who once lived at Wenderholm.

You need to know

Animals

Dogs, other animals and pets are prohibited at all Auckland Council regional parks' bookable sites and accommodation. The exception is registered aid dogs. You will need to advise our staff at time of booking if you have a registered aid dog for an exemption.
Dogs are allowed in regional parks only as stated in the dog walking section. All other animals are prohibited at all times, unless you have a permit issued by Auckland Council.

Alcohol

Visible and excessive consumption of alcohol is prohibited.
We may ask you and your group to leave the park and terminate your permit.

Smokefree regional parks

Our regional parks are smoke-free.
Please observe this while staying on or using our regional parks.

Waste

All our regional parks are rubbish free. Take all rubbish and recycling with you when you leave.

Outdoor fires

It is illegal to light a fire outside in all public areas in the Auckland region.

How to access Wenderholm Regional Park

Bus and coach parking ‑ 7 spaces
Pedestrian access ‑ Open 24 hours
Main carpark ‑ 290 spaces, also contains a 5 minute loading zone. 400 overflow spaces are available, if main car park is full and ground conditions allow.
Boat trailer and car parking ‑ 10 spaces, for parking vehicles with boat trailers.
Vehicle access ‑ An automatic gate is located at the park entrance. No access after closing hours. It will open at any time for vehicles exiting the park.
Gate access winter ‑ 6am to 7pm (Non-daylight saving)
Gate access summer ‑ 6am to 9pm (Daylight saving)
Mobility parking ‑ There are two designated car parks in the main car park next to the pathway to the main toilet block.

What to see and do at Wenderholm Regional Park

Site 3 ‑
This site is on the foreshore at the southern end of the of the main picnic area.
Vehicle access is not available for this site.
Rules for our bookable picnic sites
- You must occupy your booked site by 9am.
- Camping is not allowed on bookable sites at any time.
Bouncy castles and other inflatable devices in our regional parks
Your use of these devices must comply with:
- Worksafe NZ regulations
- the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Contact our regional parks team on 09 301 0101 to request approval.
Barbecues ‑ There are three electric barbecues available for casual use. Two are in the main picnic area and one under the large London Plane trees. The barbecues are free to operate.
Water supply ‑ Drinking water is from a town supply and is safe to drink. Drinking fountains are at the bookable sites, along the foreshore and spit and at the toilet blocks.
Site 2 ‑
This site is at the southern end of the picnic area, and is behind Site 3.
Vehicle access is not available for this site.
Rules for our bookable picnic sites
- You must occupy your booked site by 9am.
- Camping is not allowed on bookable sites at any time.
Bouncy castles and other inflatable devices in our regional parks
Your use of these devices must comply with:
- Worksafe NZ regulations
- the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.
Contact our regional parks team on 09 301 0101 to request approval.
Jetty and boat ramp ‑ The jetty and boat ramp are located on the Puhoi River estuary side of the park. It is not recommended to launch and retrieve boats for 3 hours each side of low tide.

Wenderholm Regional Park

Map of Wenderholm Regional Park

PDF download

Dog walking at Wenderholm Regional Park

Our tip

Always follow the rules on where you can walk your dog on our website even if the information on park signs does not match. Call us on 09 301 0101 if you need help.
Read more about the dog access rules in Policy on dogs.

Schischka, Couldrey and Wenderholm Beach houses, and campgrounds
Image of dog sign All TimesAll Times
Prohibited
All times
Includes the grounds and buildings at Schischka House.
Perimeter Track - Schischka Road to Waiwera River and Kokoru Bay
Image of dog sign All TimesAll Times
On-leash
All times - under control
Applies to the Perimeter Track from the grass area on the southeast side of Schischka Road to the Waiwera River and Kokoru Bay.

Note: we do not recommend you let your dog swim at Kokoru Bay due to the strong currents.
Northwest side of Schischka Road
Image of dog sign All TimesAll Times
On-leash
1 December to 30 June
Prohibited
1 July to 30 November (Lambing season)
Applies to the tracks (including Vin’s Track) and open grass areas on the northwest side of Schischka Road between the entrance gate and authorised vehicles only service road (left side of the road if entering the park).
All other park, beach and foreshore areas
Image of dog sign All TimesAll Times
Prohibited
All times
Applies to all areas north of the authorised vehicles only service road entrance including:
- grassed areas
- Wenderholm Beach
- Te Akeake Walk
- Puhoi River, wetlands and estuary
- roads, parking areas and boat ramps
- dogs in vehicles.
Also applies to these areas southeast of Schischka Road including:
- Puhoi Track
- Hikoi Track
- Maungatauhoro Headland (excluding grass area and part of the Perimeter Track).
Southeast side of Schischka Road
Image of dog sign All TimesAll Times
Off-leash
All times - under control
Applies to the grass area on the southeast side of Schischka Road between the entrance gate and authorised vehicles only service road. This is the right side of the road if entering the park that has a row of large London Plane trees and a fenced grass area.

Schischka, Couldrey and Wenderholm Beach houses, and campgrounds
Image of dog sign	All TimesAll Times
	Prohibited All times

Perimeter Track - Schischka Road to Waiwera River and Kokoru Bay
Image of dog sign	All TimesAll Times
	On-leash All times - under control

Northwest side of Schischka Road
Image of dog sign	All TimesAll Times
	On-leash 1 December to 30 June
	Prohibited 1 July to 30 November (Lambing season)

All other park, beach and foreshore areas
Image of dog sign	All TimesAll Times
	Prohibited All times

Southeast side of Schischka Road
Image of dog sign	All TimesAll Times
	Off-leash All times - under control

Dog access rules for other public places

See the Auckland region dog access rules that cover other public areas.

Wenderholm Regional Park

Map of Wenderholm Regional Park

PDF download

Facilities at Wenderholm Regional Park

Couldrey House

Couldrey House is an historic homestead with Victorian/Edwardian era furnishings, paintings and family stories. Visit www.couldreyhouse.org.nz for further information and opening hours.

Perimeter Track

150 minutes, 4 km
Note: The section from the Maungatauhoro intersection to Kokoru Bay is closed during the winter season due to dangerous ground conditions.
Not suitable for prams or wheelchairs.

Bus and coach parking

7 spaces

Ranger phone

Located at the main notice board at the back of the main car park.

Site 3

This site is on the foreshore at the southern end of the of the main picnic area.

Vehicle access is not available for this site.

Rules for our bookable picnic sites

You must occupy your booked site by 9am.
Camping is not allowed on bookable sites at any time.

Bouncy castles and other inflatable devices in our regional parks

Your use of these devices must comply with:

Worksafe NZ regulations
the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Contact our regional parks team on 09 301 0101 to request approval.

Te Akeake Walk

30 minutes, 1 km
Suitable for prams. No wheelchair access. Check if Te Akeake Walk is open.

Pedestrian access

Open 24 hours

Main carpark

290 spaces, also contains a 5 minute loading zone. 400 overflow spaces are available, if main car park is full and ground conditions allow.

Beach

Wenderholm Regional Park has approximately 900 metres of family friendly beach adjacent to a large grassy picnic areas under the shade of pōhutukawa trees.

Boat trailer and car parking

10 spaces, for parking vehicles with boat trailers.

Vehicle access

An automatic gate is located at the park entrance. No access after closing hours. It will open at any time for vehicles exiting the park.

Gate access winter

6am to 7pm (Non-daylight saving)

Couldrey House Lookout Walk

15 minutes, 600 m
Not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. Check if Couldrey House Lookout Walk is open.

Gate access summer

6am to 9pm (Daylight saving)

Maungatauhoro Te Hikoi

90 minutes, 2 km
Not suitable for prams or wheelchairs. Check if Maungatauhoro Te Hikoi is open.

Mobility parking

There are two designated car parks in the main car park next to the pathway to the main toilet block.

Ranger office

Located next to Couldrey House. Follow signs from the southern end of the main car park. Office is often unattended.

Barbecues

There are three electric barbecues available for casual use. Two are in the main picnic area and one under the large London Plane trees. The barbecues are free to operate.

Water supply

Drinking water is from a town supply and is safe to drink. Drinking fountains are at the bookable sites, along the foreshore and spit and at the toilet blocks.

Site 2

This site is at the southern end of the picnic area, and is behind Site 3.

Vehicle access is not available for this site.

Rules for our bookable picnic sites

You must occupy your booked site by 9am.
Camping is not allowed on bookable sites at any time.

Bouncy castles and other inflatable devices in our regional parks

Your use of these devices must comply with:

Worksafe NZ regulations
the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015.

Contact our regional parks team on 09 301 0101 to request approval.

Jetty and boat ramp

The jetty and boat ramp are located on the Puhoi River estuary side of the park. It is not recommended to launch and retrieve boats for 3 hours each side of low tide.

Wenderholm Regional Park

Map of Wenderholm Regional Park

PDF download

Activities at Wenderholm Regional Park

Boating

There is an all-weather access boat ramp at the north end of the main car park. The main beach and the Puhoi Estuary are good for boating. Boats up to 3 metres can be hand launched and retrieved. Boats must be carried over the parkland from the car park.

Walking

Pram friendly park with access throughout the picnic areas, foreshore and along the entrance road and the road to the campground. Access to the south of the beach is not suitable due to rocks.

Farm animals viewing

Wenderholm is a working farm so you may meet cattle, sheep and lambs during your visit. Feel free to wander through the paddocks containing farm animals. Avoid walking between young stock and their mums. You must follow all safety signs and respect restricted areas. Please leave gates as you find them.

Diving

Scuba diving is marginal at best in front of the park but diving around the rocks at the southern end of the coast may bring more success. Ministry of Primary Industries regulations (MPI) apply when fishing.

Swimming

Swimming is very popular at Wenderholm with 900 metres of sandy beach considered relatively safe to swim in. Watch for strong tidal currents at the mouth of the Puhoi River. Stay clear of this area, and follow the danger signs.

Weddings

You may need a permit to hold a wedding or civil union ceremony at this regional park. Check Apply for a permit to have an event or wedding in a regional park for more information, or call 09 301 0101 and ask to speak to a Senior Park Ranger.

Mountain biking

Mountain biking is permitted on open farmland and parkland. However, the area isn’t considered a good mountain biking location due to the lack of mountain bike accessible tracks.

Kayaking

Enjoy a paddle around the Puhoi Estuary or along the Puhoi River but don’t get stranded on the mud flats at low tide. The boat ramp area at the north end of the main car park and Wenderholm Beach are great spots to launch into the Puhoi Estuary.

Volunteering

The nursery at Wenderholm requires people to pick out seedlings, bag up plants and do weeding. Other tasks can include (but are not limited to) tree planting, track maintenance, mulching, pest management and beach clean-ups.

Bird watching

Kererū and tūī are easy to spot within the park. In the forested areas you may spot Fantail and the occasional Morepork. Grey warblers are often heard singing in the trees. Shorebirds such as Oyster Catchers and Dotterel also make their home in this park.

Fishing

Land based fishing enthusiasts can try fishing for kahawai and snapper at the mouth of the Puhoi River. Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) rules and regulations apply.

Sightseeing

From the picturesque main beach of Wenderholm to the visible offshore islands, Long Bay Regional Park offers spectacular views.

Drones

Check Flying drones or unmanned aerial vehicles for current rules and guidelines for flying in our parks.

Picnics

Wenderholm is a great place for a picnic and it is easy to find a picturesque spot of your own. You can bring your own gas barbeque. Groups of 75 people or more require a discretionary consent, granted on a case by case basis.

Wenderholm Regional Park

Map of Wenderholm Regional Park

PDF download

Wenderholm Regional Park37 Schischka Road, Waiwera

Parts of the park closed

Maungatauhoro Te Hikoi track closed 1 July to 17 October 2025

Part of Perimeter Track closed until 17 October 2025

About Wenderholm Regional Park

Book accommodatin at Wenderholm Regional Park

Book a picnic site at Wenderholm Regional Park

Check if it's safe to swim at this beach

History

Animals

Alcohol

Smokefree regional parks

Waste

Outdoor fires

How to access Wenderholm Regional Park

What to see and do at Wenderholm Regional Park

Wenderholm Regional Park

Map of Wenderholm Regional Park

Wenderholm Regional Park
37 Schischka Road, Waiwera