Access

Long Bay Regional Park is reached by turning into Glenvar Road from East Coast Road and following it through Long Bay until you reach Beach Road. The park entrance is on the left and the park road leads past picnic areas, toilets and children’s playgrounds. The start of the track is signposted from the carpark at the roadend, before the Vaughan Homestead.

Track

After the 5-minute detour to the gun emplacement, the track passes through coastal forest on a metalled surface. It then undulates over farmland along a grass strip(1 hour). Follow the white banded marker posts. Steps have been constructed on the hills, but the surface is still prone to being muddy after rain.

At Piripiri Point, the track bears left and after 15 minutes arrives at the Okura River mouth. Three hours either side of low tide you can follow the base of the cliffs to
Pohutukawa Bay (45 minutes).

The rock shelf can be slippery where there is an algal film. Try and pick a route over the barnacle zone (above the oysters) as they provide grip and are a safe distance away from the cliffs.

From Pohutukawa Bay it is a 30 minute walk back to the carpark.

There is a 15 minute return Nature Walk from near Vaughan Homestead, which follows yellow banded marker posts. It passes through lush puriri and kohekohe dominated forest and after the small road bridge squelches over poorly drained pasture. You are better to turn around at the bridge as the forest is the most attractive part of the walk.

Geology

The sandstone and mudstone layers of the Waitemata Series form a striking backdrop to the rock shelf at the cliff base.

Fauna

The inter-tidal zonation of the inhabitants is strikingly evident. Oysters and barnacles rest on the shelf edges, while chitons shelter in rock hollows. Showers of Neptunes necklace adorn the stepped surface. Catseyes, periwinkles and whelks also encrust the rocks.

The coastline of the track forms part of the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve, established in 1995 to protect all marine life. The inter-bedded sand and mud cliffs and rocky shoreline are good examples of coastal habitats. As the waters head to the sea they become progressively less sheltered and this degree of exposure is reflected in the life that abounds there.

European History

The Vaughan Homestead was constructed from local kauri and puriri by George Vaughan in 1862. The dormer windows and wide verandah add character to the building, which has remained intact and is now lovingly restored.