Cockle Bay Beach
A long shallow bay that goes out forever at low tide, and turns an afternoon into a shell hunt.

Wide and sheltered, with a big grassy reserve and a playground behind it. At low water the flats open right up and the shells become the entertainment, which buys a surprising amount of time with young children. Aim for a rising tide. The swimming is much better that way.
Photos
Mark in New Zealand · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Mark in New Zealand · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Mark in New Zealand · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Mark in New Zealand · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Facilities checked 2026-08-13 againstaucklandcouncil.govt.nz, data-aucklandcouncil.opendata.arcgis.com
Back to all parks