Muriwai Regional Park
A gannet colony nesting an arm's length from the viewing platform, above a beach that runs out of sight.

The takapū gannets are the reason to come. Viewing platforms sit right above the nesting rocks, close enough to watch them land badly and bicker with the neighbours. The chicks clear out around May and it's full again from about August. Below, the beach runs north further than you can see. Parts of the park are closed to dogs because of the penguins, and those signs get ignored.
Photos
Avenue · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons TimBray · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons Payneman · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons Avenue · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Facilities checked 2026-08-13 againstaucklandcouncil.govt.nz, data-aucklandcouncil.opendata.arcgis.com
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