You can do Muriwai in a day, and it works best if you plan around the light and the tide. Here is how the main options compare.
Our top pick: Auckland: Group Surfing Lesson with Muriwai Surf School
On the sand and in the dunes
The beach is long, flat and dark. Walking the dunes and the shoreline is free, and the regional park has graded walks through dunes and coastal forest (Muriwai Beach Loop and Mitchelson Lookout tracks, per Auckland Tourism). Two inland tracks, Goldie Bush Walkway and Mokoroa Falls Track, were listed as closed for kauri dieback with no reopening date, so check Auckland Council.
Surf and horses
Beginners can learn to surf with a local school, and a beach horse trek is one of the few ways to see the dunes and Woodhill Forest from a saddle. Both are halal-friendly activities. Swimming outside the flags is not: see beach safety.
Auckland: Group Surfing Lesson with Muriwai Surf School
Beginner group lesson on Auckland's west coast. 4.9/5 from 46 reviews (GetYourGuide, November 2026).
Muriwai Beach 2-Hour Horse Trek Experience
Black-sand dunes, coastline and private Woodhill Forest. 4.7/5 from 7 reviews (November 2026).
Why book online
- Free cancellation on most tickets, usually up to 24 hours before
- Reserved time slot: no queue at the ticket desk
- Mobile ticket on your phone
- Reviews from verified travelers
Walks and views
The short walk to the gannet colony viewing platforms continues over Otakamiro Point to Maori Bay. The Te Henga Walkway heads south from Muriwai but can no longer be walked end to end.
Camping
Muriwai Beach Campground sits beside the beach inside the regional park. Auckland Tourism’s guide lists powered and unpowered sites and nine cabins, with prices that change, so check the current rates and booking rules with Auckland Council before you plan a night here. See also where to stay.
Fishing and sunsets
Surf casting from the beach and rock fishing are popular, and rock fishing has caused deaths. Read fishing at Muriwai first. For the light, see sunset photography.
Planning to stay overnight? Compare rooms in Kumeu.
Search tours on ViatorAnother option next to the GetYourGuide choices above. Availability and prices vary.
Frequently asked questions
What is there to do at Muriwai Beach?
See the gannet colony (August to March), walk the black-sand beach and dunes, visit Maori Bay for its pillow lava, take a horse trek or surf lesson, walk part of the Te Henga Walkway and watch the sunset.
How long should I spend at Muriwai?
Half a day covers the gannets and a beach walk. A full day lets you add Maori Bay, a trek or lesson and the sunset.
Can you camp at Muriwai?
There is a campground beside the beach inside the regional park, with powered and unpowered sites and cabins listed by Auckland Tourism. Camping elsewhere on the coastline is not allowed.
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