Image: Sara Kulins | MERC | ©
A picture of a coastline and several cliffs
Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve

Located in the Auckland region

Just 20 km north of Auckland lies the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve. The reserve protects a variety of coastal habitats: sandy beaches, rocky reefs, estuarine mudflats and mangroves.

The marine reserve was established in 1995 and is 980 hectares.

The reserve is about 20km from the Auckland CBD, and easily accessible by public transportation. Car parking and facilities are found at  Long Bay Regional Park.

Swim/snorkel when conditions are safe

If you are not confident in the water, be realistic about your skills and swim only during calm weather or enjoy this place from land.

Check the surf forecast for Long Bay and pay close attention to the wind speed and swell height: Long Bay Surf Forecast. This is a surf forecast and the red/orange/green surfboard rating is not relevant to safe swimming, snorkelling or diving. 

Dog access

Auckland Council manages the foreshore and parkland of the Long Bay Regional Park.

Long Bay Beach adjacent to Long Bay Regional Park

  • Dogs are prohibited on the Northern Beach areas, north of Vaughan Stream at all times and not only during breeding season.
  • Dogs are permitted throughout the year (with restrictions) on the Southern Beach Areas, south of Vaughan Stream. 
  • Full details of dog access rules at Long Bay Regional Park

Other beaches and marine reserve foreshore

To protect wildlife dogs are prohibited in the following areas:

  • Okura Bush Walkway (including Stillwater section)
  • Weiti Estuary Chenier Spits
  • Crown foreshore of the Weiti River
  • Karepiro Bay
  • Okura Beach Marginal strip

Auckland Council's policy on dogs (PDF, 1,145K) – see page 14, section 6

Help us stop offenders

If you see people taking fish or other marine life within the marine reserve, report this to the DOC conservation emergency hotline 0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468).

The Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve was established in 1995. This was a community driven effort led by the East Coast Bays Coastal Protection Society. 

The shores and waters of the Long Bay-Okura Marine Reserve are typical of those of the sheltered inner Hauraki Gulf. There is a diversity of coastal habitats that includes:

  • the sandy beaches of Long Bay and Karepiro Bay
  • the rocky reefs off the two headlands at either end of Long Bay
  • the sandflats and mudflats of the Okura River and estuary.

While Toroa Point at the southern end of Long Bay is 'moderately exposed', the Okura River estuary, in contrast, becomes sheltered as it goes inland for some four kilometres, and its muddy waters host mangrove forests and saltmarsh.  

In addition to protecting habitats, the Marine Education and Recreation Centre located at Long Bay is a great place to learn more about these ecosystems.

The marine reserve was established in 1995 and is 980 hectares.