Te Ara Moana Auckland Sea Kayak Trail

2-4 days

Escape to one of New Zealand’s most stunning coastlines and paddle the Te Ara Moana Auckland sea kayak trail - a coastal pathway paddled by Maori. Following in their wake, uncover the hidden stories that connect us.

Sea kayaking like you’re half a world away yet just outside Auckland

Our Te Ara Moana sea kayak cruise could be the relaxing getaway you’ve been craving.

Te Ara Moana is a sea-going pathway running from Omana Regional Park to Waharau Regional Park. Lined with long white beaches and gorgeous camping spots, Māori traditionally paddled this beautiful environment. On this sea kayak cruise, we’ll paddle in their wake, uncovering the hidden stories and cultural insights that connect us on a deeper level.

You’ll sea kayak the coast in comfortable, sturdy ocean kayaks and pitch a tent in the well-serviced campgrounds along the way. You can even catch your dinner by fishing in the ocean.

Te Ara Moana Auckland Sea Kayak Trail

Te Ara Moana – the sea-going pathway – is an amazing sea kayak tour. You will paddle up to 50km along Auckland’s south eastern coastline, with lovely beach stopovers at five regional parks. Te Ara Moana is one of many sea kayak routes used by early Māori to transport goods and kai in their waka between settlements. The Auckland sea kayak route is between Ōmana Regional Park and Waharau Regional Park and includes overnight stays in beachfront camping grounds. As you sea kayak along the coastline, you'll encounter natural wonders, wildlife and learn about our early seafaring history.

You don't have to go to the Abel Tasman National Park to enjoy sea-kayak camping along a beautiful stretch of sheltered coastline. Just 45 minutes from the central city is Te Ara Moana - the Seagoing Pathway, a multi-day Auckland sea kayak trail. The coastal trail links five of the Auckland regional parks on the southeastern coast, from Omana near Maraetai down to Waharau on the Firth of Thames. Sea kayaking along a largely undeveloped shoreline, picnicking and camping on parkland, you can feel like you're a thousand miles from the Auckland metropolis.

Though navigating this coastline in a plastic ocean kayak might be a relatively new thing, Maori have been utilising the area for hundreds of years with their wooden waka. Te Ara Moana is one of many routes traditionally used by Maori to move around the Hauraki Gulf and Firth of Thames, and this heritage is visible at many of the Auckland sites along the sea kayak trail, especially at the Duder and Waitawa Auckland regional parks.

You don't have to be an experienced ocean paddler to enjoy it

The Te Ara Moana Auckland Sea Kayak trail mostly hugs the coastline and it is sheltered from Auckland's prevailing winds.

You can sea kayak with your family or friends, you can paddle small sections and come out for afternoon trips, day trips or if you are feeling more adventurous, come out for the whole duration. The sea kayak trail is quite easy to do in segments. Many of the camp trails are only accessible by water. So even though we are in the vicinity of Auckland, many of the campsites you’ll get to, there will be no one else there. So, there’s a feeling of remoteness without having to travel too far away from Auckland. And that really is a little treasure.

The sea kayak trail connects all the regional parks of south west Auckland together. So, it’s a way to transport yourself from five different regional parks along here.

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This changes depending on what we do and where we go, but generic items are:

Clothing

• Thermal bottom leggings,
• Underwear,
• Shorts
• Pants
• Swimwear
• Socks
• Thin merino shirt / thermal shirt x 2
• Fleece jumper x1
• Woolen jumper x1
• Wind and Rain-proof Jacket
• Sunhat
• Warm beanie
• Neck warmer / scarf
• Warm gloves

Equipment

• Jandals
• Closed-toe footwear
• Sunglasses
• Personal medication
• Water bottle,
• Head torch,
• Toiletries.
• Waterproof pack liner
• Backpack to put all of the above in

Because we are staying overnight, should you choose not to be accommodated and fed by us, here is what you will need:

Sleeping

• Sleeping bag
• Pillow
• Inflatable mattress
• Tent

Cooking

• Cooker
• Fuel / gas
• Lighter / matches
• Pot / frying pan
• Cutlery
• Crockery

All of the above is available to rent / hire / buy

Includes:

One staff

Activity specific items:

Kayak
Paddle
Personal Flotation Device (PFD)