Goat Island Walkway with a view of Goat Island
Image: Tony and Jenny Enderby ©

This return walk traverses the coast part way to Cape Rodney overlooking New Zealand’s oldest and most popular marine reserve.

Walk up the Auckland University Marine Laboratory driveway to the start of the track. The track passes along the cliff-top beyond the marine laboratory through paddocks and fine remnants of coastal broadleaf forest. 

There may be stock in the section through the farm paddocks. 

In the distance you can see Hauturu or Little Barrier Island, a nature reserve now rat-free that is home to tuatara, giant weta and a huge variety of native birds.

Access is from the Goat Island Road end, off Pākiri-Leigh Road, east of Warkworth. Park at the marine reserve carpark and walk up the driveway to the Leigh Marine Laboratory. The walk starts on the right, 50 m inside the gate.

The walkway is 83 km from downtown Auckland.

View a a map of the walkway and marine reserve.

Public toilets are located at the marine reserve carpark. The shower is unavailable due to water supply issues.