Ngā wāhi eke hōiho Where you can ride a horse

Recreational horse riding is allowed in nine regional parks and on several Auckland beaches. You need a pass to ride in a regional park. We will include the code you need to access locked areas or gates when we send you your horse riding pass.

When you ride a horse in our regional parks you need to take care and follow the general and individual park rules on this page.

• Groups are limited to 10 riders unless otherwise stated for individual parks.
• Dogs are prohibited at all times.
• Leave all farm gates as you find them.

Follow these rules to help us prevent this disease from spreading.

Before you leave home:

• thoroughly clean your horses' hooves and your footwear with soapy water
• brush your horses' coat to remove any soil
• wash down you horse float and vehicle.

When you arrive at the park:

• park your truck or horse float on a dry gravel surface
• tie your horse to your truck or hitching post (if available) on a dry surface
• spray your horses' hooves with sterigene disinfectant (if provided).

During your ride:

• stay on tracks and follow all signs
• avoid riding through soft, wet ground.

Before you go home:

• thoroughly clean your horses' hooves and your footwear with soapy water
• brush your horses' coat to remove any soil
• put items like footwear, stirrups and saddle bags in a bag to wash when you get home and to avoid soil contamination in your vehicle
• spray your horses' hooves with sterigene disinfectant (if provided).

Read more about your responsibilities when riding in our parks:

Learn more about how to protect our kauri trees.

• Closed over winter and early spring due to wet ground conditions and farming operations. Check the park page for more information.
• Group limit is 20 riders.
• Stay on the designated trails throughout the park.

Read more about Ātiu Creek Regional Park.

• Open year-round - riding may be restricted in winter due to ground conditions.
• Park in the main car park and use the side track around the campground gate to access the riding areas.
• Use the designated track through the golf course to access the paddocks.
• Follow our guidelines on how to prevent the spread of kauri dieback in our regional parks.
• You cannot:
  • ride around the golf course fairways and greens
  • access the beach through the campground, wetlands or main arrival zone.

Read more about Āwhitu Regional Park.

• Closed from 1 July to 30 September due to ground conditions and farming operations.
• Riders can lead one other horse.
• Horses not allowed on beaches or the shell bank.
• Access from the car park is through the old stockyard on the right-hand side of the kauri dieback hygiene station.
• Follow our guidelines on how to prevent the spread of kauri dieback in our regional parks.

Read more about Duder Regional Park.

Designated trails follow a gravel road through Lower Mangatāwhiri Valley, grass paddocks, bush and along the Mangatāwhiri River. A main loop down to the Lower Mangatāwhiri Campground has extra linking tracks across it.

• Riders can lead one other horse.
• Drivers and all passengers must use the kauri dieback cleaning equipment at the Watercare gate before continuing into the park.
• Park all vehicles and floats in the unloading area.
• • Follow our guidelines on how to prevent the spread of kauri dieback in our regional parks. Equipment is in the locked cage by the horse stalls.
  • Use the horse stalls and hitching posts for setting up and cleaning down horses. This allows us to collect and dispose of all organic matter to comply with the Ministry of Primary Industries Controlled Area Notice.

• Mangatangi Hill Road is an operational Watercare road. Drive with care at all times.
• Use the code provided with your horse-riding pass to access the locked Watercare gate at the intersection of Moumoukai and Waterline roads.
• Vehicles found past Graeme White Road may have their permit cancelled without review.

Read more about Hūnua Ranges Regional Park.

• Riders can lead one other horse.
• Riders must stay on the designated trails through the pine forest or sand dunes within the Five Mile Strip.
• You can ride north up Muriwai Beach from the horse park.
• Vehicles also use the beach. Take care as it can get busy on weekends and public holidays.

Read more about Muriwai Regional Park.

If you plan to ride through Woodhill Forest you must register as a member or casual rider. Visit the Woodhill Forest website to find out more.

• Closed from 1 July to 30 September due to ground conditions and farming operations.
• Horses may need shoes due to the metal roads at the farm.

Read more about Cascade Kauri, Waitākere Ranges Regional Park.

• Open year-round.
• Riding may be restricted during bird nesting times.
• Riders must stay on the designated trails through the pine forest, or sand dunes and on the public easements over private land.
• You must ride your horse below the high tide mark if on a beach.

Read more about Te Ārai Regional Park.

• Horses are not allowed on the beach.
• Closed from 1 July to 30 September due to ground conditions and farming operations.
• During calving season, riders must stay away from cows with young calves.

Read more about Te Rau Pūriri Regional Park.

• Open all year-round.
• Riders may lead one other horse.
• Use the hitching rail by the pōhutukawa and on the central track.
• Horses are not allowed in Poukaraka Flats and associated beach area.
• Stay below the shell bank when riding on the beach.
• From 1 October to 28 February, riders must stay off the beach area during high tide to avoid shorebird nesting sites.
• Cantering is allowed on the beach from 1 March to 31 July only. Cantering and galloping are prohibited at all other times.
• Follow our guidelines on how to prevent the spread of kauri dieback in our regional parks.

Read more about Whakanewha Regional Park.

• Open all year-round.
• Unload horses and equipment behind the green sheds.
• Hitching pens, compost bins for manure, a toilet and a map are available behind the green sheds.
• Park your vehicle and float in the Hoiho car park in front of the green sheds. Do not block access to the shed doors.
• Horses are allowed on Waitawa Bay Beach near the Waitawa Bay (sea kayak) campground. To access the beach through the campground, you must dismount and lead horses away from the archaeological area.
• Horses are allowed in most other areas except:
  • the mountain bike trails
  • the disc golf tee areas
  • Maitaitai Bay.
• Check the map displayed in the Hoiho car park and follow all markers.

Read more about Waitawa Regional Park.

• You can only unload horses in the signed area near the beach entrance. Remove all manure from the unloading area.
• There is a walking-only zone for 500m either side of the entrance between 10am and 6pm from Labour Day to the end of March.
• Within this 1km walking-only zone, horses must remain within 10m of the water’s edge when possible. Horse manure must be removed from this area.

Noticeboards at the beach entrance include all the rules relating to horse riding.

You can also ride horses at: 

• Algies Beach
• Hatfields Beach
• Martins Bay Beach
• Omaha Beach
• Ōrewa Beach
• Snells Beach. 

From 1 December to 15 February, horses are only allowed on these beaches before 10am and after 7pm. Horses are prohibited on Easter weekend and Labour weekend. 

If you are riding a horse on these beaches, you must:

• remove and safely dispose of all horse manure
• show consideration for other beach users at all times
• ride below the high tide mark if on a beach, so manure can be washed away.

You must not ride or lead your horse:

• through bird breeding areas
• on coastal dunes – except when using a direct route to access the beach
• at high tide – to avoid potential conflict with other beach users
• in a way that intimidates, causes danger or is a nuisance to other people.