Waimarie Beach is a coastal park on Pohutukawa Road in Whenuapai, on the shore of the Upper Waitematā Harbour in west Auckland. It holds a 4.3 Google rating and, as part of Auckland Council's park network, is free to visit with no booking required.
Harbour beaches reward a little planning. The Upper Waitematā is strongly tidal: at low water the sea pulls back over mudflats and shell banks, while at high tide there is calm, sheltered water for swimming and paddling — a gentler proposition than the breakers of Auckland's west coast. Regulars check a tide chart before setting out, give the shell banks a wide berth while wading birds are feeding, and arrive early on summer days when pohutukawa shade is scarce. Dogs are common on council reserves, so it pays to look for the signs showing where leads are required.
Timed to the tide, this quiet corner of Whenuapai is an easy, unhurried spot for a swim or a harbour-side stroll.