Located around 90km from Auckland, Tāwharanui Regional Park is a world away from the city. The park is full of pristine beaches, rich biodiversity, and scenic views. Tāwharanui felt like a convergence of Hawaii's lush landscapes and New Zealand's rugged charm. The park featured a long coastline offering a beautiful white sand beach, rolling pastures, and native coastal forests. 

The park is located on Tokatū Peninsula and was once the home of many Māori. Since the 1970s, the land has been reserved and developed as a coastal farm park. Tāwharanui has many different pastures filled with Hereford Cattle and Perendale Sheep. 

To explore the natural landscape, we walked a couple of different tracks throughout the park. To get to the Tokatū Point Lookout and Loop Track, we had to pass through cow and sheep pastures. I had the best time getting to see all the livestock. It was so cool. When we arrived at Tokatū Point, there were amazing views of some of the outer islands. 

Venturing further into the park, we were immersed in the native bush. The echoes of New Zealand's distinct flora and fauna reverberated through the air. The melodic calls of native birds filled the surroundings. We saw a ton of different birds including the rare and endemic Takahe. This bird can’t fly and can only be found in Aotearoa. The vibrant greens and earthy aromas of Tāwharanui's landscapes stirred a sense of familiarity, yet also celebrated the unique biodiversity of New Zealand.