Where can you enjoy the best views in Auckland without wearing out your walking shoes? From a horse of course! There are several parks and beaches in Tāmaki Makaurau where riding is permitted with an Auckland Council horse riding pass. From wild west coast beaches to epic tracks with views over Hauraki Gulf, there are horse trails ideal for both seasoned equestrians used to steep terrain and those new to riding who prefer the flat. So take the reins and saddle up.

To ride in any of Auckland’s regional parks and areas where horses are permitted, you need to have a horse riding pass – but the good news is it’s free. Simply register online to receive your pass, which is valid from 1 October until 30 September the following year, and you’ll also receive gate codes and sometimes special information about each park or track. With your pass in your pocket you’re ready to giddy up – here are our best spots to enjoy riding in Auckland.

Duder Regional Park

Riders will be champing at the bit to saddle up at Duder Regional Park on the Whakakaiwhara Peninsula in southeast Auckland. The views are incredible 360-degree vistas of the surrounding hills, Hunua Ranges and Hauraki Gulf islands, and from the elevation of horseback a visit is extra special. Trot along the 4.3km Farm Loop trail while soaking in those epic views down to the Gulf – the path has a mixture of gravel and grass terrain with a steeper section.

The Farm Loop track at Duder Regional Park offers views out to the Hauraki Gulf islands including Waiheke and Ponui Island / Chamberlins Island, as well inland to the Hūnua Ranges.

Duder is a working farm, so be careful not to frighten grazing sheep and cattle, and please leave gates as you find them. This park is also used by mountain bikers so take care if your horse is easily frightened.

Horse riding is seasonal but the open dates are usually around 1 October to 30 June. The park is closed during winter and early spring due to wet weather and the lambing season. Other horse riding trails in southeast Auckland include specific areas at Hūnua Ranges Regional Park and Waitawa Regional Park.

Muriwai Regional Park

With its crashing waves, black sand beaches and golden sunsets, a visit to Muriwai Beach at Muriwai Regional Park is ideal for horsing around (responsibly of course). It’s not surprising that many movies and TV shows have been filmed on this dramatic landscape and the area has attracted many international celebrity riders.

Riders can enjoy riding along the Five Mile Strip at Muriwai Beach.

The horse park can be accessed year-round past the golf course on Coast Road. From the horse park you can ride north up Muriwai Beach where there is a designated sand based loop trail through the Five Mile Strip which extends 6.5km north from the southern side of Okiritoto Stream. Stick to the beach and away from the vegetation on the sand dunes. It pays to be aware of tides as at high tide the beach becomes quite narrow and this popular beach is also used by vehicles.

The adjoining Woodhill Forest riding area is separate to the regional park and you must register as a member or casual rider with this park in order to access it.

Visit the Woodhill Forest website to find out more.

Te Ārai Regional Park

Further afield near Auckland’s northern boundary, Te Ārai Regional Park offers something truly special. The white sand shoreline and beach break make it a popular spot for surfers, and horse riders can enjoy gentle rides below the high tide mark of the beach at this breathtaking location.

There are many ecological treasures in this region, such as threatened bird species tara iti (New Zealand fairy tern) and tūturiwhatu (northern New Zealand dotterel), as well as dune lake ecosystems. To protect flora and fauna, horse riders need to stick to designated trail areas in the forest and sand dunes. Riding may be restricted during bird nesting season.

Tōtara Park

The bridle path in Manurewa’s Tōtara Park is the mane attraction for horse riders. This path is just minutes from neigh-bouring suburbs, but feels like you’re in the country. The path starts from the Redoubt Road car park and goes to the Wairere Road picnic area and goes through farmland with small patches of bush. This 3.5km gravel trail is a shared path and is also used by walkers, joggers, bikers and people with prams.

The Tōtara Park Bridle Path takes riders past a wetland area and through farmland.

As Tōtara Park has many facilities including a playground, basketball court and picnic areas, it’s possible for some members of the family to take a ride while others enjoy other activities.

Ātiu Creek Regional Park

Want to extend your ride for more than a day? The stunning Ātiu Creek Regional Park on the Kaipara Harbour is the only regional park in Auckland where you can ride and stay overnight across different accommodation options. Ātiu Creek campground which is located near Solomon’s Bay, has an adjacent holding paddock below for horses and horse loading area so you can get back in the saddle quickly after camping. Please note, horses are not permitted inside the campground.

Ātiu Creek Regional Park is a ride-and-stay park. Riders can stay in the campsite or at Council accommodation with their horse safely grazing at the overnight horse paddock.

You can also stay in the bookable accommodation at Courtyard House or Ātiu Cottage, with both houses providing holding paddocks next to the property for horses. The rides at Ātiu Creek are spectacular start from the horse-float parking off Run Road, 1.2km past the main park entrance. There are 15km of shared tracks, many offering breathtaking views over Kaipara Harbour with a wide variety of terrain, and it’s possible to explore the trails for several hours. The horse trails are seasonal and close in winter, approximately from 1 July to 30 September due to track conditions. Riders are restricted to groups of 20 without a special permit.

Āwhitu Peninsula

There are two great areas to ride your horse on Auckland’s Āwhitu Peninsula. Karioitahi Beach offers a dramatic coastline and gorgeous riding conditions. Unload your horses in the signed area near the beach access and observe the walking-only zone for 500m either side of the entrance. Within this zone horses must remain within 10m of the water’s edge when possible and all manure must be removed. It’s best to ride this wild west beach at low tide to avoid getting stranded by the incoming tide. Note that this beach is also used by vehicles, fishers and paragliders, so take caution and keep to the left, as you would with a car.

Further up the peninsula, horse riding is available year-round in the paddocks at Āwhitu Regional Park. To access the riding paddocks, park in the main car park and head around the campground gate (take the detour track on the right), before following the internal park road until you reach the pond. The paddocks are through the gate on your right.

It’s best to ride at Karioitahi Beach on the Āwhitu Peninsula at low tide, keep to the left and stay clear of vehicles using the beach.

Parts of Āwhitu Regional Park are closed because of kauri dieback, please use cleaning stations to clean your shoes and make sure your horse float comes to the park clean and your horse’s hooves have been picked back at home before you arrive at the park. The horse area is near a wetland and can get quite boggy – to minimise soil pugging spread out your riding line.

For a full list of places you can ride a horse in Auckland, check out the council website.

Kauri Dieback

Kauri trees in Tāmaki Makaurau are under threat from kauri dieback disease (Phytophthora agathidicida).

Please remember to clean your footwear and your horse's hooves with the available cleaning stations before entering any of these horse tracks.

More information on kauri dieback and how you can help prevent the spread of it can be found via the Auckland Council website.

Follow the track, and the rules

For safety reasons, it’s important to follow the rules when riding in any park where horses are permitted. There are different rules in each park, but here is a quick overview of some key points:

Riders must have their Auckland Council horse riding pass on them at all times when riding, and riders under the age of 18 must be supervised by an adult
Riders are responsible for their own mount.
Ride within the permitted park hours and riding season.
Always park your horse float in the designated area if there is one.
Stick to the tracks unless paddock riding is permitted and avoid areas that have become boggy in rain. Leave gates as you find them.
When enjoying Auckland’s horse riding tracks, wear a helmet at all times and use a saddle and riding gear.
Galloping and cantering is not permitted unless it’s with an approved permit or event.
Protect flora and fauna. Avoid hitching your horse to a tree and ensure your horse does not graze on any native vegetation.
In areas with kauri dieback, use the cleaning stations to clean your horses hooves as well as your own footwear to prevent the spread of kauri dieback.
Leading horses without riders is not permitted, except at Hunua Ranges, Muriwai and Whakanewha.
Report lost horses to park staff immediately (ranger numbers are printed on signage at parks). Let park staff know if you need access to a horse float to move an injured animal.
Be respectful of other users in the park or beach, including walkers, runners and mountain bikers.

Make sure you’re familiar with the full list of horse riding rules before you saddle up.

Horse riding trails to try in Auckland