Shakespear Regional Park is located on the scenic Whangaparaoa Peninsula, 40 minutes from Auckland City.
The park offers a sanctuary with magnificent panoramic views. The inner Hauraki Gulf can be admired in all its glory and Auckland City can be seen on the horizon.
Birds from nearby Tiritiri Matangi Island sanctuary have migrated across to the regenerating native forest on Shakespear. You can hear bellbirds and see the occasional kakariki. In the spring you are able to enjoy the newborn lambs amongst the expansive rural pastural setting.
At Te Haruhi Bay the resident peacocks display. White-faced herons, stilts and dotterels frequent the tidal flats of Okoromai Bay, and tui and native pigeons flourish in the regenerating forest of Waterfall Gully.
Wildlife
With the island sanctuary of Tiritiri Matangi just across the water, Shakespear Regional Park is considered an ideal home for endangered native birds. Already bellbirds have crossed from Tiri and established a breeding colony in the park. To help protect native species predator numbers are kept down, wetlands are being restored and native trees planted in the valleys. The parrots kakariki and kaka are amoung native birds found at Shakespear. Also present are bellbirds and shy brown quail.
Native bush
The hills are mainly grassy farmland, though volunteers are working with the ARC to replant some valley areas in native bush.
Source: Auckland Regional Council