1 site · Lodging · 🌿 Dune Lakes Retreat & Horse Inspired Learning Centre is nestled on the wild and beautiful South Kaipara Head Peninsula, just 60 minutes from Auckland CBD. This peaceful sanctuary is set among rolling sand dunes, native bush, and Lake Kereta — a stunning freshwater dune lake.
Campers can choose from a variety of sites — some tucked into quiet corners close to the stunning wetland and others open with wide skies and shimmering lake views. Whether you’d like to wake up close to the water for a swim, or camp higher up with sweeping vistas, there’s a spot for every mood.
The Kaipara South Head is an ancient sand barrier separating the vast Kaipara Harbour from the Tasman Sea. Between the dunes lie inter-dune hollows, filled by groundwater to form freshwater lakes like Lake Kereta and the larger Lake Ototoa.
✨ To the West lies the wild coastline and 65 km stretch of Muriwai/Rangatira Beach, with breathtaking sunsets over the Tasman Sea.
✨ To the East is the sheltered Kaipara Harbour — the largest harbour in the Southern Hemisphere — a pristine environment and vital feeding ground for orca, dolphins, and countless migratory birds. Birdwatchers may spot godwits, knots, turnstones, plovers, curlews, fairy terns, and more. Shelly Beach, shaded by grand old pōhutukawa, offers swimming, a playground, and wharf access to the harbour.
✨ To the North lies the lagoon at the peninsula’s tip — a calm refuge for swans, ducks, pukeko, paradise shelduck, kingfisher, fantail, warbler, and silvereye.
This retreat is also home to a thriving herd of free-roaming horses at the Horse Inspired Learning Centre, where guests can experience mindful, non-riding interactions. Their presence adds to the deep stillness of the land.
Expect birdsong at sunrise, the chorus of frogs at dusk, and starry skies at night. Facilities include excellent water quality, toilets, and showers, making it simple and comfortable to immerse yourself in nature.
A place to rest, reflect, and reconnect — where land, water, wildlife, and quiet beauty meet.
