St Leonards Beach

Don’t know how I’ve never heard of this one until this year– but stumbled across it happily online and had to see it for myself. If you aren’t aware already, this one is a naturalist’s beach– just so you know and aren’t shocked when you arrive.
You can access it from St Leonard’s road which is the left turn just before Takapuna Grammar school– if you are coming in from Takapuna way. Just drive until the end of the no-​exit street and there are parallel parks available. Otherwise you can walk from Takapuna beach at low-​tide around.
A down-​hill sloped concrete path past a graffiti-​ed intriguing brick walled small building and then onto wooden steps. You can peek at the surf and sand through the big trees that shade this walk. Golden sand with lots of rocks– aplenty. Watch out where you walk cause they’re of all different shapes and sizes– trip hazards for the slightly clumsy. There are also stacked rocks leading into the water that stick up and out and at different levels with mini pools of water too. You have the cliffs to one side with a few dotted cliff-​top houses and the ocean to the other. Great for dog owners as they are allowed any day any time.
Came at low tide and wasn’t as secret of a beach as I hoped– families; more than several adults and kids alike out and about walking and exploring the length of the beach. Definitely recommend checking this gorgeous place out nonetheless– and be mentally prepared back for the steep staircase up if you came down that way, it’s a tough one. But entirely worth it!