Located west of Pukekohe on the Manukau Heads Peninsula, Kariotahi Beach is easily accessible. The beach is a very shallow flat beach so has plenty of room between the surf and high tide line.

To the South of the access point at Karioitahi Beach Road the beach is open and mostly smooth and access ends at an impassable Rocky outcrop. Watch out for some very lumpy sand not far before the rocky outcrop though. To the North of Karioitahi Beach Road, you have to wind their way between scattered rocks, which makes the drive more interesting. At the point the GPS track stops there is a low outcrop of rocks that would be passable near low tide but would become impassable once the tide started to come back in. Karioitahi Beach is very popular for 4wd’s, motorcycles, fishing and families so take care to respect other beach users.

Permits now Required! As of September 1st 2015 Auckland Council require all vehicles accessing Muriwai and Karioitahi beaches to obtain a permit beforehand.

Permits last a year, are free and can be obtained online via the Auckland Council website at: http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/licencesregulations/drivingonbeaches/Pages/home.aspx A separate permit must be applied for each vehicle to be used.

Auckland Council have also published a set of rules for driving on Muriwai and Karioitahi beaches: http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/licencesregulations/drivingonbeaches/Pages/home.aspx