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Tāwharanui Peninsula – One of My Happy Places

  • Writer: gesa815
    gesa815
  • Jun 8
  • 3 min read

Everyone has places that hold a special place in their heart. For me, Tāwharanui Peninsula is one of those places. (The other is Lake Wānaka – but that’s a story for another day!)

When we moved to Auckland from Sydney in 2012, I wasn’t exactly excited about another big adventure. Having moved from Germany to Australia in 2001, I had built a life I loved in Sydney and felt very settled. Moving countries again with three young boys aged five, six, and eight felt overwhelming.

I still remember those first weeks vividly. Our shipping containers hadn’t arrived, we had no furniture, my husband was travelling for work, and I was trying to help the boys settle into a completely new country. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I wanted to be here at all.

Then came our first weekend in Auckland.

Someone suggested we visit Tāwharanui Peninsula, about an hour north of the city. As we drove over the final hill and the landscape opened before us, I was completely speechless. The turquoise water, white sand beaches, rolling green hills, and endless views across the Hauraki Gulf were simply breathtaking.

In that moment, something changed.

I remember thinking, “Actually, I can live here.”

What was meant to be a three-year assignment turned into a much longer adventure. Fourteen years later, we are still here, and I return to Tāwharanui as often as I can.

Every visit feels special. The scenery is spectacular, the coastal walks are stunning, and the birdlife is extraordinary. Tāwharanui is one of New Zealand’s most successful open sanctuaries, home to many native species including tūī, kererū, tīeke (saddleback), takahē, and kākā. There is something incredibly peaceful about walking through native bush while listening to birdsong that once almost disappeared from this region.

What I love most is that despite being only a short drive from Auckland, it feels like a world away. The hustle and bustle of the city quickly fades, replaced by wide open spaces, ocean views, and a sense of calm that is increasingly hard to find.

Tāwharanui is also where the seeds of Beautiful Nature Tours Auckland were first planted.

In 2017, I was walking here with former work colleagues from Germany who were visiting New Zealand for the first time. As we explored the peninsula, shared stories, and experienced the landscape together, I realised how much I enjoyed showing visitors the places I loved most. Somewhere along those trails, the idea of starting my own boutique tour business was born.

The rest, as they say, is history.

Today, I am fortunate enough to call some of New Zealand’s most beautiful places my office. One day I might be guiding guests through Tāwharanui’s coastal landscapes and native forests. The next, I could be exploring Auckland’s rugged West Coast with its dramatic black sand beaches, wild Tasman Sea views, and ancient rainforest.

What makes private touring so special is that every experience can be tailored to the interests of my guests. As a German and English-speaking guide, I love helping visitors discover New Zealand beyond the typical tourist trail. Some guests enjoy walking and wildlife, others are passionate about food, wine, photography, or simply spending time in beautiful places away from the crowds. A private tour allows us to slow down, take our time, and experience New Zealand in a more personal and meaningful way.

Tāwharanui embodies everything I love about New Zealand: natural beauty, conservation, space, authenticity, and the feeling of discovery. It is a place that changed my relationship with Auckland all those years ago and continues to inspire me every time I visit.

Some places never lose their magic.

For me, Tāwharanui Peninsula will always be one of them.


 
 
 

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