Shakespear Regional Park
At the tip of the Whangaparaoa Peninsula lies the stunning Shakespear Regional Park. Shakespear is the ideal entry level course – so bring your family and friends with 100% confidence that they will love every minute! Shakespear's got it all - farmland, friendly animals, well-groomed single track, wider open trails, a waterfall, one or two decent hills, and stunning views! It is also home to NZ's most-visited wildlife sanctuary.
Shakespear Regional Park
Shakespear Regional Park
Shakespear Regional Park
Shakespear Regional Park
Shakespear Regional Park
Shakespear Regional Park
Shakespear Regional Park
Shakespear Regional Park is less than 20km past the Northern Motorway exit at Silverdale. Allow 20mins – 30 minutes (max) to get to the event base from the Silverdale off-ramp.
Once exiting the Northern at Silverdale: Turn right at the first roundabout and head straight through the 2nd roundabout shortly after - staying on Hibiscus Coast Highway 17. After approx 3km turn right onto Whangaparaoa Road. STAY ON WHANGAPAROA RD ALL THE WAY TO SHAKESPEAR REGIONAL PARK – the huge Shakespear Regional Park signage should help you here!
At the very end of Whangaparoa Road (when the Army Bay carpark is on your left) make a right hand turn into the park. Shortly after make a left onto Bruce Harvey Drive and follow this road down to the event base.
Shakespear Open Sanctuary (SOS) is New Zealand’s most visited wildlife sanctuary with more than 700,000 visitors entering the park annually.
In 2011 the predator fence was erected within Shakespear Regional Park and Auckland Council has been supported by the community volunteer group Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society Inc (SOSSI) since 2003. Together they are ‘building a haven for wildlife’. With the help of the fence, SOS has become a predator free ‘mainland island’ with recent releases of endangered native birds such as Whitehead, North Island Robin, little spotted Kiwi, Saddleback and Hihi.
This major conservation project is special in that in combines the reintroduction of endangered native species and replanting of habitat but still maintaining farming and recreational activities.
SOSSI members assist with pest and predator control, plant nursery production and tree planting, monitoring of reintroduced bird species, track maintenance, farm work and public and school education. They are also strong advocates for conservation and help with fundraising for future reintroductions.
There are opportunities for members of the public to attend the weekly Tuesday volunteer days and to take part in this year’s community planting days on 19 June & 17 July.
Please visit SOSSI’s website for further details: www.sossi.org.nz
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