Aitu Creek Park

Aitu Creek Farm Park is a new (2008) Regional Park of 843 hectares, all of it a very generous gift by farmers Jackie and Pierre Chatelanat who wanted to ensure that all New Zealanders could enjoy access to the Kaipara Harbour, and that the cultural and heritage values of the area would be protected. The couple still farm the park, but now only own the homestead.

The access road off Run Road is 1.3km and concludes in parking and picnic areas, the rest of the park is walking and cycling tracks except for the road to the campground. Solomons Bay is the main beach but this is not a swimming or boating environment.

There are pa sites to be seen, former homes of te tangata whenua Te Uri o Hau, as well as Pakeha Heritage sites including an early oyster farm and a settler camp from the nineteenth century.

What was farmland is now regenerating native bush and there are some original kauri, totara, puriri and pohutukawa. Several less common bird species are thriving here including kiwi. Conservation Volunteers are hard at work here assisting bush regeneration.

An impressive farmhouse named Courtyard House also forms part of the park and is available for hire, under the hilarious and incongruous title of 'bach', it sleeps up to 23 people when combined with its number of associated outbuildings. The campground is very popular and often fully booked.

Visitors to Aitu Creek Farm Park with great photographs are welcome to submit them to NZPlaces!