13km south of Waiuku, at the mouth of the Waikato River is the Waiuku Forest.  Owned by Crown Forestry and managed by New Zealand Forest Managers, the forest covers 1508 ha and is planted in Pinus Radiata. Also at the forest is the New Zealand Steel Iron Sand Mining operation.  Inaccessible and mainly obscurred from vision, the site is a no-go area to the public except for organised visits, although at the entrance on Ghezzie Rd there is a viewing area and an information board explaining the design and process of extracting and slurrying iron sand to the mill 25km away. Aside from the commercial activities at the forest, this area is a wonderful playground for people who enjoy the great outdoors.  Beach and river access, mountain biking tracks, horse riding tracks, orienteering, fishing, swimming and picnicking are some of the activities enjoyed here.  The forest is vast and beautiful with lookouts offering extensive views over the Tasman Sea, Port Waikato and the Waikato River. As with all forests, no fires or barbeques, check closing times each day.  Also they are prone to restricted access during periods of high fire danger. The Information Centre at Waiuku has instructions on how to get to the forest from Waiuku and they also sell maps of the forest.

As seen on TV3.  Kayaking, abseiling, caving, portable climbing wall, qualified instructor - adventures to suit all ages and skill levels.  Individuals to large groups, especially social clubs and school camps.  Bookings essential.

Take the peninsula road from Waiuku, travel 6km through scenic countryside.  Turn right into Waipipi Wharf Rd and you will find Waipipi Bird Park a short drive down on the left). For Ron Peake, this is the culmination of four years of hard work, as he and his wife Amily worked on their 16 acres of farmland, transforming pasture into an avocado orchard and six acres of gardens and aviaries.  Many of the 150 parakeets, lorikeets, parrots, cockatoos and conures have been hand-reared and for the past few years Ron has also been buying birds from all over New Zealand to produce breeding pairs. Apart from building the 50 aviaries, Ron has planted an extensive garden with trees and shrubs to attract native birds as well as fruit trees, bottle brush and olive trees to help provide food for his bird population.  Two ponds have been created, home to a variety of ducks and swans.

Tamakae stands at the entrance to the Tamakae Reserve on King St, Waiuku Legend has it that two prominent Wai O Hua brothers, Tamakae and Tamakou, vied for the hand of a beautiful high ranking Waikato chieftainess. Tamakae was the cultivator, provider and Tamakou the orator. Tamakou was first to meet the chieftainess, but she requested that Tamakae be presented to her also. He was working in the kumara gardens and had to be washed in the wai and uku at the stream that flows into the Manukau just behind the museum, before he was able to meet her. Tamakae won her heart and married her. From then the place was named Waiuku. This carving was made from some Kauri logs which New Zealand Steel found in a swamp they were excavating and were given back to Ngati Te Ata to use. The project took five years to complete and was undertaken at the Tahuna Marae. On this reserve also are a collection of heritage buildings collected from around the area and relocated on the reserve. Buildings include the Maioro Creamery and a Waiuku lock-up. These buildings are managed by the Museum Trust. from 'Old Waiuku and District' by Brian Muir How Waiuku got it's name ... marriage and revenge. In the days when the Ngatikahukoka tribe occupied the region, a chieftainess came from Waikato to Te Pai-o-Kaiwaka (now Waiuku) to choose a husband. Two chiefs were suitable. Tamakau good-looking but lazy, and his brother Tamakae, a hard worker. She met Tamakau, and unimpressed, asked for Tamakae who was in the kumara gardens. Acting fast, the elders took him to the estuary where a spring gushed from the bank. Washed in the 'wai' (water) with 'uku', the soft white clay used as soap, he was the chosen one. The inlet became known as 'Waiuku'. Jealous, Tamakau killed Tamakae. A party of chiefs came from Waikato in revenge, killing everyone in Te Pai-o-Kaiwaka except close relatives, who grateful for mercy, gave them a large area of land on the eastern shores of the estuary. These people, taking their name from a famous chieftainess of Te Pai-o-rehia, became ngatiteata, gradually taking over the remaining lands of Ngatikahukoka.

3 hour walk from Grahams Beach to Wattle Bay with the choice of stopping at Big Bay or Orua Bay en-route.  Check tides.

240m steep descent from the Signal Station, then along the coast to Hamiltons Gap (end of West Coast Road) takes 4 to 5 hours.  Check tides.

The George Doherty Green is located on the Tamakae Reserve in Waiuku.  On the reserve is assembled a cluster of heritage buildings including Hartmann House, which houses the local arts and crafts co-op selling top quality and varied crafts and gifts.

20 minute to 3 hour beach/farm walks.  Historic Brook Homestead.  Campsites available. 

The Matakawau Scenic Reserve is now complete with a footbridge over Opoia Creek and a boardwalk across the church land to link up with Hatton Road Reserve.  A short walk of 200m up Hatton Road will give you access to the Awhitu Regional Park, from there numerous walking tracks are available. The track can be entered either at the Matakawau Point Reserve or at the Sergeants Beach Reserve at the end of Sergeants Road. The Ratepayers Assn has planted 800 trees along the track over the past 12 years to provide shade and an environment for the wildlife of the area. It is intended to provide more signs for the track and some display boards of the wildlife in the area for public information. The track is not long and can be covered from Sergeants Road to the ARC park in about 20 minutes at a fast walk, but it is recommended to take your time and enjoy the magnificent view over the Manukau Harbour, Auckland City and the Airport. This walking track has been provided for public use by the Matakawau Ratepayers Assn and all the work has been done on a voluntary basis.