To enter the horse park, you must be registered as a casual rider or member.
The forest gate closing time is 8 pm until daylight saving ends.
OFFICE HOURS
9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday (closed on weekends and holidays)
AFTER HOURS
If you need to contact us after hours regarding an incident in Woodhill Forest that requires an immediate response from our Company (i.e. a matter of urgency that cannot wait until the next business day), please phone 021 128 4550 to reach the after hours duty manager. In an EMERGENCY dial 111.
ACCESS
- The equestrian park and the access gate on Restall Road open at 6.30 am and close at 6 pm in winter and 8 pm in summer.
- No access via Coast Road and the Muriwai horse gates before 6.30 am, or after 6 pm in winter and 8 pm in summer.
- Summer hours begin and end with daylight saving.
- No riding on forest land outside of the horse park boundary other than on the approved marked trails that are conditionally accessible south of the horse park.
- No riding during the hours of darkness.
- Vehicles left in the forest after hours will be towed at the owner’s expense or a release fee will be charged by security – First Security 0800 347 787.
KAITIAKI
Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara welcome the continued use of designated parts of Woodhill Forest by the equestrian community, through the Kake Hōiho operations. Equestrian access to the forest requires a current membership registration or a casual registration for the day. Registered riders will be provided with an access key and an ID card or receipt, which must be carried at all times when riding in the forest. If you are found in the park/forest without an ID card or receipt, you will be asked to leave and you risk being trespassed. Forest Kaitiaki/Wardens are patrolling the park/forest, if you are riding without our company vests you could be approached by them for proof of registration.
NURSERY
If you are interested in hiring the Nursery cabin/campsite, please see the form below for details – you will need to check with reception for availability.
We do not accept bookings months in advance of holiday periods, unless the group is 10 or more and the stay is at least 2 nights. A 50% deposit is required within 5 days of making the booking.
Download Facility Hire Agreement (Nursery Campsite)
Download Images of the Nursery Campsite
MAP
A copy of the horse park map is available below.
You must register as a member or casual rider to access the horse park. You must ride with a current ID or receipt or risk being trespassed.
The forest gate closing time is 8 pm until daylight saving ends.
Office hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday (closed on weekends and holidays).
Dog owners, please note: We receive many complaints regarding the behaviour of dogs in the horse park toward riders, horses, and other dogs. There have been instances of injury to riders caused by dogs. We are monitoring the situation. If we continue to receive complaints due to dog owners not adhering to the terms and conditions that govern dogs in the horse park, we will reassess permitting dogs. We understand that most owners follow the terms and conditions; their dogs do not cause harm and are well-adapted to the park environment. However, we cannot tolerate these harmful,distressing incidents if we can prevent them. Riders are currently allowed to bring their dogs to the park, but please be aware that this could change at any time, depending on how well dog-owning riders manage their dogs. The limit is one dog per rider.
The casual rider fee is $27
TO REGISTER FOR CASUAL ENTRY, CLICK ON OUR HORSE LOGO BELOW.
Please check weather conditions and register as close to your ride date as possible. Registering on the day is best if you are unsure of the ride date, as we cannot change it once it has been submitted. The cut-off time for same-day rides is 4 pm. We will only refund you if the park is closed on the day of your ride.
There is an option on the form to use if you need a key. You can also register additional riders.
Payment is by debit or credit card. When payment is accepted, a receipt is issued. Please keep the receipt on your phone until after your ride, or print it to carry on you. You could be asked to produce it.
You will also receive an email about the horse park with maps and instructions for collecting a key if you request one. If you do not receive this email, please check your spam folder.
All riders must wear a hi-vis vest and riding helmet in the horse park.
Vests are available to borrow when the office is open. Otherwise, you can wear your own.
For further information, phone 09 420 9566 ext-1 during office hours or email [email protected].
The office is not open on weekends or public holidays.
We have received reports of keys sticking in the lock at the Restall Road gate. If this happens to you, try pushing the barrel in while turning the key. Hopefully, this will help temporarily until we can fix or replace the lock.
You must register as a member or casual rider to access the horse park. You must ride with a current ID or receipt or risk being trespassed.
The forest gate closing time is 8 pm until daylight saving ends.
Office hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday (closed weekends and public holidays).
Dog owners, please note: We receive many complaints regarding the behaviour of dogs in the horse park toward riders, horses, and other dogs. There have been instances of injury to riders caused by dogs. We are monitoring the situation. If we continue to receive complaints due to dog owners not adhering to the terms and conditions that govern dogs in the horse park, we will reassess permitting dogs. We understand that most owners follow the terms and conditions; their dogs do not cause harm and are well-adapted to the park environment. However, we cannot tolerate these harmful, distressing incidents if we can prevent them. Riders are currently allowed to bring their dogs to the park, but please be aware that this could change at any time, depending on how well dog-owning riders manage their dogs. The limit is one dog per rider.
Membership registration fees:
- Early Bird Special 12-month: $305 – 1 child added without charge; $115 per additional child (available from 1 to November 30).
- 12-month: $350 – $115 to add a child – Available from December 1.
- 9-month: $300 – $100 to add a child – Available from March 1.
- 6-month: $215 – $90 to add a child – Available from June 1.
- 3-month: $135 – $80 to add a child – Available from September 1.
The current registration is for 12 months.
All memberships end on November 30 each year. Horse park locks change, and new memberships begin on December 1.
TO REGISTER FOR MEMBERSHIP, CLICK ON OUR HORSE LOGO BELOW.
Have a recent photograph of yourself and any children you add to your membership ready on your device to upload to the registration page. We need a headshot that clearly shows the face. The photo must be in an image format, e.g., jpeg or png. Do not submit it in PDF or Word format. DO NOT use your passport or driver’s licence; take a selfie and use that instead.
You can pay by debit or credit card. Once we have processed your registration and allocated a key, we will email you instructions for collecting your membership pack. If you do not receive this email, please check your spam folder.
A condition of membership is wearing a high-visibility vest with the Kake Hōiho logo in the horse park. Vests are available at the office for $26.
You can collect your key from our Restall Road office. If you are a returning member, bring your old key when you collect the new one. Otherwise, a lost key fee of $100 applies (refunded on return of the key). You must return your key at the end of the membership period.
Keys for 12-month Earlybird memberships are available to collect from December 1.
Members cannot give their horse park keys to other riders.
Members cannot let other riders into Woodhill Forest unless they are current members with an ID card or casual riders with a current receipt.
The horse park is for registered riders only; no accompanying pedestrians, dog walkers, or cyclists.
Keys will not be issued to riders 16 years of age or younger. A registered adult rider must supervise them.
Please read the terms and conditions and contact the office for further information.
- Phone 09 420 9566 ext. 1
- Email [email protected]
Office hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday.
The office is closed on weekends and public holidays.
Riders not following the terms and conditions could have their memberships suspended or cancelled, be asked to leave the horse park, be trespassed, or all of the above.
- All riders must be registered (form completed, payment made) as members or casual riders.
- All riders must wear a riding helmet and a hi-vis vest in the forest.
- Members must wear a vest with the Kake Hōiho logo on it.
- All riders must carry a current ID card or receipt – you could be asked to leave the forest if you cannot show a current ID card or receipt upon request.
- Casual riders can borrow a hi-vis vest from the office or wear their own.
- A tag with a contact name and number must be placed on the saddle or bridle in case the horse gets lost or separated from the rider.
- Riderless horses must be led by a mounted rider, with a connecting lead or rope, and always under their control.
- You must notify us immediately of any missing or loose horses or dogs in the horse park. Alert Kake Hōiho staff if they are present on site or call the office (09 420 9566 ext.1) during business hours, or leave a message on the office line. Call 021 128 4550 outside business hours to reach the after-hours duty manager, or leave a message on the office line. Riders cannot search the forest outside the horse park, on foot, by vehicle, or in the dark for lost horses/dogs. Do not post messages about lost horses/dogs via social media except to horse park members on the Kake Hōiho Facebook page. Non-staff / non-members trying to enter the park and search unfamiliar terrain for a lost horse or dog can exacerbate problems (e.g., people getting lost).
- Vehicle access is limited to the car parks within the licensed area.
- All vehicles and horse floats entering the car park must have a current WOF and registration.
- All vehicles entering the car park must be registered through membership or casual entry.
- If you are a member, you must display a Vehicle Parking Permit sticker on your vehicle. Casual rider vehicles are recorded online.
- Members cannot let other riders into Woodhill Forest unless they are current members with an ID card or casual riders who have paid the casual-entry fee and have a current receipt.
- A horse park key is strictly for the use of the member to whom it was issued. Members cannot let another rider use their key but can bring paid and registered casual riders to the park.
- Registration runs to November 30th annually. Members must return their keys at the end of the membership period.
- Riders 16 years or under are considered children and must ride with a registered adult rider.
- Riders can add children (16 years or younger on the registration date) to their membership. The member is responsible for the added children. No keys or memberships are issued to riders 16 years or younger.
- No pedestrians, accompanying pedestrians, dog walkers, or cyclists are permitted on the horse tracks or in the park. Horse riders only.
- Logging trucks and vehicles have the right of way, so you must take extra care when crossing forest roads.
- You can cross forest roads, but you cannot ride along them.
- Te Ngahere o Woodhill is an operational production forest with year-round harvesting and forestry activity. Please adhere to all warning signage. You cannot access areas that have been taped off.
- You are permitted to ride on the trails within the horse park boundary and the approved and marked trails south of the southern border.
- If you ride in other areas, you are trespassing. You could be prosecuted and have your membership revoked.
- Access to the approved trails south of the southern park border (Wightman’s Way) is not permitted when events (e.g., motocross) are scheduled.
- Access to the horse park and approved trails is restricted during high fire-risk periods or when winds exceed 65 kph. The park and approved trails will close when the safety of riders and their horses is compromised. We endeavour to notify riders of any changes to access and any forestry activity that will impact the use of the park – please monitor announcements on www.woodhillforest.co.nz and our Facebook page: Te Ngahere Kake Hōiho.
- ALWAYS LOCK GATES BEHIND YOU – Unlocked gates open the forest to unauthorised access. Please keep all gates closed.
- Members can use their keys to enter through the horse gates at Muriwai (lock the gates behind you). You cannot let other riders into Woodhill Forest unless they are current members with an ID card or are casual riders who have paid the casual entry fee and have a current receipt. No entry through the horse gates before 6.30 am or after 6 pm in winter or 8 pm in summer. No entry through the horse gates before 6.30 am or after 6 pm in winter and 8 pm in summer.
- NO RIDING DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS.
- There is no access to the dune areas north of the Muriwai Regional Park and Old Telephone Track.
- You can bring your dog to the park if you can control it at all times. It must be able to keep up with you on your horse and be tied up in the car park. The limit is one dog per rider. If your dog causes harm or distress to others, it will be banned from the horse park. Incidents created by dogs could lead to a ban on all dogs.
- Smoking is prohibited.
- Registration runs until November 30th annually. At the end of the registration period, members must return all keys. Riders must re-register to continue accessing the horse park.
- LOST KEYS INCUR A FEE OF $100.
- Returning members will not receive new keys until they return their old keys or pay the lost key fee.
- HORSE GATE LOCKS ARE CHANGED ON THE 1ST OF DECEMBER EACH YEAR.
Horse riding is a high-risk activity. When you ride in Te Ngahere o Woodhill, you do so at your own risk, so stay alert to the hazards of the environment. If you identify a hazard, please report it to the Kake Hōiho staff if they are present on site, call the office (09 420 9566 ext.1 – 9 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday) or email the details to [email protected]. Please provide as much information as possible, including photos, to allow for prompt removal/management of the hazard. These terms and conditions are subject to change and amendment.
THERE ARE WILD ANIMALS IN THE FOREST THAT MAY SPOOK YOUR HORSE.
NO RIDING ON FOREST LAND OUTSIDE THE HORSE PARK BOUNDARY
except on the approved marked trails that are conditionally accessible south of the horse park.
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY DIAL 111.
If you require an immediate response from our company after hours,
for an urgent matter that cannot wait until the next business day, phone 021 128 4550.
Vehicles left in the forest after hours will either be towed at the owner’s expense or incur the release fee charged by First Security:
0800 347 787
Horse park boundary:
Boundary tracks marked in red below:
Approved trails south of the horse park (access closed when other activities are scheduled in the area):
Muriwai Beach Horse Treks trail (registered riders can use this trail as long as they give way to the trekkers):
We have received reports of keys sticking in the lock at the Restall Road gate. If this happens to you, try pushing the barrel in while turning the key. Hopefully, this will help temporarily until we can fix or replace the lock.
You must register as a member or casual rider to access the horse park. You must ride with a current ID or receipt or risk being trespassed.
The forest gate closing time is 8 pm until daylight saving ends.
Office hours are from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday (closed on weekends and public holidays).
Dog owners, please note: We receive many complaints regarding the behaviour of dogs in the horse park toward riders, horses, and other dogs. There have been instances of injury to riders caused by dogs. We are monitoring the situation. If we continue to receive complaints due to dog owners not adhering to the terms and conditions that govern dogs in the horse park, we will reassess permitting dogs. We understand that most owners follow the terms and conditions; their dogs do not cause harm and are well-adapted to the park environment. However, we cannot tolerate these harmful, distressing incidents if we can prevent them. Riders are currently allowed to bring their dogs to the park, but please be aware that this could change at any time, depending on how well dog-owning riders manage their dogs. The limit is one dog per rider.
Please note that returning members will not receive a new key unless they return the old key or pay the lost key fee ($100).
Horse park boundary tracks in red:
Approved trails south of the horse park (access closed when other activities are scheduled in the area):
Registered riders can use the Muriwai Beach Horse Treks trail, provided they give way to the trekkers.
RIDERS
You can cross forest roads, but you cannot ride along them. Please remember that Woodhill Forest is an operational forest. Riding close to harvesting areas compromises not only the safety of the rider but also that of the operators. If you are found riding in a harvesting area, you could be asked to leave the forest and have your membership revoked.
NO RIDING ON FOREST LAND OUTSIDE THE HORSE PARK BOUNDARY
other than on the marked trails that are conditionally accessible south of the horse park. If you ride in any other forest area, you are trespassing, and you could be prosecuted and have your membership revoked.
HAZARDS
If you encounter a hazard when you are riding in the park, please notify us by email at [email protected], via messenger, or by phoning 09 420 9566 ext. 1 during office hours with a description of the hazard and its location (the name of the track, photo if possible).
AFTER HOURS
If you need to contact us after hours regarding an incident in Woodhill Forest that requires an immediate response from our Company (i.e., a matter of urgency that cannot wait until the next business day), please phone 021 128 4550 to reach on-call staff. In an EMERGENCY, dial 111.
Coast Road is permanently closed to motorised vehicle access.
Access by foot, bicycle, or horse is permitted during the hours of daylight,
No access is permitted into Woodhill Forest beyond the formation of Coast Road from the security gate to Old Telephone Track.
Auckland Council Regional Parks manage access to the 5-mile strip (Muriwai Regional Park).
Woodhill Forest land east of Coast Road and north of Old Telephone Track is PRIVATE PROPERTY. Trespassers will be prosecuted.
Kaipara Air Weapons Range (KAWR)
Military Operating Area M103 is going to be activated Sea Level to 1000 feet for the following activity:
DANGER NOTICE
NZ DEFENCE EXPLOSIVE DEMOLITION ACTIVITY
The Kaipara Air Weapons Range will be activated on 25th Nov – 29th Nov 2024 from 0800 – 1700 (8:00 am – 5:00pm) daily. The New Zealand Defence Force will be conducting Explosive Demolition during this period. The area concerned is the land and sea at South Kaipara Head contained within a 4500 metre radius circle centred on a position 36 degrees 28 minutes 45.3 seconds South and 174 degrees 9 minutes 38.1 seconds East (also known as area M103). The area will be marked by flags on the beach and road access, which will be patrolled. For their safety the Public are WARNED to stay well clear of the area during the periods of activation.
Public Announcements from Manulife Investment Management Forest Management NZ
The Department of Conservation has issued the following notice in October 2022:
We are advising that the public access easement at Tasman and Rimmer Road,/ Muriwai Beach, Auckland, is current closed to members of the public due to safety concerns.
This means there is currently no public access across the land privately owned by Ngā Maunga Whakahii o Kaipara to Muriwai Beach.
The Department is currently in discussion with other agencies and interested parties to address the ongoing maintenance and management of the public access easement.
All correspondence is to be emailed to [email protected].
We thank members of the public for respecting the easement closures during this period.
We asked the public to report all emergencies to FENZ (fire) or NZ Police (111) and all suspicious behaviour to 027 535 5770.
PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENT STATUS FROM 5PM 21 AUGUST 2024 forwards:
Easement |
Date from |
Date to |
Status |
Tasman Road |
6pm 10-Feb-23 |
Until further notice. |
Closed for safety of public access easement
|
Rimmer Road |
3-Oct-22 |
Until further notice. |
Closed for safety of public access easement
|
Coast Road |
5pm 21 August 2024 |
Until further notice. |
Walk-in access only on Coast Road to access
|
Please remember
-
Additional to the above, there is no public access permitted into Woodhill Forest beyond the open Public Access Easement roads, and no public access (by any means) beyond to the east of Coast Road, or north of Old Telephone Track.
Reason: the land is private property. Contact 09 420 9566 for more information. -
VEHICLES LOCKED IN MUST CALL SECURITY ON 0275355770, and PAY THE NIGHT GATE OPEN CHARGE.
-
Auckland Council Regional Parks manage access to the 5-mile strip (Muriwai Regional Park).
Any changes to the Public Access Easement access will be published by Thursday 4 pm during a given week or when conditions change.
Signage will be displayed at the start of the easements.
We ask the public to report all emergencies to FENZ (fire) or NZ Police (111) and all suspicious behaviour to 027 535 5770.
COAST ROAD PUBLIC ACCESS EASEMENT
Coast Road is permanently closed to motorised vehicle access.
Access by foot, bicycle or horse is permitted during daylight hours.
There is no access permitted into Woodhill Forest beyond the formation of Coast Road from the Coast Road security gate to Old Telephone Track.
Woodhill Forest land to the east of Coast Road and north of Old Telephone Track is private property, trespassers will be prosecuted.
There is public access from the easement to the Muriwai Regional Park that is west of Coast Road and south of Old Telephone Track.
Auckland Council Regional Parks (Muriwai Rangers) manage access to the 5-mile strip (Muriwai Regional Park).
To contact the Muriwai Rangers phone 09 369 5829.
Any changes to Public Access Easement access will be published on the Notices page of this website and on the Forest Information Line.
Forest Information Line:
09 420 9566 ext. 0
Manulife Forest Management New Zealand:
09 470 1300 or 09 283 9019 after hours
Security Contact Details:
- First Security – 0800 347 787 (Restall Road gate)
- Black Hawk Security – 027 535 5770 (Rimmer Road gate)
If you witness any suspicious activity in the forest or on the beach, please phone the Crimestoppers line on 0800-555-111 or report the incident on 09-839-0600