A North-Facing Harbour Beach
Grahams Beach is a small harbour settlement near the northeast tip of the Āwhitu Peninsula, on the south-western shore of the Manukau Harbour. It is one of the more family-friendly of the peninsula's harbour bays, with a well-maintained foreshore reserve, a playground, barbecues and easy parking. It looks east across the harbour towards Mangere and the Auckland skyline, and on clear days, the Sky Tower is visible.
The Beach and Reserve
The beach at Grahams Beach is sandy and north-facing, with calm conditions suited to young children and leisurely swimming around high tide. At high tide, the water laps right up to teh reserve barrier in most places. At low tide, the flats are significant, as with the other harbour-side bays of the peninsula, extending well out into the harbour. The reserve behind the beach is well maintained, with mown grass, established trees for shade, a playground and picnic facilities.
A boat ramp provides harbour access for small craft. From Grahams Beach, Āwhitu Regional Park, Manukau South Head and the western coast beaches are all within easy reach.
History
Grahams Beach was once served by a ferry route to Onehunga, connecting the peninsula to the port side of Auckland from as early as 1895. A wharf was built around 1903, and a primary school flourished in the community from the 1920s until 1949, when rural schools were consolidated at Awhitu District School. Today, it is a quiet place for mostly family holidays.
How to Get There
From Waiuku, follow Awhitu Road through the small township of Āwhitu onto Āwhitu Central Road, then turn north onto Tram Gully Road, where this road becomes Graham Beach Road. Follow the road to the beach reserve. The drive takes 39 minutes and is 41 km.
Other nearby places to visit include Āwhitu Central, Wattle Bay, Ōrua Bay, and Big Bay, all within a short drive on the eastern side of the peninsula.
