Gazing across the sparkling waters of Kohimaramara Beach, can you imagine a time when this tranquil oasis was a bustling hub for racehorses? Kohimaramara Beach, nestled between Mission Bay and St Heliers in Auckland, boasts a rich history interwoven with Maori culture and European settlement. The name itself hints at its past, once known as Waiparera, meaning “duck water,” a testament to its role as a breeding ground for the pīrera, the grey duck. Before European arrival, the Kohimarama area was a significant part of the Kohimarama block, a vast 600-acre expanse stretching from Ōrākei-Mission Bay to the Tāmaki River. This land was sold by the Ngāti Pāoa iwi to the Crown in 1841.
In 1841, William Field Porter became the first European settler in Kohimarama. He found a landscape of lagoon, raupo swamp, and the sweeping sands of Kohimaramara Beach, the longest beach on the harbor. Porter’s men, including Thomas Kemp who later became a prominent landowner in Mission Bay, worked tirelessly to clear, fence, and drain the land, transforming it for agricultural pursuits. The arrival of the Kohimarama Wharf in 1912 marked a turning point for the area. It brought visitors and trade, leading to the establishment of Kohimarama’s first business, a tearoom catering to wharf arrivals. The difficult access around the rocky shoreline spurred the construction of a road, which eventually became the scenic Tamaki Drive.
Kohimarama Beach held a unique distinction from 1892 to 1919, becoming known as “Jockey Bay.” Racehorses were trained on the beach and surrounding land, a far cry from the leisurely atmosphere of today. In 1919, the stables moved to Mission Bay, and the land was leased to W.H. Madill, a dairy farmer. His legacy remains in Madills Farm Recreation Reserve, a popular green space in the area. Kohimarama Beach has always been a place of community. The Kohimarama Yacht Club, established in 1939, stands as a testament to this spirit. Initially focused on youth sailing, the club built its clubhouse at Gower’s Point in 1957.
More recently, in 2009, significant investment was made to protect the beach’s natural beauty. A project costing $10,000,000 focused on preserving the pōhutukawa trees and stabilizing the eroding sea wall. A boardwalk was built, sand was brought in from Pakiri beach, and naturalistic rock headlands were created, now a distinctive feature of the Tamaki Drive coastline. Today, Kohimarama Beach is a quieter alternative to some of the other beaches along Tamaki Drive. Cafes line the beachfront, offering stunning views of the Hauraki Gulf. It is a place where the past meets the present. The echoes of horses’ hooves have faded. Now, gentle waves lap the shore, and the laughter of families enjoying a picnic fills the air. Kohimaramara Beach invites you to relax, reflect, and appreciate the beauty and history that surrounds you.