Did you know that the name Ōmana is a shortening of Ōmanawatere? It means “The Place of Manawatere”. This beautiful regional park, including Ōmana Beach, has been a traditional home for Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki for generations.
Legend says that Manawatere came from Hawaiki. He didn’t arrive in a canoe. Instead, he glided over the waves. Some say he rode on the back of a taniwha.
Today, Ōmana Regional Park spans over 40 hectares. It features coastal cliffs and native forests. There are also beautiful picnic areas for everyone to enjoy.
From the highest point, you can see Maraetai to Beachlands. Seaward, there are views of the Hauraki Gulf. Twenty-six different types of birds call this park home. Keep an eye out for the tūī. It appears almost black except for a white tuft under its chin. The white-fronted tern rests on the greywacke outcrops. These outcrops become visible at low tide on Ōmana Beach.
Ōmana Beach and its rock platform form the park’s northern boundary. The park is underlain by ancient greywacke. This harder basement sedimentary rock is between 30 and 100 meters deep. These rocks are part of the Waiheke group. The softer sandstone is part of the Waitamata group.
Interestingly, ancient tips of greywacke sea stacks protrude through the sandstone. These stacks are 200 million years old. They stand about 1 to 2 meters high. You can find them on the shore platform, about 200 meters east of Ōmana Beach.
Apart from the pōhutukawa and grass areas, there is unique vegetation. You can find mature tōnekaha and pūriri trees here. Other large trees include rewarewa, mapou, kōwhai, tōtara, tree ferns, cabbage trees, and kahikatea.
The intertidal ecology is diverse. The rocky shore platform has small pools at low tide. These are home to barnacles, rock oysters, and Neptune’s necklace. The sand and mudflats contain cockles, pipi, crabs, and worms.
On the perimeter track, a grassed area overlooks the sea. This was the original site of a Ngāi Tai pā. You can still see a deep ditch.
Ōmana Beach park was once part of William Fairburn’s Maraetai Mission Station. It operated from 1837 to 1842. This was one of the first European farms in eastern Auckland. Settlers felled the forest for timber. They cleared the land for farming. Kauri felled in the Maraetai hills was hauled to the sea. Then it was floated to mills in Auckland. The Ōmana Beach park area was also dug for kauri gum. People even prospected for gold and silver here.
The area was farmed continuously until March 1970. Then, the Auckland Regional Authority purchased it. They developed it into a regional park.
So, as you enjoy the views, remember the rich history of Ōmana Beach. It is a place of legends and geological wonders.