PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
O
Destinations
Home›Destinations›Orewa
OceaniaNew ZealandAuckland

Orewa

Auckland, New Zealand · Oceania

About Orewa

Orewa is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Silverdale, 28km from Auckland Harbour Bridge.

Orewa is a town located in Auckland, New Zealand. With a population of 12,630, it is an important destination in Oceania.

On a road trip, Orewa sits in New Zealand, where you drive on the left. It's in the Pacific/Auckland time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Orewa to your route.

About Orewa

Orewa (Māori: Ōrewa) is a settlement in the northern Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is a suburb of the Hibiscus Coast, just north of the base of the Whangaparāoa Peninsula and 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of central Auckland. The Northern Motorway, part of State Highway 1, passes just inland of Orewa and extends

Read more through the twin Johnston Hill tunnels to near Puhoi. Tāmaki Māori settled in the Orewa area since at least the 13th century, utilising the resources of the Ōrewa River and Whangaparāoa Bay, where an important shark fishery was located. After the Kawerau warrior Maki unified many of the Tāmaki Māori people of the northern and western Auckland Region, his younger son Maraeariki settled along the Ōrewa River. Kawerau hapū, including Ngāti Kahu, lived in the Orewa area until the mid-19th century. Orewa was a part of the Mahurangi Block, forest sold to the Crown in 1841. Kauri loggers and itinerant kauri gum diggers were among the first Europeans to come to Orewa, with the first permanent residents arriving in the 1840s and 1850s. Orewa House was constructed in 1856, becoming the de Jersey Grut family home for three generations, later run as a boarding house and accommodation by Alice and Edward Eaves. During the 1920s, Orewa became a popular destination for campers and holidayers. Orewa rapidly developed suburban housing in the 1950s and 1960s, in part due to the opening of the Auckland Harbour Bridge, with the town centre and Hillary Square developing from 1953. Further major developments at Orewa occurred in the 1980s and 2000s, and Orewa became the administrative centre for the Rodney District from 1989 to 2010. The town gained national press in 2004 when National Party leader Don Brash gave the Orewa Speech, in which he discussed race relations between Māori and Pākehā.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Orewa

Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.

Filter presets

Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.

Booking.comExpediaTripAdvisorHotels.comAgodaAirbnb

Compare before you book!

Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Orewa.

Explore the Area

Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Orewa.

Loading map...
Open in Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Orewa?

Orewa offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Orewa?

Plan your road trip to Orewa with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Orewa as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Orewa located?

Orewa is located in Auckland, New Zealand, Oceania. The coordinates are -36.5810 latitude, 174.6790 longitude.

What is the population of Orewa?

Orewa has a population of approximately 12,630 people, making it a town in New Zealand.

Plan a Road Trip

Add to your itinerary

Start planning your road trip with Orewa as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Start Road Trip

What's Nearby?

Discover destinations like Tinder

Swipe through stunning destinations near Orewa. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.

Explore now

Quick Information

Population
12,630
Continent
Oceania
Country
New Zealand
Region
Auckland
Timezone
Pacific/Auckland
Coordinates
-36.5810, 174.6790

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in New Zealand

Police
111
Ambulance
111
Fire
111
Non-emergency police
105
Driving side
left

Many rural bridges are single-lane. Give way as signed.

Full driving guide for New Zealand

Tags

OceaniaNew ZealandAucklandTown

Worth the detour from Orewa

6 notable places within an hour's drive.

bridge

Auckland Harbour Bridge

The eight-lane icon spanning Waitematā Harbour since 1959, carrying SH1 into downtown Auckland with skyline and gulf views: thrill-seekers can climb it or bungy jump off it.

28 km · about 35 min drive

landmark

Sky Tower

328-metre observation and telecommunications tower dominating the Auckland skyline, New Zealand's tallest man-made structure.

31 km · about 35 min drive

landmark

Auckland Zoo

New Zealand's largest zoo with native wildlife including kiwi alongside exotic species from around the globe.

32 km · about 35 min drive

scenic viewpoint

Muriwai Gannet Colony

Around 1,200 pairs of Australasian gannets nest on a cliff shelf and sea stack west of Auckland, with viewing platforms placed metres from the birds. Occupied roughly August to March.

36 km · about 40 min drive

beach

Piha Beach

Auckland's wild west coast surf beach, dominated by the iconic Lion Rock and powerful black-sand breakers.

46 km · about 55 min drive

beach

Karekare Beach

A vast black-sand beach beneath the Waitakere Ranges, where The Piano was filmed, with a waterfall in the bush behind the car park. Wilder and emptier than neighbouring Piha.

49 km · about 55 min drive

Driving roads near Orewa

  • 28 kmAuckland Harbour BridgeThe eight-lane icon spanning Waitematā Harbour since 1959, carrying SH1 into downtown Auckland with skyline and gulf views: thrill-seekers can climb it or bungy jump off it.
  • 36 kmMuriwai Gannet ColonyAround 1,200 pairs of Australasian gannets nest on a cliff shelf and sea stack west of Auckland, with viewing platforms placed metres from the birds. Occupied roughly August to March.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Orewa.

Silverdale

🇳🇿 New Zealand

4 km awayPop. 2,370

Whangaparaoa

🇳🇿 New Zealand

10 km awayPop. 3,786

Dairy Flat

🇳🇿 New Zealand

10 km awayPop. 5,090

Albany

🇳🇿 New Zealand

15 km awayPop. 12,930

Oteha Valley

🇳🇿 New Zealand

16 km awayPop. 5,850

Browns Bay

🇳🇿 New Zealand

16 km awayPop. 10,760

Kaukapakapa

🇳🇿 New Zealand

16 km awayPop. 1,110

Rothesay Bay

🇳🇿 New Zealand

17 km awayPop. 3,060

Plan a Road Trip from Orewa

Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.

Start Planning
PYRT

The ultimate road trip planning platform. Discover 150,000+ destinations worldwide, plan scenic routes, and create unforgettable adventures.

Inspiration

  • Discover Trips
  • Travel Guides
  • Community

The Product

  • Calendar Planner
  • Integrations
  • How It Works
  • Collaboration Mode
  • Get the App
  • Merchandise: PYRT Supply Co.
  • Become a Creator
  • Trip Marketplace

Plan Your Trip

  • Road Trip Planner
  • Famous Routes
  • Planners by Country
  • Best Road Trip Planner App
  • Discover Road Trips
  • Events
  • Travel Guides
  • How It Works
  • My Trips
  • Community Groups

Company

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

© 2026 Plan Your Road Trips. All rights reserved.

•[email protected]
Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence