Top locations for engagement photos in Auckland
If you are looking for the top locations for engagement photos in Auckland, here is my list…
Auckland is (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It is one of the best locations for an engagement photos in New Zealand, due to its unique combination of gorgeous beaches, clean city streets, stunning waterfalls, large forests (housing beautiful native trees) and volcanic cones boasting wonderful 360 degree vistas of the city. You have so many options for engagement photographs! This blog post will go through my personal top locations for engagement photos in Auckland.
One of the most unique things about Auckland is the fact that you can see the sun rising at the start of the day and the sun setting at the end of the day. This is because it has both an east and a west coast; if you look at a map, it’s on a pretty narrow piece of land. It is rare for a city in New Zealand (or anywhere for that matter) to have this feature.
This list is based on my own experience of photographing engagement shoots in Auckland – I have done many of these so I know these locations very well.
1) Muriwai Beach
Muriwai Beach is simply amazing. In my opinion it is one of the absolute top locations for engagement photos in Auckland. It is in West Auckland, which in my opinion is the most beautiful part of Auckland. It is home to one of the best images I have ever taken. The first image below won the best engagement photo competition in the world in 2017 (for more on this, see this page). It is also home to some of the most amazing sunsets I have ever seen. If you are lucky enough to get a sunny day, you will see the actual sun dipping down below the horizon!
Muriwai is also home to a gannet colony, which means that birds are constantly flying overhead (you might just be lucky enough to get some in your photographs!). It has interesting rock formations, sparkling black sand and if the tide is right, we might just be able to sneak into the cave for some dramatic portraits.
Tips: if the tide is too high, the cave is not accessible, so it’s worth checking this out in advance. The light is best at sunset, but there are normally some tourists and members of the public on the beach. This has never been an issue for me as the beach is quite big and generally people are respectful.
For an entire engagement shoot taken at Muriwai Beach (by me), click here.
2) Maori Bay
Maori Bay is also on the West Coast of Auckland. It is also one of the absolute top locations for engagement photos in Auckland. I will admit that I might just be a little biased towards this part of Auckland, but it’s honestly so stunning! It is actually very close to Muriwai Beach, but the photographs it offers can look quite different. At Maori Bay, you are directly below the gannet colony so you will hopefully get birds flying into the background of your photographs. It is also a black sandy beach and is much smaller and less crowded than Muriwai Beach.
It has a cave, which is in my opinion, better that the cave at Muriwai Beach, due to its size and the fact that it has two openings. This means there are lots of spots with beautiful light for photographs.
Tips: Maori Bay is slightly harder to get to than Muriwai. The beach is lower than the car park and you need to walk over some rocks to get to the actual beach. I wouldn’t recommend wearing heels.
3) Karekare Falls
Karekare Falls in the Waitakere Ranges in West Auckland is my favourite waterfall in Auckland for engagement photos. Not only is it mostly tourist free (well it has been every time I have been there), it is super close to the road. I am talking a 2 minute walk, if that. If you are not big on hiking, then Karekare Falls is the waterfall for you! Most waterfalls in NZ (in my experience) require at least some hiking, so this waterfall makes the top of my list for ease of access!
It has a beautiful combination of a waterfall (who doesn’t love a waterfall in the background of their engagement photos?) and some lush green forest. It is also walking distance to Karekare Beach (which is also on this list, further down).
Tips: I will warn you, there are eels in that water. They don’t seem to bite though. If you don’t like eels, Kitekite Falls might be a better option for you.
4) Piha Beach
Piha Beach is another black sand beach on the West Coast of Auckland and is fairly infamous for having rough sea (I probably wouldn’t swim there to be honest) and people constantly needing to be rescued from said rough sea (I am really selling it here, aren’t I?). There is even an entire show dedicated to this called Piha Rescue…
We are not swimming there though when we do an engagement shoot, so it’s fine!
One of the most beautiful things about Piha is this really big rock covered in greenery. There are also lots of smaller rocks. Again, I feel like I am not really selling this. Rocks, needing to be rescued from the sea. I might let the photographs speak for themselves. Below are some photograph taken on Piha Beach. The rare black sand is really quite striking.
Tips: Piha gets mind-blowing sunsets, so this is the best time of day to go there. It is a popular beach so there will be many members of the public dotted all over the beach – surfers and tourists. Due to its size this should not be an issue; you might even end up with a surfer in your photos!
5) Kitekite Falls
Kitekite Falls is also on Auckland’s West Coast.
It is a sweet little waterfall that cascades into a swimming hole nestled in the Waitakere Ranges. It is a bit of a hike to get there (with some uphill parts), but the water below the waterfall is entirely safe to swim in and I can confirm that, in my experience, it is eel free.
The best part of hiking to Kitekite Falls (especially in the heat) is being able to jump into that clean, fresh water once you get there. We can go into the water for your engagement photos if you like – I am keen!
Tips: I would allow around 40 minutes to one hour for the hike (depending on fitness levels). It isn’t the hardest hike in the world but it does require some fitness. I would allow an extra two hours (on top of shooting time) to get there and back. Also, there are likely to be tourists swimming in the water and they tend to stick around for a long time, only to be replaced by more tourists when the original tourists leave. I would go at sunrise if you want to avoid people potentially getting in the background of the photographs.
6) The North Shore
The North Shore has some amazing beaches, which look exceptionally different to the West Coast beaches – it’s hard to believe they are even in the same city! These beaches are on the East Coast, so if you want to see the sun itself, you can see it at sunrise!
The North Shore beaches boast golden sand, sandy coloured rocks, turquoise water and a view of the volcano, Rangitoto. They are popular beaches for swimming in the summer months.
Here are some images from an engagement shoot that I did on a North Shore beach. We all got into the water (mostly because we could), which was so much fun! The beach in the photos is a little hidden cove – we went there at sunrise and it was completely deserted. Other gorgeous beaches on the North Shore include Cheltenham Beach, Narrow Neck Beach and Takapuna Beach.
Tips: At sunset these beaches are likely to have people on them, but they are big enough that it should not be an issue. To avoid people entirely, I recommend going at sunrise; this also means you will see the sun come up over the ocean.
7) Tawharanui Peninsula
Tawharanui Peninsula is slightly north of Auckland and projects into the Hauraki Gulf. It is home to the Tahwharanui Regional Park and has some pretty beautiful beaches, which have been practically empty every time I have visited them (even at peak times)! I know of one particular beach along the peninsula with white sand, a cave and a giant rock. This is one of my favourite beaches in the Auckland region!
Tips: It is a short walk from the car park to my favourite beach. Tawharanui Regional Park is around 1 hour 20 out of the Auckland CBD (by car).
8) Bethells Beach (Te Henga)
Bethells Beach is incredible. It is on Auckland’s West Coast and is one of the best locations for engagement photographs. It has huge desert-like sand dunes and not one but two caves. It also has some interesting rock formations, which form a very unique backdrop. The sunsets there are out of this world.
Tips: It is a short walk from the car park to the beach itself. The drive to get there is beautiful, but can be windy in parts. Bethells Beach can often be quite busy, so I would arrive early for your shoot to allow time to get a car park! Sometimes you need to drive around for a little bit as the car park is quite small. The beach is very large so even if it’s busy, this should not affect your photographs. You have to walk along the entire length of the beach to get to one of the caves, but it is fully worth it!
9) Maraetai Beach
Maraetai Beach is in South-East Auckland and is probably the beach I have visited the most out of all of the Auckland beaches. This is mostly due to the fact that our house is quite close to it, and we can take the dog there! It is more of a calm bay than a beach, but it has beautiful blue water surrounded by rolling green hills. It doesn’t have as much variation in the landscape as the West Auckland beaches, but it’s still worth a visit, particularly if you live in South Auckland.
The images below are from a wedding portrait shoot but I wanted to showcase how beautiful Maraetai looks in this light – this was right before the sun went down on a cloudy day. The water looked very blue on one angle and completely green on another!
Tips: There is not a lot of sand to work with as the water comes up quite close to the road, so I suggest looking at the tide times and attempting to go at low tide – this will mean it is easier for you to walk along the beach! I have always easily managed to get a car park on the side of the road.
10) Auckland Botanic Gardens
The Auckland Botanic Gardens is a great location if you want a garden setting for your engagement images. It is also a great option if you want a location in South Auckland (as I know a lot of the locations on this page are out west!). The Auckland Botanic Gardens is unique because it has some incredibly interesting looking plants that definitely don’t seem to grow in the South Island (where I grew up). It also has plants from NZ (and around the world) that are threatened with extinction.
It boasts a plethora of native plants, a rose garden, a Gondwana Arboretum, a rock garden and it even has a South African garden! Every time I go there I see new, interesting looking plants that I swear I have never seen before.
The images below are from a wedding portrait shoot, but the flowers were in full bloom and they illustrate how much potential this beautiful location really does have!
Tips: This is a great venue to go to rain or shine as there are some covered parts. The car park has always had spaces every time I have gone there, so I wouldn’t worry about that. The motorway can be pretty congested in that part of Auckland so I would allow extra time to get there. It tends to get quite busy, but because it is large, this shouldn’t affect your photographs.
11) Cornwall Park
Cornwall Park is gorgeous. Every time I go there, I discover something new, as it’s just so enormous! The best thing about it are the tree lined paths, which can provide shade on a sunny day if you can’t do your engagement photos at sunset. One Tree Hill is gorgeous (it does require a hike) and there are loads of sheep if you happen to want sheep in your engagement photos! We can end up with pretty varied images and it’s loads of fun to explore.
Tips: You need to be reasonably fit to hike up One Tree Hill. Cornwall Park tends to be busy, but since it’s so big, this is not normally an issue.
12) Mission Bay
Mission Bay has calm topaz water, white sand, a fountain and a great view of Rangitoto. This is a good option if you want to do your engagement shoot at an eastern beach. The best thing about Mission Bay is the ice cream shop across from the beach – based on this alone it’s a huge win in my books!
Tips: It does get very busy during the summer months, so I would recommend going at sunrise if you want to avoid people getting in the background of the photographs. We can avoid the public to some degree at sunset, but it is a very busy beach and not massive so it’s generally dotted with people swimming and sunbathing.
13) Auckland CBD
If you want more of an urban themed engagement shoot then I highly recommend the Auckland central business district. We can amble through the streets and use the architecture to get some interesting photographs which deviate a bit from my landscape type shots.
On the way into the city, there is a cycle lane called the Nelson Street cycleway; if you stand in the cycleway we can get a lovely wide angle photograph with the entire Auckland central business district in the background.
Tips: Parking is pretty difficult in the middle of the city so I would recommend taking public transport. If you just want the Auckland skyline in your images then I suggest going to either Mt Victoria or Devonport (keep reading…).
14) Waiheke Island
Just a short ferry ride away from Auckland city, Waiheke Island has some of the most beautiful beaches in the Auckland region. It is definitely worth a visit and a great choice for your engagement photos! The boat ride alone makes it a lovely day out.
Tips: Make sure you look at the ferry timetable in advance before you head out to Waiheke so that you can get back to the mainland after the shoot if you don’t intend on staying out there!
15) Devonport
Devonport is a residential suburb of Auckland over on the North Shore, but it’s a super cute location for engagement photographs due to the historical nature of the buildings. It is also in close proximity to Mt Victoria and has some beautiful beaches. One beach has a gorgeous view of the Auckland central business district. It is a location that you can use to incorporate different aspects of Auckland into your shoot – you can have cityscapes, village and beach backdrops all in the one shoot. Some of the streets are lined with Pohutukawa trees too!
The photos below were taken at a Devonport beach at night – you get the best views of the Auckland skyline from here!
Tips: I would recommend going at sunset and then doing some night portraits once the sun goes down as the city really comes alive in the background of your photographs at night.
16) Mt Victoria/Takarunga
Mt Victoria is in Devonport on the North Shore of Auckland. It contains, in my opinion, some of the best views of Auckland in every direction, particularly at night. It is a bit of a hike to get up there (they banned cars from the summit in early 2018), but fully worth it if you are willing hike!
There is also a really old gun up there (it kind of looks like a cannon to me) and some random painted mushrooms on the grass, which are apparently vents for a water pumping station.
Tips: There are often tourists up there, but they tend to keep out of the way as it’s a big area. There are probably less tourists now that cars can’t drive up there.
I hope you found this list of top locations for engagement shoots in Auckland helpful!
Top locations for engagement photos in Auckland by Bethany Howarth Photography
You must have had an amazing time visiting all these great locations! I love the ones with the city lights in the background. If I ever make it to Auckland I’d love a photo shoot on beach.
It was so amazing, it’s honestly such a beautiful city! I can show you around if you ever make it over this way for sure!
These photos are gorgeous. What I love about these is that you have your own images and specific experiences that show how much you know the locations!
Thank you so much Megan!
Beautiful photos and love the top tips 💛
Thank you!
Beautiful! Males me want to go to NZ just to ger photos!
Thank you! You should definitely come!
Oh wow! You put so much work into this blog, so many gorgeous photos and amazing details and such gorgeous locations! This should be THE definitive blog post for where to take engagement photos. Love it!
Thank you so much Ofe!
Oh wow, wow, wow! Beautiful locations & stunning photography! How talented are you? If I ever get to New Zealand having pictures taken by you at one or more of these location is the top of my list. Fantastic blog, beautiful & informative.xxxxxxxx
You are too kind, thank you so much! I would love for you to come to NZ – I can show you around!
Such beautiful photos and amazing locations. I wish I could visit xxx
Thank you so much for your kind words, Kirsty!
These are beautiful!
Thank you Sarah!
All these photos are stunning. I love all your personal insights into each area, you really make every place sound amazing.
Thank you so much Sian!
These photos are stunning! I’m in love with Bethell Beach now! ❤️
Thank you Deb! Bethells is one of my favourite places ever! It’s such a special beach!
Mt Victoria, Maori bay and the North shore photos look amazing! I would love to do engagement photos with a beach setting to off set the snowy winter wedding we are planning!
So glad you like them! Sounds amazing!
Beautiful photos!! What an inspriation!!
Thanks so much Hayleigh!
Gorgeous photos ❤️
Thank you Kayley!
Beautiful Photos. can’t wait to have you at our wedding 🙂
I can’t wait either (and am super keen to go to Karekare!) 😀
Wow what amazing spots, love the Karekare falls and the Kitkite falls
Me too! The waterfalls are beautiful!
Ah wow! What beautiful locations & amazing photos! You really are a talented lady!
Thank you Zoe, means a lot!
Your photography is stunning and captures love and beauty so well. You have a gift for finding the most epic locations, thank you for sharing them.
Thank you so much Sharne!
Love this
Thank you Alanah!
Beautiful photos you are very talented
Thank you so much Linda!
Hope to share my best memory through your lens one day soon.
Yes! That would be great!
Love love love bethels beach and all of your pics are super stunning!
Me too! Thank you!
The waterfalls look amazing!! Who knew there were so many hidden gem photography spots in Auckland! I love going to northhead tunnels and definitely think there are some gem spots there too 😀
I know right! Auckland is absolutely beautiful!
Stunning pictures
Thank you!
I love the variety you have given with locations and style for photos 🙂 also love your top tips!
Thank you Amy!
These are all so stunning!!
Thank you so much!
Absolutely beautiful photos I never thought of doing photos to celebrate our engagement
Thanks!
Looks like I need to make a trip up to Auckland one day! We are down in Central Otago and I have only ever flown through Auckland. Some gorgeous place you have there
Thank you so much!
All great spots, waiheke has so many beautiful places, it would be hard to choose just 1
I know right?
Pretty
Cheers!
Ah I hadn’t thought of so many of these places, and they’re all magical! Thank you!
Thank you!
Anything with water, the rugged west coast are my favs
I love the West Coast!
What a great article! So many places I never would of thought of!
Auckland is amazing, right?
Oh I had not considered Auckland CBD before!! Will have to add that to my list! 🧡
Yay!
Your photos look amazing!!
Thank you!
These photos are incredible!! Love love love your work!
Thank you so much!
Awesome locations! I had my maternity photos taken at Kariotahi, you should check it out if you havent already 🙂
Thank you!
Beautiful settings
Thanks Glyn!
That water shot that you got on Takapuna beach is 😍😍 love!!! CBD too!!
Thanks Kristine! I love that beach!
Awesome photos 😍
Thank you Beverly!
Such cool places to have photoshoots! Can’t wait to have our own engagement/wedding in Auckland too! (Couple years away but it pays to plan already!)
Yay! Auckland is amazing!
Wow! The waterfall images are stunning. All of your photos are so gorgeous
Thank you so much Rachel!
So blessed to live in this amazing country!
So, so blessed!
Your pictures are very beautiful, I’m glad I saw these, coz I just might ask you to be my photographer even if I don’t get the contest draw lol… Love you work after first glance 😊
Thank you so much Kayla, I would love to photograph your wedding!
Lovely locations and amazing pictures
Thank you Olivia!
Those night shots are absolutely stunning with the pretty night lights in the background 😍
Thank you! I love night photography!
These photos are so beautiful! My partner and I have never had a photoshoot so it would be so beautiful to capture this amazing time in our lives xoxo
Thank you Alycia!
😍 Amazing photos Beth!
Thanks Natalia!
What stunning photos!!! Amazing photography, how beautiful is our country!
Thank you so much! I know, NZ is so beautiful! To think this is a city! Auckland is so pretty!
This is awesome i would choose our home of waiheke island as we love it here and are 4 generations in it just seems right to my husband and i who have been married now for 8 years together for 13 years never had a wedding never dome a photo shoot never had an engagememt party and never went on a honey moon . This would be totally amazing
Thank you Aneka!
I have never had any photographs taken in the Auckland region, but when I get the chance, I’ll know some beautiful spots now thanks to your article. Thank you😊
No worries at all!
All those photos are absolutely stunning wow!!
Thanks so much Chanel!
Great article👍🏼
Thank you!
Wow the photos are all so beautiful! My partner and I just got engaged and trying to find places for engagement photos on top of seeing family, studying, and just life in general, it’s been trickier than I anticipated. Waiheke Island or the Botanic Gardens would be incredible, what wonderful ideas!
Congrats! Both very stunning locations!
The waterfalls look amazing!! I’d love to have photographs taken with my wedding gown (I’m engaged but we want to do bridal/couple images) near one of these areas!!
Amazing, bridal images at these locations would look fabulous!
All these places are breathtakingly beautiful.. I cannot even choose one or two.. I’m confused..
There are so many, right?
Absolutely stunning photography and locations!
Thank you!
Sounds beautiful and amazing! All these photos are memorising and gorgeous, stunning views. 😍 X
Thanks!
Oh my god! These locations are amazing! The pictures brought tears to my eyes (I’m pregnant, it’s uncontrollable lol) did you enjoy visiting these places? I’ve lived here all my life and only been to Wellington, Auckland and Taupo. I keep nudging my partner to take me on a babymoon. Karekare falls and the north shore looks beautiful.
I am touched by this! I enjoyed visiting these places so much! NZ is a very beautiful country basically everywhere you go!
Stunning photo’s all of them! You have such a beautiful talent ! 🙂
Thank you!
They all look like beautiful places it be hard to choose
I know, right?
Maori beach and Bethells Beach
Two very amazing locations!
Your photos at every location are just so stunning and beautiful 😍
Thank you so much!
Just Beautiful! Would love to hear your top tips for locations OUTSIDE of Auckland 🙂
I have many tips for outside of Auckland, I just need to write them all down! Watch this space…
Wow these are amazing. Great work
Cheers!
Wow what amazing places for photos for anyone. The amazing sites you must see must be incredibly humbling. You take the most beautiful natural photos xo
Thank you so much!
All these places are beautiful,
They so are!
would love to go to maori bay or karekare falls both beautiful locations
Both amazing locations for sure!
Beautiful photos would love to make it a reality now that my fiance has arrived in the country…
Oh that’s exciting!
Beautiful moments captured. And some great tips. Thank you 💒 😍 💍
No worries at all!
Wow I am blown away. Your photos and descriptions of these places are amazing. If I was lucky enough to get a photo shoot I would be struggling to choose between the beach and waterfalls but I guess Piha and Kite kite falls are pretty close, if only the walk wasn’t soo long.☺😊
Thank you so much! The waterfalls in Auckland are epic!
Wow the sample photos from each location are amazing! It would be hard to pick!
I know, right?
Waiheke island would be fabulous!
Waiheke is great!
Im surprised scandrett bay isnt on your list for top auckland locations, with its old rustic buildings and beautiful bush and gorgeous clear waters… but we are spoiled for choice here, anywhere in NZ. There is beauty in every corner.
I haven’t been there but I will check it out next time I am in Auckland – thank you!
Amazing photos in absolutely breathtaking locations. Just WOW!
Thank you so much Anne!
Oh my goodness these are all such beautiful locations 😍 I didn’t even know about half of these.. looks like I’ve got some exploring to do
Thank you! Yes Auckland has so many wonderful locations!
Your photos are so beautiful 😍
Thank you very much!
Awesome tips thanks! My partner just proposed to me in Hawaii a couple of days ago so this has come in handy at the right time!
Oh wow that sounds amazing! Congratulations!
I love your work and all these beautiful locations!! Still soo many I’m yet to see that I know will be worth the effort and stunning for photos !!
Thank you!
Great tips!
Cheers!
I absolutely agree on the location choices! My favourite is the Devon Port & the ones with the waterfalls xx
Thank you for the suggestion, I’ll have to check that location out!
It is really beautiful in every part of NZ. However, I was amaze that Cornwall Park is part of the featured location here. It is very close to my heart. Me and my fiance always go to this park. What I love is how you capture the pictures. You capture the soul of the people and you can see the beauty of their soul. If a pictorial would be done. I love it to be at the Cornwall Park or at the beach … ☺
Wow thanks for such a lovely comment, I too love Cornwall Park!
amazing photos especially love the Maori Bay ones just beautiful 🙂
Maori Bay is gorgeous!
The two waterfall locations look so lovely!!! They would definitely be my choice <3
Yay!
Amazing
Thanks!
Absolutely stunning photographs! I have lived in New Zealand my whole life, and in Auckland for a large part if it and I have never even heard of some of these places. The beauty of Auckland has surely been captured in your photographs!
Auckland is amazing, isn’t it?
Amazing photos. Keep this work! Lovely ❤️ Would love to have some pictures from you with my boyfriend 😊
Thank you! I would love to photograph you! Feel free to drop me a message!
Thank you so much for your kind comments!