Trees on the beach for shade. From Takapuna on Auckland's North Shore, drive south 2 km along Lake Road, turn left into St Leonards Road and park at the end. Beach is down cliff path at end of road. Recently this beach has been the target of local council moves to ban nudity. There have been no arrests and the action of the council is largely through the media.
Beach is in the middle of Auckland city and very popular with nudists and non-nudists alike.
Although the cliffs make foot access difficult, the water front is very busy with boats and jet skis. The Bayswater bus will drop you at the end of St Leonards Road, from Victoria Street West in central Auckland. Takapuna Grammar School identifies the road in. Waiheke Island, by virtue of the QuickCat boat service, has become almost a suburb of Auckland, with many islanders commuting to the city to work each day. The ferry ticket can include the cost of the bus trip to Palm Beach or you can hire bikes or mopeds for the day.