[2] The park is a long stretch of coastline in Rodney, between the most northern point of the Auckland Region on the North Island and the Poutawa Stream.

An 85 metre high headland also known as Te Arai is found in the park.

[3] The Te Ārai sand dunes are a regionally significant biodiversity area, adjoining the Pākiri Dunes biodiversity focus area to the south.

[4] The park is one of the few remaining breeding areas for the New Zealand fairy tern.

[2] Originally just 50 hectares in size when it was purchased by the Auckland Regional Council in 2008,[5] the park grew to 250 hectares in 2014 after Te Uri-o-Hau gifted land to be incorporated into the regional park.