[2] It stretches from Red Beach, where it connects to Kingsway, Orewa and Silverdale, and extends to Army Bay in the Hauraki Gulf.

It is popular as a tourist destination for catching a ferry to Tiritiri Matangi Island,[3] and for visiting Shakespear Regional Park.

[4] The Kawerau hapū Ngāti Kahu traditionally inhabited the peninsula, prior to the arrival of Europeans.

The Māori language name Whangaparāoa means "Bay of Whales",[7] and pods of orca and dolphin are regularly spotted in the waters off the peninsula.

A quickly growing area with new subdivisions being built, it is to be connected to State Highway 1 via a tolled bridge known as Penlink.

Auckland's Northern Motorway (State Highway One) was extended to Orewa at the end of the 1990s,[10] reducing journey time into the city and making it more popular for commuters.

The under construction Penlink road (including a bridge over the Weiti River from Stanmore Bay to Stillwater) will provide a quicker route between the peninsula and central Auckland.

The new centre includes 16 retail spaces[30] and is anchored by New World[29] When completed, the Stanmore Shopping complex will mark the end of the Penlink motorway connection.

[32] Plans were lodged for upgrades to part of the complex in 2017 which would have increased retail spaces and added more apartments but have not progressed.

[33] Opening in the late 1980s the Gulf Harbour Marina is home to a variety of boat maintenance services, and retail.

The peninsula is also home to football (soccer) club Hibiscus Coast AFC, which competes in the Lotto Sport Italia NRFL Division 2.

[39] Tourism services operate from Auckland City via Gulf Harbour to Tiritiri Matangi Island on select days.