The forest is a popular location for a number of recreation activities, including horse riding, 4WD and trail biking, mountain biking, paintball, tree climbing adventures (confidence and team building), orienteering and filming; all require purchase of a permit, and walking or dog walking is no longer supported by the owners[clarification needed].

Woodhill Forest is also notorious as a site where several bodies have been found dumped or buried.

Originally the coastal land was covered in native vegetation, but the arrival of British and their farm animals led to severe erosion.

The first NZ Forest Act of 1874[2] was largely in response to concern about the increase in coastal dune invasions.

The treaty settlement has enabled Ngati Whatua o Kaipara the opportunity to purchase Woodhill Forest from the Crown.