New boardwalk under construction at Soldiers Bay to improve access, protect kauri
Last Updated on August 10, 2026
Auckland Council has confirmed construction is under way on a new boardwalk and bridge connection at Soldiers Bay on Auckland's North Shore, a project intended to give visitors safer, year-round access to the popular spot while also helping shield nearby kauri trees from disease.
What's being built
The council says the new boardwalk and bridge will replace the current route into Soldiers Bay, which visitors have previously had to navigate without the benefit of an all-weather path. Once finished, the structure is meant to make the walk to the bay usable throughout the year, rather than being affected by wet ground or seasonal conditions.
Protecting kauri from dieback
Alongside the access improvements, the council says the boardwalk will play a role in protecting kauri trees in the area from kauri dieback, a soil-borne disease that has damaged kauri populations across the Auckland region and beyond. By keeping foot traffic elevated and contained to a defined path, boardwalks of this kind are designed to reduce the amount of soil disturbance and root contact that can spread the disease between trees.
Kauri dieback has no known cure and is spread mainly through soil movement, including on the boots of walkers, which is why councils and conservation groups across the region have increasingly turned to boardwalks, track upgrades, and cleaning stations as ways to limit its spread in areas where kauri still grow.
What it means for visitors
For people living on or visiting the North Shore, the upgrade should mean easier and more reliable access to Soldiers Bay regardless of the weather, once construction is complete. Auckland Council has not detailed a specific completion date or cost for the project in its announcement, and further updates on progress are expected as work continues.
Source: Auckland Council.
Photo: "Ports of Auckland NZ (Sun Princess))" by Bernard Spragg, CC CC0 1.0, via Openverse.
