Gould Reserve & Takapuna Beach

The Takapuna beachfront looked very different in the 1950s. Lined by baches and weekend homes, the beach was mostly accessed via The Promenade or from roads further to the south. The northern end of the beach was dominated by the Mon Desir Hotel, the former home of tramways developer Paul Hansen that became a popular hotel and nightclub. It was replaced in 1995 with the Mon Desir Apartments. Between the hotel and the beach stands the Sacred Grove, Te Uru Tapu: an outcropping of centuries-old Pohutukawa.

The grassy area along The Strand is known as Gould Reserve, named after Arthur Mason Gould. Gould served as Mayor of Takapuna from 1921 to 1924 and it was during his tenure that the southern portion of land within the reserve was donated to the Takapuna Borough Council. In 1992, the Takapuna City Council bought the homes and baches between the reserve and Te Uru Tapu to redevelop into a public park. The current layout of the park was completed in 2016, although further development is planned.

Turn right up The Strand to return to Takapuna Library.