Photo: RNZ / Gill Bonnett
Auckland's Long Bay Regional Park has reached capacity today after thousands of beach-goers fill the area.
"People are being turned away, so save yourself the journey and enjoy your afternoon elsewhere," police said in a statement.
The popular north Auckland beach is a mainstay of holiday visitors.
Police would also like to remind the community the importance of keeping safe in and around the water with these tips:
- Make sure you actively supervise kids around water as things can change in an instant.
- When swimming at the beach, swim between the flags, they are there to keep you safe and watch out for rips in the water.
- Whether diving, swimming or boating, it is vital that you avoid alcohol.
- Alcohol and water don't mix and can have fatal consequences.
"We want everyone to come home to their whānau after a day enjoying the water," police said.
"There are many things we can all do to stay safe this summer to drastically reduce the risk of drownings."