Category Archives: Volcano and crater walks in Auckland

There are over 50 volcanoes in the Auckland region. Many are accessible and the walk paths provide views of the city and environs.

Mt Eden Walk Circuit

Posted on April 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

IMG 2905 300x225 Mt Eden Walk Circuit Mt Eden is one of the most popular places to visit in Auckland. Today’s walk around Mt Eden in autumn sunshine and clear skies was wonderful. We enjoyed the fly past of the Spitfires and DC3′s at 10am to commemorate Anzac Day.

This walk around Mt Eden takes you along the road and smaller tracks up and around the summit and crater, to give you an idea of the immense size of this volcano.

Friends of Maungawhau have kept up with planting native trees, so that in time, the mountain will have improved heritage protection.

Since our last visit, the work undertaken on the water reservoir has been completed, so we have added an extra loop to take in a bigger view of Auckland City and the harbour.

IMG 2908 300x225 Mt Eden Walk Circuit This very popular visitor’s site gives fine views of Eden Park (home of the All Black’s Rugby Team), the Waitakere Ranges, Rangitoto Island, Mt Victoria, North Head, Mt Hobson and more…

There is a good sized childrens playground (and a flying fox). And Mt Eden village offers a good choice of cafes.

This walk and others can be found at the Walks Store

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Posted in Volcano and crater walks in Auckland, Walks in Auckland Central

Tagged Anzac Day, Autumn, Cafes, Childrens Playground, Clear Skies, D3, Dc3, Eden Park, Eden Village, Fly, Flying Fox, Heritage Protection, Hobson, Immense Size, Mt Eden, Mt Eden walk, Mt Victoria, Native Trees, Rangitoto Island, Rugby Team, Spitfires, Summit, Sunshine, Victoria North, Volcano, Waitakere, Walks, walks in auckland, Water Reservoir

Pigeon Mountain and the wetlands

Posted on February 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Pigeon Mountain in the suburb of Half Moon Bay is another of Auckland’s volcanoes. The mountain was originally three times its present size but its two craters have been quarried away to provide scoria. It is called Pigeon Mountain because in early European times, native pigeons called ‘kereru‘ used to live here. (For photos of the native pigeon click here)

You can walk to the top of Pigeon Mountain and from the summit there are great views of Tamaki Estuary and Wakaaranga Creek Reserve mangroves, whilst below are boardwalks that cross over wetlands that house nests for the pukeko bird.

The nearby mangrove edged Wakaaranga Creek has good paths for wheels. And there is a cool long slide in a playground that is worth checking out. Because most of this walk is in a bird reserve, dogs must be kept on-leash.

It is disappointing to find some pathways between houses and roads blocked off with iron bars that prevent users of wheelchairs, prams and cycles from using the path.

Find this and other walks at the Walks Store

See more photos on Facebook

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Posted in Volcano and crater walks in Auckland, Walks in Auckland East

Tagged Auckland, Bird Reserve, Craters, Dogs, Estuary, Half Moon Bay, Houses, Iron Bars, Mangrove, Path, Pathways, Photos, Pigeon Mountain, Pigeons, Playground, Prams, Suburb, Summit, Tamaki, Three Times, Volcanoes, Waka, Walks, Wetlands, Wheels

Three Kings | walks in Auckland

Posted on December 24, 2011 | Leave a comment

Big King is all that remains of the Three Kings volcano cones after the others were quarried away. 15,000 years ago there used to be three scoria mounds.

The lava flow from this volcanic center overflowed into a 10 kilometer ‘river’ that terminated at Meola Reef at the Waitemata Harbour.

This circular walk in Auckland takes us to the top of what remains of the volcano, parks and playgrounds with views of Mount Eden, One Tree Hill, Rangitoto, Manukau Harbour and the City skyline.

Big King Reserve is a favourite place for dog lovers as this is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash area.

Suggested cafes:
1) Orvieto, (dog friendly) Mt Eden Road
2) The Eiffel Cafe (further south down Mt Eden Road towards Mt Albert Road)
Both cafes serve great coffee and tasty food.

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Posted in Volcano and crater walks in Auckland, Walks in Auckland Central

Tagged Auckland, Cafes, City Skyline, Cones, Dog Lovers, Eiffel, Favourite Place, Further South, Great Coffee, Lava Flow, Leash Area, Manukau Harbour, Mounds, Mount Eden, Mt Albert, Mt Eden Road, Nbsp, One Tree Hill, Orvieto, Parks And Playgrounds, Rangitoto, Reef, Scoria, Tasty Food, Three Kings, Volcanic Center, Volcano, Volcano Parks, Waitemata Harbour, walking up the three kings auckland

Mt Albert and Meola Creek circuit

Posted on November 14, 2011 | 1 Comment

Today I was shown an interesting waterway – Meola Creek. Meola Creek is the result of run-off from Mt Albert, Mt Eden and Three Kings and runs over and under ground (in pipes) out to Waitemata Harbour at Meola Reef. A topographical map and more detail is available on Morphum.com

The St Lukes Environmental Protection Society (STEPS) has been very active getting Meola Creek clean, the area planted with natural habitat and a boardwalk built. Elizabeth Walker, a member of STEPS very kindly showed me around. This historic map clearly shows Meola Creek. Elizabeth has since shown me one of the sources of Meola Creek – an overgrown area covered in toxic weeds, behind Haverstock Road. It would be wonderful to see the area restored to allow more water fowl to live there.

The view from Mt Albert across to the city skyline and the top of Rangitoto Island shows how spread out the city of Auckland is.

Nearby is the historic mansion ‘Alberton‘ on the corner of Kerr-Taylor Avenue and Mt Albert Road. Further historical information can be found in the archives of the Mt Albert Historical Society here and here. ‘In old Mt Albert’ by Dick Scott (this book is available from Auckland Libraries) tells the history of Mt Albert from 1911 to 1961.

To see where Meola Creek spills out into Waitemata Harbour head to: Western Springs and Meola Reef

Find this and other walks at the Walks Store

Suggested cafes: Pyrenees French Delicatessen and Parkside Cafe

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Posted in Volcano and crater walks in Auckland, Walks in Auckland Central

Tagged Alberton, Boardwalk, City Of Auckland, City Skyline, Delicatessen, Dick Scott, Elizabeth Walker, Environmental Protection, Historical Information, Kerr Taylor, Libraries, Map, Mt Albert, Mt Eden, Natural Habitat, Parkside, Pipes, Rangitoto Island, Reef, St Lukes, Three Kings, Topographical Map, Toxic Weeds, Underground, Walks, Water Fowl, Waterway

Mangere Mountain

Posted on October 12, 2011 | Leave a comment

I have driven past Mangere Mountain many times without realising where it was. I knew of it, but hadn’t seen it. I discovered it last year and found that it’s a huge and unspoiled volcano with fabulous views across the Manukau Harbour.

Mangere Mountain has little exposure from the motorway to the airport, but on it’s western side it looms high (106 metres above sea level), from the Harbour shores. This volcano does not have paved paths and roads like Mt Eden or One Tree Hill. It erupted about 18,000 years ago and is in the most original condition.

There is a children’s playground and an off-leash dog area. Mangere Village has several cafes, and nearby attractions are
Otuataua Stonefields historic reserve and Ambury Park.

To get this walk and more, visit the Walks Store

Suggested Cafés:
Ruby Red Café and others in Mangere Bridge Village

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Posted in Volcano and crater walks in Auckland, Walks in Auckland South

Tagged Bridge, Cafes, Driven, Fabulous Views, Hadn, Manukau Harbour, Motorway, Mt Eden, Nearby Attractions, off-leash dog areas, One Tree Hill, Paved Paths, Playground, Realising, Ruby Red, Sea Level, Shame, Volcano, Walks

Spectacular views from Mt Victoria Devonport

Posted on August 21, 2011 | Leave a comment

Today was clear and sunny, which called for a walk and climb to look over Auckland from up high.

Mt Victoria provides spectacular views.

This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash area.

And Devonport is always a great place to visit with its village-style shops and cafes.

It’s fun to arrive in Devonport by ferry.

And you could spend the whole day there – spend half the day at North Head and the other half at Mt Victoria with a lunch and shop browse in-between…..

Suggested Cafés: 1) Along King Edward Parade
2) Many in Devonport Village
3) Five Loaves@ 29 Church St

You can purchase this and other walks at the Walk Store

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Posted in Volcano and crater walks in Auckland, Walks in Auckland North Shore

Tagged Auckland, Cafes, Devonport, Devonport walks, dog off-leash area, Leash Area, Leash Areas, Lunch, Mt Victoria, Nbsp, North Auckland walks, Spectacular Views, Walks, walks in auckland

Family walk around Panmure Basin

Posted on June 30, 2011 | 1 Comment

It takes only 30 minutes to walk around Panmure Basin – another Auckland volcanic crater, but if you take young children with you then it may take longer. Take the tricycles and scooters – there are only two steep bits. Panmure Basin is a fun family walk in Auckland with several distractions – there is access to 3 playgrounds, and on weekends there is a mini-train ride and you can stop and watch people controlling their boats on the pond. Keep an eye on the tide chart – it does look prettier at high tide.

If you are lazy you may wish to take along your fishing rod to check out if anything is biting. But if you are into serious fitness you can always walk around the basin twice or participate on the Fitness Trail.

Nearby is a skate park and the Lagoon Leisure and Fitness Centre, Lagoon Dr, Panmure - Here you’ll find outdoor pools, a hydroslide, diving boards, and an adventure playground – all kid magnets in the summer. The outdoor area and gardens with barbecues and shaded picnic tables are great for family picnics and functions (source NZ Herald).

Also nearby is Mount Wellington Domain which is fun to explore and has great views of Auckland.

This area does lack nearby cafes but if you have a car you may want to venture to Pakuranga Plaza or Sylvia Park.

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Posted in Shorter 30 minute Auckland walks, Things to do with children, Volcano and crater walks in Auckland

Tagged Adventure Playground, Auckland, Barbecues, Cafes, Distractions, Diving Boards, Family Picnics, Fishing Rod, Fitness Centre, Fitness Trail, Fun Family, High Tide, Lagoon, Mini Train, Mount Wellington, Outdoor Pools, Pakuranga, Picnic Tables, Playgrounds, Serious Fitness, Sylvia Park, Tide Chart, Train Ride, Tricycles, Volcanic Crater

Orakei Basin walkway

Posted on May 23, 2011 | 5 Comments

At last! The Orakei Basin walkway is complete! Workmen were busy today, pouring concrete onto a new pathway on the Macpherson Track. However, it is possible to complete the circuit by side-roads. And it is fantastic! The bridge over the Orakei Creek is beautiful. Now Orakei and Meadowbank are connected by a boardwalk along the railway line that both pedestrians and cyclists can use.

The morning was still, clear and sunny causing the reflections on the water to be almost perfect. It was high tide, which we were not expecting. This walk takes you through small patches of bush and up high onto the ridge for a view of the city skyline.

The only downside is that due to the nature of the terrain, the track does get muddy after rain. Topping the bush tracks with gravel or building a boardwalk would be helpful.

And Kings Plant Barn does very good coffee (and lunches).

Description: A mix of level and steep paths, steep steps. Suitable for most ages and levels of fitness and mobility, designed with flat shoes or running shoes in mind. Not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash area.To see: Wonderful views of Mt Eden and Auckland City skyline. Small areas of bush. Railway track. Birdlife. Volcano crater. Time: approx. 60 minutes.

Find this walk and other walks in East Auckland here or you can download this free Orakei Basin walkway map from Auckland Council.

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Posted in Volcano and crater walks in Auckland, Walks in Auckland East

Tagged 60 Minutes, Auckland City, Beautiful, Boardwalk, Bridge, Bush, City Skyline, Coffee, Cyclists, dog off-leash area, East Auckland, Flat Shoes, Good Solution, Greenfingers, Greenfingers Cafe, High Tide, Kings Plant Barn, Leash Area, Macpherson, meadowbank train, Mt Eden, Nbsp, orakei train, Palmers Garden Centre, Patches, Pathway, Pedestrians, Pouring Concrete, Pushchairs, Railway Line, Railway Track, Reflections, Running Shoes, Side Roads, Steep Paths, Steep Steps, Volcano Crater, Walkway, Workmen

St Heliers and the Hauraki Gulf

Posted on May 22, 2011 | 1 Comment

What a fabulous day for a walk in Auckland – warm, sunny, no wind….and there were so many people out and about taking advantage of the great weather!

St Heliers is a buzzy little place on Tamaki Drive with a small selection of cafes and restaurants to choose from for refreshments.

Todays walk provides spectacular views looking over the Hauraki Gulf to the small islands and the impressive Rangitoto volcano. And then onto Glover Park another of Auckland’s volcano remains – this one is an ‘explosion crater’.

Description: A mix of level and steep paths. Suitable for most ages and levels of fitness and mobility, designed with flat shoes or running shoes in mind. Not suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash area. To see: Wonderful views of Rangitoto, Hauraki Gulf and Auckland City. Time: approx. 60 minutes.

Find this walk and other walks in East Auckland here

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Posted in Volcano and crater walks in Auckland, Walks in Auckland East

Tagged 60 Minutes, Auckland City, Auckland St, Buzzy, Cafes And Restaurants, City Time, dog off-leash area, East Auckland, Explosion Crater, Fabulous Day, Fitness, Flat Shoes, Glover Park, Hauraki Gulf, Leash Area, Many People, Rangitoto Volcano, Refreshments, Running Shoes, Spectacular Views, Steep Paths, Sunny, Walks, Weather, Wheelchairs

It turned out to be a beautiful sunny Mothers Day in Auckland. And time for a relaxing walk in Auckland Domain, the home of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. The Domain has a variety of landscapes from open fields, to … Continue reading →

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Posted on May 8, 2011

Category Archives: Volcano and crater walks in Auckland

Mt Eden Walk Circuit

Pigeon Mountain and the wetlands

Three Kings | walks in Auckland

Mt Albert and Meola Creek circuit

Mangere Mountain

Spectacular views from Mt Victoria Devonport

Family walk around Panmure Basin

Orakei Basin walkway

St Heliers and the Hauraki Gulf

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