Category Archives: Walks in Auckland East

Auckland meets the sea to the east. Here the walks take you to see harbour and estuary views, farmland, beaches, wetland and native bird-life and native trees.

Mangemangeroa Reserve walking track

Posted on May 12, 2012 | Leave a comment

Copy of IMG 2959 300x225 Mangemangeroa Reserve walking track The Mangemangeroa Reserve track was a totally new discovery for us today. I was aware of it’s existence (and my awareness was raised further by my friend Isabel).

Today this walk was an initial explore. We concluded that it cannot be made into a circular walk however it is a beautiful magical place to walk, so we will be returning to document it fully. Yet again we hit the familiar snags, lack of sign posting – so we shall endeavor to keep fellow walkers on track with clear directions.

Today we met a couple at Shelly Park Beach who had walked from Howick Beach to Hayley Lane and were on their return journey. They had been walking for 31/2 hours to that point.

The views from the top of the ridge down the valley to the estuary were stunning, the bush was peaceful, and it was still and beautiful down by the water’s edge at Shelly Park Beach and the yacht club.

I also suggest if you have the time that you pop into Howick Village markets which are held every Saturday morning. There is also a Sunday craft market at All Saints Community Centre in Cook St.

IMG 2962 300x225 Mangemangeroa Reserve walking track

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Posted in Auckland Nature Bush Walks, Walks in Auckland East

Tagged All Saints, Bush, Cook St, Craft Market, Directions, Estuary, Existence, Fellow Walkers, Hayley, Howick, Howick Village, Isabel, Magical Place, Mangemangeroa Reserve, nature walks, New Discovery, Return Journey, Saturday Morning, Shelly Park, Snags, Views From The Top, Village Markets, Yacht Club

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

Macleans Park and Eastern Beach

Posted on February 25, 2012 | Leave a comment

Today we explored Macleans Park and Eastern Beach – an area that was new to us. The walk took us up and over the Park and down to the waterfront. We were rewarded with wonderful views over the Hauraki Gulf/Tamaki Strait and were able to cool off in the snippets of native bush.

This is a dog owners paradise -a very dog friendly walk with an off-leash area throughout the park. Dogs are not allowed on the beach area.

The beach area is set up for picnics and there are children’s playgrounds.

See more photos on Facebook.

Find this and other walks at the Walks Store

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Posted in Walks in Auckland East

Tagged Bush, dog off-leash area, Dog Owners, dog walks in Auckland, Dogs, Hauraki Gulf, Leash Area, Macleans, Native Bush, Photos, Picnics, Playgrounds, Snippets, Tamaki Strait, Walks

Dingle Dell and St Heliers Circuit

Posted on December 31, 2011 | Leave a comment

One of my favourite short bush walks in Auckland is the Dingle Dell and St Heliers circuit. On a sunny day St Heliers village has a holiday feel about it – with the harbour water sparkling, the golden sand and people enjoying the waterfront. Contrasted with the quietness of the native bush in Dingle Dell.

This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash area. There is a children’s playground. Plus a picnic area in Dingle Dell Reserve. And a good choice of cafes along the Tamaki Drive waterfront.

Along Tamaki Drive there is a fine choice of cafes and restaurants.

Find this and other walks at the Walks Store

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Posted in Auckland Nature Bush Walks, Walks in Auckland East

Tagged Auckland, Cafes And Restaurants, Dell, Dingle, dog walks in Auckland, Dogs, Golden Sand, Leash Area, Native Bush, People, Picnic Area, Playground, Quietness, Sunny Day, Tamaki Drive

Mission Bay – walking in the rain

Posted on June 11, 2011 | Leave a comment

It was a big decision today, do we do the Mission Bay walk this morning, this afternoon, tomorrow… The weather was looking grim and the weather forecast even grimmer. We decided – this morning. It rained on and off, there was a bit of blue sky, and the coffee at De Fontein was very good!

Mission Bay buzzes on sunny summer bays with lots of activity in the water, the foreshore and the cafes. It was still busy today with people braving the rain because it was not that cold. What is there to do in Mission Bay? Click here.

This walk takes you along the short beach promenade and up on the clifftops overlooking Hauraki Gulf and the city skyline. You do have to look out for cyclists when you walk along the shared pathway.

Mission Bay has a great choice of cafes, eateries (Japanese, Indian, Mexican, Italian…) and one special ice-cream parlor! Meet your friends by the fountain and enjoy the fresh salt air by the harbour.

Find this walk and other walks in East Auckland here

Suggested Cafés: Various along Tamaki Drive (the coffee is very good at De Fontein - reviewed here)

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Posted in Walks in Auckland East

Tagged Bays, Beach Promenade, Blue Coffee, Blue Sky, Buzzes, Cafes, City Skyline, Cyclists, De Fontein, East Auckland, Fontein, Foreshore, Fresh Air, Friends, Hauraki Gulf, Mission Bay, Pathway, People, Rain, Salt Air, Sunny Summer, Walking In The Rain, Walks, Weather Forecast

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

Walks in Auckland – Tahuna Torea nature walk

Posted on April 17, 2011 | Leave a comment

Tahuna Torea is a beautiful nature reserve in Glendowie, East Auckland. This nature walk follows the estuary edge and through native bush. I was hoping to head there yesterday but the rain was too heavy. Today the skies cleared to reveal a warm autumn day perfect for another walk in Auckland.

The starting point is at Roberta Reserve – it is a space that children can enjoy with a playground in the corner. It is also a dog off-leash area. Dogs are restricted in the nature reserve of Tahuna Torea itself because of the shore and wading birds that wander freely in this conservation area.

Tahuna Torea introduces you to 25 hectares of unique wildlife sited on a long sand bank extending out into the Tamaki Estuary. It is rich in Maori history as well as native birds and vegetation. Native trees are well sign-posted and there are fabulous views of the sandspit and estuary. There are three main walking trails around the reserve and you can walk them separately or together. It is a fun nature walk for adults and children alike.

Check out the tides before you head out – at low tide you can explore the Sandspit Beach Walks and at high tide you can enjoy the beauty of the water.

And the Fix Cafe is one of our favourites. We enjoy their iced coffee on a warm day.

Head on over to the Walks in Auckland East store to purchase your own copy of this self-guided walk.

Suggested Café:
Fix Café, Corner of Riddell Road and Roberta Avenue (they do great iced coffees and date scones!)

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Posted in Auckland Nature Bush Walks, Walks in Auckland East

Tagged Adults, Auckland, Autumn Day, Beach Walks, Beautiful Nature, Conservation Area, Dogs, Fabulous Views, Favourites, Hectares, High Tide, Iced Coffee, Leash Area, Long Sand, Low Tide, Native Birds, Native Bush, Native Trees, Nature Reserve, Nature Walk, Playground, Rain, Roberta, Sand Bank, Sandspit, Tahuna, Tamaki, Vegetation, Wading Birds, Walking Trails, Walks, Warm Autumn

Walks in Auckland – Churchill Park

Posted on March 12, 2011 | 2 Comments

After seeing the devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan last night, we were cheered up by the sun shining and clear autumn skies here in Auckland.

Churchill Park is one of a few walks in Auckland that does not have much shelter, so it was a great day to get into the park, with a pleasantly warm sun and no rain.

The walk starts off going uphill and there are further gentle undulations – it fits the ‘fitness’ criteria! There is some variety – big pine tress, distant city skyline views, a path following a stream (where the Nikau Palms were showing off their red berries), a few cattle taking up what shade they could find and then once out of the park the fabulous views over the harbour and estuary.

Churchill Park has an off-leash dog area and today there were dog owners taking advantage of the weather.

For children, there is an attractive playground area at the walk start and end point.

Find this and other walks at the Walks Store

Suggested Café:
Fix Café, Corner of Riddell Road and Roberta Avenue (they do great iced coffees and date scones!)

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Posted in Walks in Auckland East

Tagged Attractive Playground, Autumn Skies, Cattle, Churchill Park, City Skyline, Coffees, Devastating Earthquake, Distant City, Dog Owners, Estuary, Exercise, Fabulous Views, Fitness Criteria, Iced Coffee, Nikau, off-leash dog areas, Palms, Pine Tress, Playground Area, Rain, Red Berries, Roberta, Scone, Tsunami, Tsunami In Japan, Walks, Warm Sun, Weather

Category Archives: Walks in Auckland East

Mangemangeroa Reserve walking track

Pigeon Mountain and the wetlands

Macleans Park and Eastern Beach

Dingle Dell and St Heliers Circuit

Mission Bay – walking in the rain

Orakei Basin walkway

St Heliers and the Hauraki Gulf

Walks in Auckland – Tahuna Torea nature walk

Walks in Auckland – Churchill Park

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