Interesting to see the memorial to Michael Joseph Savage (the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand and the founder of the welfare state) and the remains of defense fortifications.
One low point – it is difficult to cross Tamaki Drive safely, especially at the Kelly Tarlton corner where the footpath on the land side runs out. It is OK to use the tunnel under Tamaki Drive to cross to the seaward side, but there is a locked door if you want to cross from the seaward side.
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.
Description: A mix of level paths and steep paths. Caution: Muddy and slippery when wet. Suitable in dry weather. 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. To see: Volcano crater and rim, Manukau Harbour views, views of other volcanoes. Time: approx. 45 minutes (3.69kms) Start: Coronation Road, Mangere Bridge Village There is a children’s playground and an off-leash dog area. (See other Dog Friendly Walks) Mangere Village has several cafes.
Today’s discovery walk was at Hobsonville Point. A good friend of mine had already told me about how wonderful the Catalina Cafe is on a sunny day. And then today I read about Hobsonville Pt Park children’s playground which is quite unique – made from sustainably sourced materials.
The family friendly walk explores the former air base with the very few remaining old buildings. There is a great deal of development going on with new housing and a planned ferry service to the CBD from ‘The Landing’ (which used to be the launching and landing place for flying boats, including Sunderland and Catalina planes). The historic buildings are being demolished at a fast pace to make way for new housing, so if history is your thing, get down there before it is completely gone.
The walking route is also suitable for prams/buggies and dog walkers (on leash only as of August 2014).
This walk takes about 60-80 minutes and is ideal for spring and autumn (too hot in summer and too muddy in winter). There is a lot to explore if you haven’t been here before. This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash area and is a mostly flat walk.
Please note: As this area is under constant development, the walking route and the off leash dog exercise area, may be subject to change.
Description: Level sealed paths and bush track. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather. Suggested spring/autumn walk. Caution: Muddy and slippery when wet. To see: Hangars, barracks, officers housing, seaplane slipway, Auckland harbour views, weekend markets. Time: approx. 60-80 minutes. (about 5.5 kms) Start: Opposite Catalina Café off Buckley Avenue MAP
You may wish to download our free Hobsonville Point walkway brochure when you enter your contact details here or find your own route here.
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map (AW-013 Hobsonville Point) over at our Walks Store and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Dog Friendly Walks part 3” and “Best of the West“.
I felt like a tourist in my home city this morning! The morning was stunning after last night’s opening of the Rugby World Cup 2011. The skies were blue and the water still in the harbour, with just a little mist left around the edges. I had not explored Northcote Point before (it would have been a fine vantage point for the previous night’s fireworks display).
We had not prepared a route – it was a discovery walk and we were well rewarded. Views of Auckland City. Dwarfed by the pylons of the Auckland Harbour Bridge. A new-found path along the motorway. And an interesting mix of old and new residential homes. Plus children’s playgrounds as a reward for children. All made for a fun walk.
Download the Council’s Heritage walk brochure here.
Description: A mix of level paths and steep paths/steps. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. To see: Auckland City views, Waitemata Harbour views, Harbour bridge foundations. See if you can spot Mt Eden, Mt Victoria and the Chelsea Sugar Refinery. Time: approx. 70 minutes. (about 5.85 kms).
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map (AN-021 Northcote Point Loop) over at our Walks Store and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our book “Coastal part 1”).
Today’s walk around Lake Pupuke in Takapuna was a discovery one.
I have been here only a few times – with my children when they were little and once to a garden sculpture exhibition.
I had not realised that you can walk the circumference, although unfortunately not completely by the lake edge.
However the bits by the lake edge – Killarney Park, Henderson Park, Sylvan Park, Kitchener Park and the Quarry Lake Reserve more than make up for the street walking. There is lots to see at the lake edge, from the water birds to the water activities (sailing, wind-surfing, canoeing and model yacht racing). For more info about Lake Pupuke click here.
Lake Pupuke walkway track was muddy in places but would be ideal walking from November to perhaps June. From September to December the path from Henderson Park to Sylvan Park is closed to allow the water birds space to nest and breed.
Even though the day was cold, windy and with spots of heavy rain, it was still a very enjoyable walk. We will be back to document the Lake Pupuke walk very soon (and hopefully the day will be sunnier).
December 2011 We came back on a lovely summer day. We stopped and had a delicious iced coffee at theCafe French Rendez-vous beside The Pumphouse.
Description: A mix of level paths and steep paths/steps. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather. Caution: Muddy and slippery when wet. To see: Lake activities, water birds Time: approx. 90 minutes. (about 7kms) Start: The Pumphouse carpark (MAP)
Waiatarua Reserve has something for everyone. The reserve is a large wetland (see the pukeko and other water birds) with paths suitable for walking, jogging, wheelchairs (not electric wheelchairs) and cycling (paths not suitable for small wheels like scooters).
The walking route is also suitable for prams/buggies with large wheels.
It has a children’s playground, picnic tables, viewing platforms, a Basketball half court, a Skate park.
This is a dog friendly, mostly flat walk (watch out for puddles after rain) with an off-leash exercise area. It has been called “Auckland’s best dog park” (See other Dog Friendly Walks).
In some places, you could imagine that you are a long way from civilization, because all you can hear are the birds and all you can see are trees.
The walk is signposted to be 60 minutes long, we walked just over 3 kms, which makes it a short family friendly walk.
Description: Mostly level paths with very slight inclines. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather. To see: Wetlands, Ducks and Pukeko birds habitat. Time: approx. 30-60 minutes depending on what you decide (about 3.3 kms) Start: Car park off Grand Drive MAP Suggested Cafe:Hollywood Bakery in Lunn Avenue
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map over at our Walks Store (AC-035 Waiatarua Reserve) and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our book “Dog Friendly Walks part 1”).
Today was clear and sunny, which called for a walk and climb to look over Auckland from up high from Mount Victoria. Mt Victoria provides spectacular views – it is higher than North Head and closer to Auckland City. This walk has a dog friendly off-leash area. (See other Dog Friendly Walks) And Devonport’s village-style shops and cafes is always a great place to visit and walk around. 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…..
Description: A mix of level paths, steep paths and 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. To see: Wonderful views of Rangitoto, Hauraki Gulf and Auckland City, historical buildings. Mount Cambria Reserve – A volcanic cone that is now a park, having been quarried away for roading, garden walls and ship’s ballast. Victoria Picture Palace/Theatre – built in 1912, oldest cinema in NZ. Fort Mt Victoria and the Disappearing Gun. St Francis De Sales Catholic Church, St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Devonport Cemetery History: https://www.devonport.co.nz/heritage.htm Time: approx. 60 minutes. MAP
Recently a friend enquired about doing walks in Auckland with young children who like to ride bikes and scooters. This can be a lot of fun for the kids, and is a great way to get them into outdoor activities while adults get their exercise and fresh air too.
Be prepared to carry the bike/scooter and also make sure your children know how to stop on downhill slopes (and warn them about how to use their muscles to go up hills!). Good idea to have a first aid kit handy and some water and snacks to keep up the energy!
The important thing to look for is mainly flat wide paths, so with that in mind here are a few ideas: Cornwall Park * – the circular path does have hills Western Springs – take some bread to feed the ducks! Albany Lakes Civic Park – An urban oasis, this 6.4ha Albany Park has an art bridge, water features, an outdoor staging area and two large storm water lakes.
Waiaturua Reserve – Wander over wide open spaces, enjoy the beauty of the wetland environ or explore pockets of bush. With wide pathways established for walking and jogging and a landscape that includes extensive native planting. See more of Waiaturua Reserve.
Our self-guides indicate if there are any dog friendly off-leash areas and/or are suitable for dog friendly walks in Auckland. This is noted when we visit the area – it may change without any notice due to Council regulations. Check with this Auckland Council webpage: Exercising your dog before you head out.
The Te Atatu Peninsula Walk provides wonderful views of Auckland harbour – the Chelsea sugar factory, the Sky Tower, Rangitoto Island and the Harbour Bridge. You could almost be on an island! And the water looks beautiful at both high and low tides, dotted with mangroves.
On the eastern side of the Peninsula, specially created salt marsh wetlands on the lower terrace at Harbourview – Orangihina provide natural habitat to an abundant wildlife (fern birds, New Zealand Dotterel, oystercatchers, herons, Caspina terns, godwit and varous gulls).
There are boardwalks and a picnic platform out over the water at Harbourview Beach Reserve.
The walking route is suitable for cyclists, prams/buggies and dog walkers (on leash only to help protect the bird life that lives around the foreshore).
Fans of the New Zealand TV series Nothing Trivial Season One may recognize Michelle’s house and her exercise path.
Description: 6.25km loop walk. Mainly level paths – a mixture of paved, loose metal and boardwalks . Caution: Puddles after rain. Suitable for most ages and levels of fitness and mobility, designed with flat shoes or running shoes in mind. Suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. Children’s Playground=Yes To see : Waitemata Harbour views, natural habitat, shore birds MAP
Stay on track…find this walk’s map and directions guide (AW-019 Te Atatu Peninsula) and other walk self-guides at our Walks Store and our Book Store (“Coastal Part One” and “Best of the West“).
Auckland is a hilly city and not very wheel friendlyto prams, mountain buggies, wheelchairs and people recovering from an accident or operation. However there are some flat walks in Auckland that do avoid the steep bits.
This weekend we embarked on an alternative Auckland coast to coast walk – from Waitemata Harbour to Manukau Harbour. Auckland City Council do have their own documented walk here. However our alternate walk has less road, more parks, more bush, more direct, more variety, more views and more fun. It takes about 4 to 4 1/2 hours if there are no stops.
*** Currently, you can download our alternative Coast to Coast walk for free by entering your email and name in the box on the right. *** Alternatively click HERE for the free EGuide & Coast to Coast walk
View of Waitemata Harbour from Mt Hobson
The walk can be done in stages (so that at convenient points, if you need to return to the start we let you know where you can catch a bus or train) or you may wish to set a day aside to do the complete walk. It takes about four hours non-stop, but do allow yourself time to explore the side-trips (e.g. walk around Parnell, one of Auckland’s most interesting and historic suburbs) and have refreshments.
If you are looking for things to do in Auckland this is a great day outing. This alternative coast to coast walk starts off at the Ferry Building and ends at Onehunga (or you could start from Onehunga and time your arrival to be at Wynyard Quarter to watch the sun set over the Harbour from a bar or restaurant.) The walk is full of variety from kauri trees, to the Parnell shops and cafes, churches and cathedrals, views of the harbours, volcanoes and Waitekere Ranges and an art collection. It includes many playground areas for children which we hope is an incentive for them to do this walk. This walk in Auckland shows off the diversity of this wonderful city.
If you are keen on other coast to coast walks around the world – you may like to try the Walk from Cumbria to Yorkshire which spans 85 miles of quintessentially English landscape
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.
Description: A mix of level paths, steep paths and 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.
To see: Wonderful views of Rangitoto, Hauraki Gulf and Auckland City.
Dogs: On leash only. Children’s Playground=Yes
Start Point: Tamaki Drive, Mission Bay
Stay on track…find this walk’s map and directions guide (AC-018 Mission Bay Loop) and other walk self-guides at our Walk Store
Time for an out-of-Auckland walk. The Martha Goldmine Pit Rim Walkway in Waihi is an interesting one hour walk. The walkway has been developing over the last few years and since I last walked it about two years ago, further work on it has progressed. Future plans are to turn the huge hole into a fresh water swimming lake.
But for now it is an education and a workout! I like to start the walk opposite the Information centre in Seddon Street and turn left at the battery to walk in a clock-wise direction. There are many places to stop and view the workings and machinery, plus read the information pinned onto the fence.
The walk is good on a cloudy cool day as in the middle of summer there is little shade. There are slight uphills, a small shelter-belt of native bush and open grasslands and waterways, that provide contrast. After rain, there are wet parts so it is wise to wear waterproof footwear.
We all know that walking is good for us but do we really know how good it is? Many studies have shown walking promotes longevity and other numerous health benefits.
Studies show that walking can:
Reduce the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke.
Lower blood pressure.
Reduce high cholesterol and improve blood lipid profile.
Reduce body fat
Enhance mental well-being.
Increase bone density: helping to prevent osteoporosis.
Reduce the risk of various cancers.
Reduce the risk of diabetes. Help osteoarthritis
Help flexibility and co-ordination: reducing the risk of falls.
Improves circulation.
Watch this fun video:
At Walks in Auckland, we believe that walking can be healthy and FUN! Our walking self-guides show you the way…
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Self guided short circular walks in Auckland for health, fitness and fun
