Tag Archives: Train Station

New Lynn pottery and parks

Manawa Wetland Reserve © 2011-2013 Unleashed Ventures Limited

This walk in New Lynn (West Auckland) explores either side of the town centre and takes in Olympic Park and it’s popular children’s playgrounds, and the wetlands of Manawa. The Park and the Wetlands has a community of ducks and pukekos.

According to the TimeSpanner: “The Manawa Wetland Reserve has been redeveloped from a dump for Crown Lynn  rejects, before the clay was scoured out for bricks and pots and other thing, and it was the site of the poudrette factory, and before that, it was New Lynn’s Waterfalls Estate in the 1860s.”

Watch video Manawa Wetlands – Anywhere Auckland

To research the clay and brick history of New Lynn, get lost in Papers Past.

Taking the train to New Lynn could be the start of a day’s outing.  Do this walk along this side of the Whau River in the morning, have lunch in New Lynn, visit the Mall and then do the Avondale Whau River walk on the other side of New Lynn.

Description: Mix of flat and undulating paths. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility.
To see: Olympic Park, Manawa Reserve Wetlands, Gardner Reserve, Ambrico Kiln, Whau River
Time: approx. 60 minutes. (about 5.25 kms) Children’s Playgrounds: Olympic Park
Start: Olympic Park (off Wolverton Street)
Buses/Trains: New Lynn Train Station (MAP)

Best of the West - Short Walks in Auckland

Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map (AW-076 New Lynn Reserves) over at our Walks Store and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our book “Best of the West“).

Kingsland-Mt Eden Loop

This Auckland walk takes you from Kingsland Train Station (with views of Mt Albert), touches the city end of Dominion Road, Eden Quarter, and through the suburban streets of Mt Eden, to Mt Eden Village and return.

Kingsland, Auckland

You can enjoy the tree lined footpaths and beautiful old homes.  And this walk makes it very apparent that Eden Park is really in Kingsland.

You can choose to take your time and stop at various shopping precints along the route or do the 90 minute walk in one gulp!

Description: Mainly level paths and steps. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility.
To see:  Kingsland, Dominion Road, Mt Eden Shops; residential homes
Time: approx. 90 minutes. (about 7.0 kms). Dogs on-leash. One small children’s playground.
Start: Kingsland Train Station MAP

Stay on track…find this walk’s map and directions guide ( AC-065 Kingsland-Mt Eden Loop) and other walk self-guides at our Walk Store

Apirana St Johns Loop

This walk makes use of the reserves within walking distance of Glen Innes Train Station. We visit the horse paddocks of Apirana Reserve with views of Mount Wellington, Eastern Beach and on a clear day, the Coromandel (this is part of the 7.5km  Point to Point Walkway) and then walk through the native bush within St Johns Bush.

Apirana Reserve is part of the Point to Point Walkway
Apirana Reserve is part of the Point to Point Walkway

St Johns Bush is a green corridor for birds flying across Auckland.  There is a wetland area with native fish.  This area is home to over 165 different species of plants.  The kauri tree is over 150 years old.

Joining up reserves to minimise street walking is a challenge, but we are very fortunate to have so many green spaces in Auckland. Our dream is that some time in the future, the reserves will be linked together to help us commute safely by bicycle or on foot (and hopefully wheelchairs), from one area to another, minimising road use.

Dogs- off leash exercise area in Merton Reserve.

Description: A mix of level and hilly paths. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility.
To see: St Johns Bush native trees and ferns, residential housing, reserves, horse paddocks,views of Eastern Beach and the Coromandel, city skyline view
Time: approx. 60 minutes. (about 4.5 kms)
Start: Glen Innes Train Station  MAP

Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map over at our Walks Store  (AE-061 Apirana Saint Johns Loop) and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Dog Friendly Walks part 3” and “Best of the East”).

Point England Walk

Point England Reserve

We are not familiar with the Tamaki and Glen Innes area, so today was our first walk and explore. And we discovered beautiful Point England Reserve.  What a gem! We had no idea that there was a sandy beach here.

This walk offers great views of East Auckland and the Waitemata harbour and as the walkway passes through bush, mangroves and farmland. This route is a part of the 7.5km  Point to Point Walkway.

The walking route is also great for prams/buggies and dog walkers (on leash only).

The lack of rainfall has made the Omaru River smelly, so we do hope that will improve when it next rains.  Part of the path is in great need of maintenance.  We wonder if the local schools could adopt part of the walkway and learn how to maintain and enhance the bush and stream??? (The Omaru River is an outlet of Orakei Basin and runs underneath Meadowbank to Apirana Ave, through Maybury Reserve and out to Wai O Taiki Bay).
Update: a project was kicked off in June 2013. Read: Youth keen to save river

Description: Mostly level paths. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. (Take bread to feed the ducks)
To see: Estuary views, boats, wetlands, mangroves, residential housing, view of two volcanoes – Mt Wellington and One Tree Hill, Point England Reserve, Maybury Reserve feijoa trees
Time approx. 80 minutes. (about 7.0 kms)
Start: Glen Innes Train Station (or Point England Road Reserve at end of Point England Road)  MAP
Nearby Walks: Tahuna Torea, Waiaturua Reserve

Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map over at our Walks Store  (AE-059 Point England Walk) and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Coastal part 2” and “Best of the East”).

Glen Eden and Waikumete Cemetery Circuit Walk

Walks in Auckland

When I first came to live in New Zealand, I lived in Glen Eden. I had never visited Waikumete Cemetery until today. What an amazingly beautiful and fascinating place.

The Waikumete Cemetery takes up a huge area between Great North and West Coast Roads, with beautiful landscaping and fabulous trees. And there is so much history here – from the 1918 flu epidemic and the Gallipoli soldiers to the mausoleums of the wine magnates of Corbans and Nobilo. It is really worth visiting.

Part of this loop is a short bush walk where you may be lucky to hear the sounds of native birds, and even spot a rabbit dashing for cover.

The walking route is also suitable for prams/buggies and dog walkers (must be kept on leash within the cemetery grounds).

Description: A mix of level paths and steep paths/steps. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility (with good knees). May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather.
To see: Auckland City views, Waitakere Hills, trees and fauna, historical graves.
Time: approx. 60 minutes. (about 5 kms)
Start: Waikumete Road MAP

You may decide to arrive by train to Glen Eden railway station and make this a day outing.
The ‘Pumped Cafe’ at the station has good coffee and food or there is a new Columbus cafe on the corner of Oates Road/West Coast Road.

Best of the West - Short Walks in Auckland

Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map (AW-028 Glen Eden and Waikumete Cemetery) over at our Walks Store and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our book “Best of the West“).