Six popular Auckland walks to do during the holiday season

Explore rocky coastlines and sheltered bays. Lush native forest and wide open countryside. Pounding surf and trickling streams. Remote wildlife sanctuaries and bustling city streets. You will find all of these six in walks around the Auckland region, so why now explore them during the holiday period. 1. Hunua Falls Path

The beautiful Hunua Falls is one of the most popular spots for walkers in the bush-clad Hunua Ranges in Auckland’s east. An easy 15-minute walk, it climbs from the Wairoa River below the falls through beautiful lush forest, along a shady stream to an excellent lookout platform.

The Falls Path walk is a great way to see the popular Hunua Falls from all angles.

This short walk is clearly signposted from the Hunua Falls car park.

The track climbs from the Wairoa River through beautiful lush forest, follows along a shady stream and arrives at a lookout platform. Bring your camera - this is an iconic Auckland photo location.

Pack a picnic to enjoy by the falls, or avoid the crowds by finding your own secluded picnic spot on one of the other walking tracks in the park.

Continue along the track as it loops through more of the forest and back to the base of Hunua Falls. We don’t recommend swimming at Hunua Falls.

To prevent the spread of kauri dieback, large sections of the Hunua Ranges Regional Park are now closed. Please stay on the walking tracks, and follow the instructions to clean your shoes before and after your visit.

Hunua Ranges Regional Park has 24 hour pedestrian access. Vehicle access during summer (daylight savings) is 6am to 9pm, and during winter

(non-daylight savings) is 6am to 7pm.

Dogs are not allowed on this walking track.

2. Rangitoto Island Summit Walk

Some of Auckland’s best views await at the summit of Rangitoto Island, at 260 metres above sea level. Walk up the volcanic cone, through lava crops and pohutukawa forest – once you’re at the summit, take a short side trip and peer into the vast crater. Allow two hours for the 7km return trip.

An easy climb through pōhutukawa forest and lava fields gives way to panoramic views of Auckland

and the Hauraki Gulf from the summit of this volcanic island. This is one of our best shorts.

Walk on well-formed paths through ancient lava fields that now support the largest pōhutukawa forest in the world and provide a home to dozens of shore, sea and forest birds.

At the summit another track circles the rim of the crater.

Side trip: Lava Caves Track

Time: 15 min one way from Summit Track; 1 hour one way from Rangitoto Wharf; 1 hour 45 min one way from Rangitoto Wharf to lava caves to summit.

This short diversion off the Summit Track leads to lava tunnels and caves. If you want to explore the tunnels and caves, bring a torch. Return to the Summit Track or Summit Road via the sign posted track.

Wilson Park Track

Time: 1 hour 45 min from Rangitoto Wharf; 45 min from Summit Track turnoff to summit

This alternative route to the summit branches off the Summit Track before the Lava Caves Track turnoff.

Sections of this track are over broken lava fields - it is rough and uneven underfoot. Good foot wear is essential.

Getting there: Your trip begins at the Rangitoto Wharf, a 25-minute ferry ride from Queens Wharf.

Alternatively, it’s a 2-hour kayak to the wharf from Devonport or Takapuna Beach.

Know before you go:

The track surface: Rough and uneven ground , the track crosses lava fields. Be prepared for rapidly changing weather conditions.

Ensure you take food and drinking water – as there is none available on the island. a your will need good sturdy footwear. No dogs are allowed.

3. Coast to Coast Walkway

There are few places in the world where you can walk from one ocean to another in just four or five hours. Walk through Auckland’s city and suburban streets, parks and volcanic cones for great 360-degree views, and discover some of our Māori and colonial history.

The Coast to Coast walk is a 16km hike across Auckland, from Waitematā to Manukau.

It takes you through landscapes shaped by 600 years of Māori occupation, and through some of our finest natural and built heritage areas offering panoramic views along the way.

We have split the walk into three easy parts. Do one at a time, or if you’re adventurous you could tackle all three in one day:

• Part one: City to Auckland Domain (50 minutes approximately)

• Part two: Grafton to Maungakiekie (90 minutes approximately)

• Part three: Cornwall Park to Manukau Harbour (90 minutes approximately)

Wildlife and native trees you can see on this walk Native birds include the iridescent blue kingfishers (kōtare), fantail (pīwakawaka), tūī and the wood pigeon (kererū).

You will see other bird species including the sparrow, blackbird, thrush, and rock pigeons in the parks.

Large grassy areas attract the large black and white magpie and bright green and red rosella, both Australian immigrants.

Whau trees still grow on Maungawhau (the hill of the whau tree). The trail passes a small forest of tōtara and rimu on the old volcano’s southern slopes.

Cornwall Park’s many native trees include an avenue of pūriri, which the trail follows, and a young kauri grove.

4. Tāmaki Drive Coastal Path

Walking along Tāmaki Drive is one of the best ways to appreciate the beauty of Auckland’s amazing harbour setting. This walk curves along the

Six popular Auckland walks to do during the holidays

waterfront from downtown Auckland, taking in a number of gorgeous eastern beaches, finishing at St Heliers.

This is a fantastic scenic loop combining the vibrant Mission Bay coastal boulevard, Takaparawhau / Bastion Point and rich local history. Discover what the locals love about this beautiful part of Auckland.

Start at the public carpark at Takaparawhau / Bastion Point. At the top of the path is the Michael Joseph Savage Memorial Gardens. This impressive obelisk, mausoleum, reflection pond and gardens overlooking the Waitemata Harbour is the burial place of Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage, the architect of the welfare state in New Zealand.

Enjoy stunning panoramic vistas of Auckland and the Hauraki Gulf.

Above the memorial is Takaparawhau / Bastion Point and the marae of Ngāti

Whātua Ōrākei. High on the cliff point is an ancient pā site

(Māori defensive settlement).

For hundreds of years the point offered a vital lookout to sea for

Māori to watch for approaching enemies. This land was returned to Ngāti Whātua in

1991 to be enjoyed as a public reserve.

Follow the path down from the eastern side of the reserve. At the bottom of the steps you’ll emerge in Mission Bay, which has a vibrant cafe, bar and restaurant scene. The beach and beachfront children’s playground are great places to stop for a break before continuing your walk.

Kids will love splashing around at the iconic art deco fountain in the centre of Mission Bay. It’s also worth checking out the Melanesian Mission House, a historic stone building constructed in 1859 by Anglican Bishops.

Once you’ve finished enjoying Mission Bay cross the Millennium Bridge, a public art feature called Aramaramara (Virginia King; Chris Thombuilt) to celebrate the new millennium in 2000. This provides a shortcut back onto Tāmaki Drive.

Stroll along the flat picturesque path on Tāmaki Drive until you reach Ōrākei Wharf, a popular recreational area.

5. Downtown, midtown, uptown walk

This easy one and a half hour walk gives you a glimpse into one of the city’s most historically significant areas, taking in beautiful heritage buildings including the Civic theatre and the Town Hall. Perfect for history buffs and architecture enthusiasts.

Downtown walk

Initially Fore Street (now Fort Street) ran along the beach. By 1870 the shoreline had been changed with the reclamation of Commercial Bay reaching as far as Customs Street East and the formation of Quay Street in the 1880s.

Auckland’s newest land was close to crucial means of transport. Not only was it on the doorstep of the wharves but soon the new railway station would be at its hub and the heart of the country’s largest commercial centre was just a stone throw away.

Begin on Queen Street under the glass canopy opposite the front entrance of the Britomart Transport Centre.

This walk will take approximately 1.5 hours

Midtown walk

When Auckland became the capital of New Zealand in 1841 the government buildings and military barracks were established on the Princes Street ridge.

The route between the landing place and foreshore market place, known as Shortland Crescent, naturally developed as the commercial area. Service lanes grew to accommodate workmen and

workshops in what are now High, O’Connell and Chancery Streets.

A rich and varied architectural history is evident including fine examples of Victorian, Edwardian, arts and crafts, Art Deco and modern buildings.

From the 1930s depression to the present there has been little new development, only ten new buildings have been built since 1939.

Begin this walk on the corner of Queen and Swanson streets at the historic Bank of New Zealand facade.

This walk will take approximately 1.5 hours Uptown walk

Major civic amenities developed in this area between the 1880s and 1910s when the city’s first purpose-built art gallery and library and the Town Hall were constructed. These functions have remained and expanded over time.

This upper part of the central city remains a vibrant focus for theatres and cinemas, civic administration, Auckland’s main public library and the art gallery.

Start at the corner of Victoria Street and Queen Street.

This walk will take approximately 1.5 hours

6. Shakespear Tiritiri Path

Explore Shakespear Regional Park’s native bush, beaches, birdlife and amazing views of the Hauraki Gulf, including Rangitoto Island and Tiritiri Matangi Island. The track takes just under two hours so there’s plenty of time for a picnic or a swim afterwards.

This is a fantastic walk in Shakespear Regional Park combining regenerating native forest, cliff tops and three spectacular lookout points.

Start at picturesque Te Haruhi Bay. Follow the red markers through a flat paddock and up a reasonably steep section of farm track. The hill is a challenge, but worth it for the magnificent views back over Te Haruhi Bay.

Continue on the well-formed gravel track along the coastline, where you’ll see great views of wildlife sanctuary Tiritiri Matangi Island.

At the lookout point where the different park tracks meet, take in the 360-degree views of the Auckland city skyline, Rakino and Rangitoto Islands, and Wenderholm and Mahurangi regional parks.

Early human occupants of this area cleared much of the original forest. Today Auckland Council, Shakespear Open Sanctuary Society Inc. and volunteers are working together to replant native forest in gullies and restore wildlife.

The last part of the path travels through farm paddocks with roaming sheep - it can be easy to miss the markers in this section. Follow the Lookout Track down the hill and make your way back at Te Haruhi Bay (public toilets are available here).

Finish at Te Haruhi Bay, where you can enjoy the large grassy picnic and games areas, or take a dip in the water at the safe swimming beach. The resident peacocks provide colourful displays if you time your visit right.

Shakespear Regional Park is a 40 minute drive from central Auckland. Buses to the park entrance run from downtown Auckland.

No dogs are allowed at Shakespear Regional Park. Please take your rubbish home - there are no bins at the park.