Five Favorite City Walks
One of the best things about Auckland is how mild the weather is. People are constantly outside, and on a beautiful, sunny day you’ll see popular outdoor spaces absolutely jammed with people soaking up the sun. Because there is such an emphasis on outdoor life, there are some amazing walks around Auckland. Here are my favorites:
Mission Bay -> Saint Heliers. In the Eastern Bays, just minutes from the CBD, there is an incredible footpath that stretches from Mission Bay, through Kohimarama, all the way to Saint Heliers. It will take about half an hour to go the whole distance, and the entire time you’ll be able to enjoy the sites and sounds of the ocean right next to you. There are plenty of places to eat in both villages, and even Kohi has a wonderful coffee shop if you need a mid-walk snack.
Mt Eden Summit. The walk from the base of Mt. Eden to the top is a short, but steep walk at times. It is a great way to get your blood flowing and enjoy the impressive views at the top. The whole city is spread out below, and the impressive crater bowl makes you realize that Auckland really is sitting on a volcano field. It’s awe inspiring. This is one of my favorite places to take guests after they’ve had some time to explore the city. It really shows the layout of all the neighbourhoods they’ve visited while in town.
Cornwall Park. Another natural beauty centered around an urban volcanic crater, Cornwall Park is a perfect escape, especially with dogs or kids in tow. The views from the top of One Tree Hill (about half an hour from the road) are top notch, but there are lots of other winding trails to explore. There is a small cafe and lots of picnicking opportunities, too, if you want to make an afternoon of it.
Orakei Basin Walk. This path circles the Orakei lagoon and is a hidden gem that takes about an hour to complete. I love to park next to King’s Plant Barn in Orakei Bay Village and start along the Purewa bridge before turning right and heading along the path. There’s lots of opportunities for dogs to run around off leash and explore, but it isn’t small child friendly as there are several sets of stairs that make brining a stroller extremely difficult. Perhaps the best part of this walk is the return and stop off at the King’s Plant Barn cafe for a coffee after enjoying the surprising quiet of the walk.
Totara Park. There are so many places to explore in this park that it deserves several visits to truly appreciate. I love how you can choose to walk and explore the paths throughout the park - and feel like you’re exploring part of the Waitakere Ranges even though you’re in Auckland - or take a pause and let the kids run around one of the play-scapes. This is by far the best place to feel like you’re on a much bigger tramp.
