Tramping Tracks in the Auckland Area

There are a variety of tramping tracks in the Auckland region. These are administered by the Department Of Conservation (DOC), the Te Araroa Trust and Auckland Council.

DOC provides mostly current useful track information, including maps on their website.

Tracks of especial interest are:

•    Goldie Bush, Mokoroa Stream (currently closed - watch for updates)

•    Te Henga Walkway

•    Mt Tamahunga

•    Dome Forest

•    Moirs Hill Walkway

•    Rangitoto / Motutapu Island

•    Tirirtiri Matangi Island

•    Hakarimata Walkway

•    Hapuakohe Walkway

 

Further afield there are some rewarding tramping tracks:

•    Coromandel Peninsula

•    Kaimai Mamaku Conservation Park

•    Great Barrier Island

•    Maungatautari

•    Mt Pirongia

•    Mt Karioi

The Te Araroa Trail runs through the Auckland area. Trail Information, with maps, is available on their website - refer the Trail Index tab. Unfortunately they can't currently go through the Hunuas because of two key tracks being closed as a kauri protection measure.

In the parks and reserves managed by Auckland Council, including the Waitakeres and the Hunuas there are very few open tramping tracks. They also do not communicate information about the open tracks well - as a starting point go to their track closures page. 

There is a work plan in place to significantly upgrade some of these tracks. Progress is being made against that plan, and potentially in a few years there will be a further track work and reopening plan established after further public consultation.

A few tracks are of interest:

• Waitakeres - Rose / White Track loop, Mercer Bay Loop / Comans, Kitekite Falls, Karamatura, Puriri Ridge, Mt Donald McLean, Omanawanui, Cutty Grass, McElwain Lookout 
• Hunuas - Ernies Track, Cossey / Wairoa / Massey Loop, eastern ridge tracks Mangatangi, Upper Mangatawhiri, Kohukohunui with Mine Road Track loop, Challenge Track, Pukapuka Track and Wairoa Loop / Suspension Bridge

Note also that there are a number of Auckland Council administered tracks closed in local parks and reserves throughout the Auckland region, including on Waiheke Island.

Refer this document from a discussion with Stu Leighton, Auckland Council senior ranger - kauri dieback, in June 2021 providing more infiormation on upcoming work and plans