Parks in Auckland

Western Springs Park

731 Great North Road, Grey Lynn

Western Springs lakeside

Western Springs Park is a sanctuary for both people and wildlife. It surrounds a natural spring-fed lake, one of Auckland's early water supplies.

The lake is a refuge for the native orea (eel), who can be seen trailing the swans and ducks. Along with the birds, the orea are tame and can be coaxed to take food. The eels are an original part of the cultural and ecological heritage of Western Springs Lake - a fact that is reflected in the lake's Maori name 'Te Wai Orea', which means 'waters of the eel'.

Around the shores and wetlands, wild fowl including native Pūkeko, Teal, Australian Coot and Shovelers can be freely viewed amongst regenerating native plants, wide-open lawns, gardens, water gardens and water lilies.

The park offers a tranquil resting place for visitors to a cluster of major nearby attractions including the Auckland Zoo, Museum of Transport and Technology, the Chamberlain Park Golf Course and the Western Springs stadium.

You can explore the park by means of a well-developed network of footpaths that includes boardwalks through the wetlands and a walking track. There are also picnic tables and a children's playground.

Click here for more information about Western Springs Park and its facilities.

Fishing in Western Springs lake

The long-finned eel, which is only found in New Zealand, has recently been classified by the Department of Conservation as 'in gradual decline', which means it is likely to be extinct within 50 years. Eel populations are particularly vulnerable because eels take a long time to grow to their potential two metres (usually only between 1cm and 2cm per year) and female eels only spawn once before they die and can be up to 80 years old before they do so.

It is feared that people illegally fishing in the lake may put native eels at risk. According to Part 20 of the Auckland City Consolidated Bylaw (1998), it is illegal to kill or injure any animal in a public place, including all lakes in the Auckland city area. Offenders can be fined up to $500.

Other species that could be affected by the illegal fishing include tench, perch, catfish, goldfish, koi and grasscarp. Signs around the lake state fishing is illegal and new signage will include translations in several languages.

Please contact us if you see anyone fishing in the lake.