Manukau coastal walks

Introduction | Manukau Harbour | Blockhouse Bay explorer | Lynfield Cove ramble | Waikowhai circles | Hillsborough Bay circuit | Additional information

Waikowhai circles

Wesley Bay walk

Duration: allow 1 hour
Classification: walking track.

Cape Horn walk - Matenga Rahi walk

Duration: allow 1 & 1/2 hours
Classification: tramping track.

Waikowhai (Kowhai by the water) boasts the largest block of native forest left in Auckland city. Originally part of a grant to the Wesley Mission, the land was considered too infertile for farming, so was not cleared. Today, the forest hosts a valuable sample of Auckland’s original fauna and flora. In spring, the whole valley is ablaze with yellow flowering kowhai, and it’s worth a visit to enjoy the antics of numerous tui, rosellas and the occasional kingfisher.

The area was once extremely popular as a holiday spot. Large crowds flocked to the beach to camp, swim, boat and eat their fill of strawberries and cream – bought from the little tea kiosk.

There are two possible walks in this remarkable area. The easier walk heads east through light native bush, does a short loop at Aldersgate Road and returns via a brief foreshore stroll. It takes one hour. The longer walk climbs steeply to Matenga Rahi (Big Head) or Cape Horn ridge, to the west, drops down to the beach at Wattle Bay and returns around Cape Horn on a longer low-tide route. Allow one and a half hours. Before you begin, check out the magnificent panorama from the lookout – an unequalled view of the Manukau Harbour and Te Ara Pueru pa across the channel. See if you can pick the shag colony in the coastal trees below Cape Horn.

Wesley Bay walk

Begin the shorter Wesley Bay walk on the track heading down alongside the playground. It connects with a wider track that heads east through open native scrub. In spring the tui whoosh overhead as they head for the kowhai tree nectar. A short beach stint (passable until half tide), then up steps and along a pleasant shady track for a few minutes before climbing up to Aldersgate Road. Turn left at the end of the track, return via Aldersgate Road and Wesley Bay. A few minutes of sandy shell beach and a few more minutes of rock shelf walking takes you back to Faulkner Bay. The low-tide section takes ten minutes. Walk back up the road or rejoin the track part way up and follow back to the playground.

Cape Horn walk – Matenga Rahi walk

The more challenging Cape Horn walk begins opposite the playground. Take the concrete path that drops down to the west. Take the right fork, cross the wooden bridge and climb the steep staircase up to Cape Horn Road (200 plus steps). Take a breather and consider the fine outlook from the site where a Maori pa once stood.

A short stroll down the road, then a pleasant track under a high canopy takes you to the beach at Wattle Bay. This was once full of baches. Often made from scrap materials, these rustic holiday cottages gave their occupiers a rich coastal and social experience. You may see some remains if you look about.

The end of Wattle Bay can be reached as a side-trip by heading along the foreshore for five minutes. The low-tide route back to Waikowhai, heads left along rock-shelves lined with oysters. The rock is slippery in places. On rounding the cape there is often a blast of wind and a wonderful panorama that stretches from Mangere Bridge in the east to Titirangi and Cornwallis Peninsula in the west. Straight across the water is Puketutu Island.

A little further along, strange shrieks, clucks and gobbles announce the presence of a shag breeding colony in the large pohutukawa above your head. Shags continually land, take off and wheel overhead. A few minutes of walking in soft silt leads to a sign for Waikowhai Bay that marks the point where you climb up to the concrete path and back to the carpark. The low-tide route takes half an hour.

Alternative to Cape Horn low-tide route: If you can get to the head of Wattle Bay with dry feet, follow the concrete path up and turn right into Canberra Avenue, James Tyler Crescent, William Donelly Terrace, George Laurenson Lane and Cape Horn Road. Follow Cape Horn Road to its end and down the track to Waikowhai.