Hunua Regional Park and Wairoa Dam

These bush clad ranges with streams, waterfalls and magnificent vistas offer a natural playground less than an hours drive from Auckland. The park is the largest native forest in the Auckland region. Enjoy a family outing to the Hunua Falls with picnic areas and a variety of walks.

A man-made gem in the regenerating bush is the Wairoa Dam, an earth filled stucture which went up fast and opened in 1975, ready to supply water for a growing city. Planning had begun as early as 1916, and the land purchases took a while. At 47m high and 213m wide, it is of the rolled earth type, of which there are several supplying Auckland. A special aluminum and concrete mix was used for the valve tower and delivery pipe. The dam holds 685,000 cubic metres of water.

The standard walk to the Reservior is via the Wairoa Loop Track from Otau Road off Moumoukai Road, to the lookout platform, it takes about three hours. Opposite the track entrance on Otau Road is an unofficial and slippery five minute track to a waterfall, casually named Wairoa Falls, quite separate from the famous Hunua Falls.

Also on Otau Road is the other loop track with a view of the Dam. It is called the Hunua Suspension Bridge Walk, and it takes about as long, starting with the very impressive suspension bridge over the river, and later connecting with the Wairoa Cossey track, and then the lookout path. A benefit of this path is the public conveniences along the way.

The Moumoukai in the Mangatawhiri Valley is the area assigned to mountainbiking though it is also great for walking. If coming in from the Kaiaua side, the Vining Walkway is the favoured way trail, it takes you to the Mangatangi Trig which has excellent views. Mount William Walkway, which is closer to Mangatawhiri is not part of the park but also provides great views from the top of a trig named Puketutu.

All Auckland Regional Parks are subject to Kauri Dieback preventative measures, so it is vital to stay on the tracks.

Image Credit: Photo by Alistair Smith on Unsplash