731 Great North Road, Western Springs, Auckland

Western Springs Park

Auckland Walks

In between Auckland Zoo and the Museum of Transport and Technology, there’s a big, beautiful park commonly known as Western Springs.

In Maori, it’s called Te Wai Orea, that’s ‘waters of the eel’, and rightly so. As you walk around the large fresh water lake, there are various spots to feed these wonderfully slimy creatures of ancient lineage. Although eels usually migrate to sea at around 33 years of age, some do stay in their freshwater habitats. Those that stay can reach ages of up to 50 or 60 years, and would be the stuff of legends: ‘the eel as thick as a drainpipe and five feet long’. For longfin eels, the migration is to Tonga, and for shortfin it may be Fiji or Tahiti, where they spawn and then die.

These eggs will eventually hatch into larvae which will take eighteen months to find their way back to our rivers via the ocean currents. In spring the larvae will have undergone a transformation into transparent ‘glass’ eels. Maori revered eel and fished for them in the past, using a system that took into account their migratory patterns. The Maori name for eel is tuna, and they were caught with traditional traps (hinaki) made of climbing fern (mangemange).

If eels don’t excite you, then perhaps the fantastic array of bird life will. Brilliant blue pukeko strut amidst the demanding geese; the swans are aloof but the ducks can detect a rustling bag of bread from fifty paces. Then there are other birds; fluffy chickens and noisy roosters add an element of surprise and, high in the willow trees overhanging the water, you’ll probably see shags.

Look carefully into the lake and you may see giant carp and the occasional catfish cruising in the water. The catfish have curiously cartoonlike faces complete with generous whiskers and down-turned pouting mouths.

The park is a great place for picnicking, so take an old blanket or mat with you. There are sturdy wooden tables here and there but they may all be in use.

While you’re in the area, it’s also worth taking a look at the Museum of Transport and Technology – widely known as MOTAT - and of course, Auckland Zoo. The Museum of Transport and Technology opened in 1964, it’s built on the site from where water drawn from Western Springs was once pumped and used as the city’s water supply until the early 1900’s. The pumphouse has been preserved for visitors to see and MOTAT has over 300,000 items in its collection.

The zoo and MOTAT do have a cover charge; the park is absolutely free to enjoy. But remember, no fishing.

By Candice Lewis

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  • Pool
  • Lake
  • Swimming Pool

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