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Park activities

Abseiling
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Abseiling

There is a site at Hunua Falls (30m). You must have a qualified instructor. Book this site by phoning 09 366 2000.

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Bird watching
Camping - backpack
Dog walking with restrictions
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Dog walking with restrictions

Dogs are allowed but must be on a lead. Dogs are prohibited from all designated camping and picnic areas.

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Fishing
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Fishing

Trout fishing is available on the Wairoa river from beyond the falls, via private land – check details with angling clubs.

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Horse riding
Mountain biking
Picnics
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Picnics

Picnic tables are provided at Hunua Falls, Wairoa and Mangatawhiri. Or you can find your own favourite spot.

7 out of 10

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Pram walks
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Pram walks

It is possible to take a pram to all four dams from the carparks. Most of the walks are not suitable for prams. It is possible to access the lower Hunua Falls lookout, but you'll need to negiotiate a few steps.

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Sightseeing
Swimming
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Swimming

Swimming is possible in the Wairoa river below the Falls. It is not recommended that you swim in the pool of the falls, as the bottom drops away suddenly and there have been drownings. There is no diving from the top of the falls.

7 out of 10

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Volunteering
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Volunteering

Currently a predator free zone is being set up in the falls area, and volunteers will be required to check the bait lines – this will be suitable for fit trampers as the terrain is very steep. Contact 09 536 7012 if interested in volunteering in our southern parks.

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Walks (1 hour or more)
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Walks (1 hour or more)

There are many longer walks available in the Hunua Ranges, a favourite amongst trampers. See below for more track details.

8 out of 10

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Walks (less than 1 hour)
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Walks (less than 1 hour)

For a short walk try the Hunua Falls Loop track which will take you up to the falls through the forest.

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Wedding / civil union
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Wedding / civil union

Ceremonies are often held on either side of the Falls. A permit is required, contact the Senior Ranger Recreation 09 366 2044. Receptions can be held at Kokako Lodge. Bookings through 09 292 4349 or e-mail director@kokakolodge.org.nz.

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Wildlife
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Wildlife

You can expect to see Kereru, Tui, Grey Warbler, Tomtit, Shining Cuckoo, Bellbirds and Californian Quail.

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Tracks

Cossey/Massey Loop
3 ¼ hours / 5 km
Hunua Falls Loop Walk
 ½ hour / 0.8 km
Mangatawhiri Challenge Track
2 hours / 15 km
Moumoukai Farm Track
1 ¾ hours / 15 km
Suspension Bridge Loop
1 ½ hours / 3.5 km
Valley Loop Track
1 ½ hours / 14 km
Wairoa Loop Track
3 hours / 6.5 km
Print view

Hunua Ranges

The Hunua Ranges frame the region's southeastern skyline and make up Auckland's largest forested landscape. More than 14,000 hectares of native forest filters about 2300mm of rain annually into four dams, which supply most of Auckland's water.
The park itself features tramping tracks, mountain biking, amazing scenery, fishing, swimming pools and waterfalls. The Hunua Ranges are also home to Auckland's only mainland population of one of its rarest bird - the kokako, and a refuge for the native Hochstetter's frog (pepeke).

While parts of the Hunua Ranges are accessible to experienced trampers only, two key areas provide plenty of tracks, views and activities suitable for families. The first of these is in the west of the ranges and includes the popular Hunua Falls and Wairoa Reservoir. The other takes in the south and central part of the ranges around the Mangatangi and Mangatawhiri reservoirs.

Hunua Falls-Wairoa Map (118.0 KB PDF)

Hunua- Mangatawhiri Map (167.2 KB PDF)

Park facilities

Camping - view details
Campervan access
Self contained campervans able to stay up to 2 nights in car park.
Interpretation
Limited mobility access
There is disabled toilet facilities and access down to the falls from the car park (2 minutes).
Long drop / vault toilet
Native bush
Parking
Additional parking is available in paddocks in the valley.
Picnic tables
Picnic tables are provided at Hunua Falls, Wairoa and Mangatawhiri. Or you can find your own favourite spot.
Potable water
There is a drinking fountain.
Toilet block
Unsealed access road

History

Maori used the hills and forests of the Hunua Ranges primarily as a source of food and timber, and as a refuge rather than for permanent residence.

The contempory name for the Hunua Ranges comes from the NW foothills near Ardmore Filter Station known as Te Hunua (hunua means 'high lying sterile lands'). The traditional name for the ranges is Te Ngaherehere o Kohukohunui (The Expansive Forests of Kohukohunui) after the highest peak, Kohukohunui. Rugged terrain, poor soils and difficult access meant this land was the last in the Auckland region to be settled by Europeans.

From around 1870 parts of the forest were cleared for farming and for timber, but farming was always a marginal activity here. However, the Hunua Falls have been a popular attraction for Aucklanders since Victorian times, when they were known as the "Wairoa Falls" and visitors travelled by steamer to Clevedon and took day trips to the falls. Two manganese mines have operated in the Hunua Ranges. During World War II, ore from a mine in the Moumoukai Valley was transported from the hilltop via a flying fox to a railway on the valley floor. But water was to be the main resource taken from the Hunua Ranges.

The four water supply dams there include the Mangatangi Reservoir, which is New Zealand's largest water supply dam and second largest earth dam. The extensive 169-hectare lake holds 37 million cubic metres of water and has an average daily yield of 101,100 cubic metres.

The Auckland City Council had begun purchasing land in the Hunua Ranges for water supply purposes in the 1940s, acquiring almost all of the ranges by 1960. In 1965 the agency that was to become the ARC took over metropolitan water supply and management of the water catchment areas. The land was transferred to the restructured and renamed Auckland Regional Council for park purposes in 1992. About a third of the land is planted pine trees. A commercial forestry company leases this area from the ARC and access is restricted for safety reasons.

Read the PDFs below to find out more about the history of the Hunua Ranges

A brief history of the human occupation of the Hunua Catchment Parkland (2.1 MB PDF)

History of human occupation in the East Hunua area (1.4 MB PDF)

Wildlife

About 80 species of land snail have been recorded in the Hunua ranges. Koura (freshwater crayfish) occurs relatively commonly in the waterways of the ranges.

A high diversity of fish species has been found in the Mangatawhiri River. One of New Zealand's four native frogs, Hochstetter's frog, occurs in the Hunua Ranges. The Hunua Ranges currently support the widest range of native forest birds in the Auckland region. These species include native pigeon, kaka, kakariki, shining cuckoo, morepork, kingfisher, grey warbler, fantail, tomtit, silvereye, bellbird, tui and kokako. Forest geckos are also known to occur here.

Native Bush

Has the largest tract of indigenous forest on the mainland in the Auckland region and contains an almost intact succession from coastal to submontane vegetation. The Hunua ecological district contains 20% of all NZ's indigenous species including over half of the ferns and fern allies. The ranges are also home to more than 600 species of fungi.

Picture of Hunua Ranges
Enjoy one of the many waterfalls in the Hunua Ranges.
Download map
(400 kb)
Open map in ARC-GIS
(our mapping application)

Park opening hours:

Summer:
8:00am - 8:30pm
Winter:
8:00am - 5:00pm

Weekend opening hours:

Summer:
8:00am - 8:30pm
Winter:
8:00am - 5:00pm

Public holiday opening hours:

Summer:
8:00am - 8:30pm
Winter:
8:00am - 5:00pm

How to get to Hunua Ranges

Travel south on State Highway 1 and take the Papakura exit. Follow Beach Rd across Great South Rd and along Settlement Rd. Turn right by Edmund Hillary School into Hunua Rd. Follow Hunua Rd through the Hunua Gorge to the Hunua village. Hunua Falls Just before entering the village, turn left into White Rd, right into Falls Rd and follow this road to Hunua Falls. Wairoa Dam Drive through Hunua village, continue for 8km and turn left into Moumoukai Rd. Wairoa Dam is on the left about 1km along this road. Mangatawhiri Dam - As for Wairoa but follow Moumoukai Rd to its end in the Mangatawhiri valley.

Distance from Auckland CBD: 50 km

  
Get directions with Google Maps

Pest control in the Hunua Ranges

2 November - 4 December, weekdays only

Pest control will be taking place in the Hunua Ranges on weekdays between 2 November and 4 December. Some campsites and tracks will be closed during this time. During weekends they will still be open for public recreational use. The control method will involve ground hunting by hunters with dogs and rifles.

The planned control has been split into 2 areas (see map below), and the closure of each area is staggered over a 5 week period.

Hunua Goat Control Map Nov-Dec 09 (449.1 KB PDF)

Area 1 - 2 November - 17 November, weekdays only

During Area 1 closure, the following tracks and campsites will be closed to public access. There will be limited access to other tracks and campsites adjoining these tracks. We recommend you contact the Southern Sector Office to confirm your route, 09 366 2044.

  • Kohukohunui Track
  • Adams Lookout camp site
  • Mine Road Track
  • Mine Road
  • Plows Road

Signs will be placed at track entry points including car parks and arrival zones to inform visitors of the animal pest control operation and closed tracks.

Area 2 - 18 November - 4 December, weekdays only

During Area 2 closure, the following tracks and campsites will be closed to public access. There will be limited access to other tracks and campsites adjoining these tracks. We recommend you contact the Southern Sector Office to confirm your route, 09 366 2044.

  • Workman Track
  • Workman camp site
  • Whakatiwai Ridge Track
  • Waharau Ridge Track
  • Waharau Ridge Track Loop
  • Mangatangi Ridge Track
  • Rata Ridge Track

Signs will be placed at track entry points including car parks and arrival zones to inform visitors of the animal pest control operation and closed tracks.

For enquiries regarding access and recreational activities during this operation, please contact the Southern Sector Parks Office on 09 366 2044.