The ARC Network: Auckland Regional Transport Authority | Auckland Regional Holdings | Auckland Botanic Gardens | AucklandPlus
Complete Network
Auckland Regional Council logo
Home / Contact us / Jobs / Sitemap
Hunua Ranges
Parks in the region
Stay in a park
Bookable picnic sites
Arts and culture
Before you go to a park
Arataki Visitor Centre
Filter regions:
Northern
Western
Southern
Central
A - Z

Park Activities

Dogs
close

Dogs

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

Find other parks with dogs

Abseiling
close

Abseiling

There are 2 sites, 1 at Hunua Falls (30m). You must have a qualified instructor, book this site by phoning 09 366 2000. There is another site bookable through the Kokako Lodge 09 292 4349

Find other parks with abseiling

Education
close

Education

There are education programs available through the Learning through experience programs, discovery walks and wild south water watch. Bookings and enquiries via 09 536 7012

Find other parks with education

Fishing
close

Fishing

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

Find other parks with fishing

Kayaking
close

Kayaking

Kayaking is possible in the pool below the falls – Kokako Lodge are able to provide kayaks bookings through 09 292 4349 or e-mail director@kokakolodge.org.nz

7 out of 10

Find other parks with kayaking

Swimming
close

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

Find other parks with swimming

Volunteering
close

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.

Find other parks with volunteering

Wildlife
close

Wildlife

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

Find other parks with wildlife

Weddings
close

Weddings

Ceremonies are often held on either side of the Falls. A permit is required, contact the Senior Ranger Recreation 09 292 4823. Receptions can be held at Kokako Lodge. Bookings through 09 292 4349 or e-mail director@kokakolodge.org.nz

Find other parks with weddings

Search for activities

Tracks

Hunua Falls Loop Walk
20 minutes / 0 km
close

Hunua Falls Loop Walk

Walk
Time: 20 minutes
Distance: 0 km

This track climbs from the Wairoa River up to the Falls through lush forest, along a shady stream to a lookout platform.

Pram friendly: No

Suspension Bridge Loop
90 minutes / 3 km
close

Suspension Bridge Loop

Walk
Time: 90 minutes
Distance: 3 km

Start at the Suspension Bridge, access via Moumoukai Hill Rd. This walk climbs through the forest to a spectacular platform above the Wairoa Reservoir.

Pram friendly: No

Valley Loop Track
90 minutes / 0 km
close

Valley Loop Track

Bike Ride
Time: 90 minutes
Distance: 0 km

The best place to start his easy grade loop is the Mangatawhiri carpark and follow the river down through the paddocks to Mangatangi Hill Rd.

Pram friendly: No

Moumoukai Farm Track
105 minutes / 0 km
close

Moumoukai Farm Track

Bike Ride
Time: 105 minutes
Distance: 0 km

This track detours off the Valley Loop Track and winds through areas where regenerating kanuka now borders the remaining paddocks.

Pram friendly: No

Mangatawhiri Challenge Track
120 minutes / 5 km
close

Mangatawhiri Challenge Track

Bike Ride
Time: 120 minutes
Distance: 5 km

Follow the Waterline Keeney Track until turning off on to a single track for excellent views of the reservoirs. Not recommended in wet conditions.

Pram friendly: No

Wairoa Loop Track
180 minutes / 6 km
close

Wairoa Loop Track

Walk
Time: 180 minutes
Distance: 6 km

This track climbs steeply from the Wairoa picnic site to a lookout place form, there is a 420m loop track that will take you closer to the Wairoa reservoir.

Pram friendly: No

Cossey/Massey Loop
195 minutes / 5 km
close

Cossey/Massey Loop

Walk
Time: 195 minutes
Distance: 5 km

Track currentlly closed. This track is metalled but is steep in places and involves wading or rock hopping across Cossey Creek. Enjoy long range views, impressive native forest, sparkling waters and great Kauri trees along the way.

Pram friendly: No

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
There are a range of campgrounds available for overnight tramps. more...
Picnics sites
Picnic tables are provided at Hunua Falls, Wairoa and Mangatawhiri. Or you can find your own favourite spot.
Lodges
Kokako Lodge is situated beside the Falls and sleeps 85 in bunk style accommodation. more...
Campervan access
Self contained campervans able to stay up to 2 nights in carpark.
Drinkable water
There is a drinking fountain.
Wheelchair access
There is disabled toilet facilities and access down to the falls from the carpark (2 mins)

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.

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:

Opens:
8am
Closes:
5pm (winter)
8:30pm (summer)

How to get there

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:
60 minutes
  
Get directions with Google Maps
Public transport information:

www.maxx.co.nz


Massey Cossey Loop Track is closed

With the recent storm there are trees down, currently the Massey Cossey Loop Track is closed, please check track conditions with the Southern Sector Office on 09 292 4823.