Keen walker David Mallowes offers suggestions about fun and interesting routes people can take to get some exercise and enjoy the area in his latest column.
This is an excellent up to 7km walk for the school holidays with some adventuring, cafes and playgrounds.
There are unobstructed views from Mt Wellington, a lovely bush walk around the lower slopes and the three craters, the Maungarei Springs Wetlands and quarry remnants, the Lunn Avenue shops and wide quiet streets around Stonefields.
We started from the parking area at the end of Gollan Road, followed the path to the right, a scramble up through some pine trees, then followed a track low on the mountain to and through Winifred Huggins Reserve.
An easier pushchair friendly option is to park on Gollan Road near Maungarei Memorial Drive and follow the closed road around to the top and back.
Back to the end of Gollan Road and there’s a wide rocky path down to Stonefields.
You may choose to walk Mt Wellington one day, Stonefields the next, and could even add in the Panmure Basin.
See too the earlier column about the Tahuna Torea bird sanctuary walks (Times, November 28).
The next few weeks may be quite warm by early afternoon so perhaps set out early and back to Howick or Botany for lunch then a rest.
Toilets – opposite 87 Lunn Avenue, adjacent to the Mountain Road entrance to Mt Wellington, and Stonefields, 43 Tephra Boulevard.
Playgrounds – Cliff Face Park, Guard Crescent. Playtime Park (excellent), 23 Fynes Avenue.
Pushchairs – the Mt Wellington car free roadway and the streets around Stonefields.
Mountain tracks narrow and the wide path linking mountain to quarry is rocky near Gollan Road.
I’ve uploaded many photos and printable maps with cafes, toilets and playgrounds marked, and suggested walking routes, to https://www.facebook.com/walksouteastauckland.
Also to an Alltrails map, see the QR code: https://www.alltrails.com/explore/map/mt-wellington-and-stonefields-224e5e4
- Like to walk with others?
The Howick Picton Walkers meet on Monday and Thursday mornings at 9.15am in the carpark behind Wild Wheat, at the Picton Centre entrance. $2 includes use of the upstairs lounge and tea and coffee; 100-plus routes.
