4 of the best park trails in South Auckland

Venture to the beautiful south for some heavenly spots to discover the great outdoors

1 Totara Park

Enter off Wairere Rd, Redoubt Rd or the lookout point off Goodwood Drive/ Eugenia Rise. Totara Park’s 216ha of tranquil land is right next door to the Auckland Regional Botanic Gardens. Stroll the paths and admire the views to Rangitoto and Manukau Heads. There’s also tennis, swimming pools in summer, barbecues, a bridle trail, mountain bike trails, excellent walking tracks and an award-winning adventure playground at the Wairere Rd entrance.

2 Pakuranga Rotary Walkway

Enter from Pigeon Mountain, Prince Regent Drive, Bramley Drive, Fisher Parade or Rotary Reserve at Pakuranga Rd This 5km walkway is paved and relatively flat, making it suitable for wheelchairs, pushchairs and most fitness levels. Skirting along the edge of the Tamaki Estuary and Whakaaranga Creek, you can walk, cycle or jog. Great views of wetlands and birdlife and there’s a very good playground at the reserve. Takes about two hours 45 minutes to complete on foot.

3 Mangere Mountain

Enter from 17 Domain Rd, Mangere

This is one of the best preserved of Auckland’s many volcanic cones, thought to have blown its top about 18,000 years ago. It’s now home to playing fields, a playground, picnic tables, a skate park and spectacular views. It has lovely walking tracks, and if you’ve got time, carry on down to Ambury Park for some super cycling, walking or jogging. The Mangere Mountain Education Centre ( on the eastern side of the Mountain) is also good for a gander, but is only open weekdays.

4 Barry Curtis Park

Enter at 201- 203 Chapel Rd, Flat Bush ( pictured) Covering 94ha, this park is filled with things to hold visitors’ interest, with its incredible sculptures, fabulous playground ( entry off Stancombe Rd), picnic areas and sporting facilities. There are also significant wetlands with ponds and boardwalks, and the skate park is rated very highly online. Check out the battlefield- like playground for older children. With improvements planned right through till 2022, the park is going to be one to watch.

Information about these, and other, parks can be found at aucklandcouncil. govt. nz under ‘‘ southwalkways’’ and ‘‘ premierparks’’.