Mangere is one of Auckland’s best-kept walking secrets. From Mangere Bridge village you can cross the harbour on a purpose-built walking bridge, climb one of Auckland’s most intact volcanic cones, explore a working farm with 86 species of birds, or walk the reclaimed Onehunga foreshore.
There’s a rich variety of things to see: volcanic craters and cones, Ambury Park Farm, migratory shorebirds, the Manukau Harbour foreshore, and the fascinating history of Auckland’s harbour crossings.
You can do one walk at a time or connect two or more for a half-day or full-day experience. The Saturday morning market at Mangere Town Centre (7am to 2pm) is worth timing your visit around.
My list of all walks in Mangere
Ambury Park Farm Walk
Mangere Bridge & Foreshore Walk
Mangere Bridge Loop Walk
Mangere Bridge to Onehunga Loop walk
Mangere Esplanade Loop Walk
Mangere Mountain Loop Walk
Connecting the Walks
Several of these walks can be combined:
- Half day option: Mangere Bridge & Foreshore Walk + Mangere Mountain (about 3 hours)
- Full day option: Start at Ambury Farm, walk the foreshore to Mangere Mountain, cross the bridge to Onehunga, and return (6-7 hours with stops)
- Family option: Ambury Farm Walk + Mangere Esplanade Loop (2-3 hours, buggy friendly sections)
Getting There
- By car: Mangere Bridge village is about 15 minutes south of Auckland CBD. Free parking is available at Kiwi Esplanade (for bridge and esplanade walks), Domain Road by Mangere War Memorial Hall (for Mangere Mountain), Ambury Road (for Ambury Farm), and Taumanu Reserve off Orpheus Drive (for Onehunga foreshore walks).
- By bus: The 309 bus goes to Mangere Bridge shops. The 30 bus goes to Onehunga Bus depot by the library.
- By train: Take the train to Onehunga Station (end of the line). From here you can walk down The Mall to join the Onehunga side of the walks, or cross the bridge to Mangere Bridge village.
Mangere Bridge Village
Mangere Bridge village has a vibrant atmosphere, with cafes spilling onto the pavement along Coronation Road. There’s a good fish shop near the harbour end that does fish and chips, perfect for enjoying at the tables in the pohutukawa-shaded carpark after a walk.
The Saturday morning market at Mangere Town Centre (7am to 2pm) brings extra visitors. During summer, the market gardens in Kirkbride Road sell fresh vegetables and strawberries.
Nearby
If you’re in the area, you might also want to visit:
- Watercare Coastal Walkway (connects to Ambury Farm)
- Villa Maria Winery and cafe
- Butterfly Creek (great for kids)
- Mangere Lagoon Path (easy flat loop, good for birdwatching)