This circular urban walk explores Auckland’s southern suburbs, starting from Onehunga Railway Station and winding through residential streets and parkland to reach the historic Pah Homestead in Monte Cecilia Park. The return journey takes you along the Manukau Harbour waterfront, completing a satisfying loop through varied Auckland landscapes.
The Onehunga Line runs from Britomart in central Auckland directly to Onehunga Station. Trains run regularly during weekdays and weekends. This is the best option for this circular walk since you’ll end up back where you started.
Multiple bus routes service Onehunga including the 30, 31, 32, and others from various parts of Auckland. Check the AT Journey Planner for current timetables.
From central Auckland, take State Highway 20 south and exit at Onehunga. Street parking is available on Princes Street near the railway station and around the mall area. For shorter options B and C, you can park on Grey Street or Quadrant Road near Jellicoe Park.
👉 👉 Freedom Camp Between Walks – Hire a Campervan – We’ve got the best deals
The walk begins by threading through Onehunga’s residential areas rather than heading straight to the waterfront. This isn’t the most scenic start, but it gets you away from the main roads quickly. Trafalgar Street and Selwyn Street have that typical South Auckland character, a mix of weatherboard villas, brick units from the 1970s, and the occasional renovated bungalow that’s now worth a fortune.
The Onehunga Library building on Selwyn Street is worth a peek if it’s open. Look for the heritage plaques around this area that tell stories of when Onehunga was Auckland’s industrial heart and home to one of the city’s earliest European settlements. The original shoreline was much closer to the current shops before reclamation pushed it back.
This small neighborhood park provides a brief green space before you tackle the longer stretch through Hillsborough. There’s a children’s playground here and public toilets, making it a good spot for families to take a breather. The park is nothing fancy, just a decent patch of grass with mature trees, but it breaks up the suburban street walking.
The residential section through Hillsborough gets overlooked in most walk descriptions, but it’s actually one of the more pleasant parts. These streets have that established Auckland character—solid villas and bungalows, many built in the early 1900s, with mature gardens and tree-lined footpaths. It’s quiet, the streets are human-scaled, and you get periodic glimpses of the Manukau Harbour between houses.
This section reminds you that cities can be lovely places to walk when they’re designed at a human scale. No motorways here, no massive arterials, just neighborhoods where people actually know their neighbors. That said, navigation can be slightly tricky without the map. The streets aren’t clearly signed for walkers and it’s easy to miss a turn, so keep your phone handy or bring printed directions.
This is where the walk shifts from urban stroll to actual exercise. The path up through Monte Cecilia Park is paved and well-maintained, but you’ll definitely notice the incline. It’s not mountain climbing, but it’s a continuous upward gradient for about 15 minutes that’ll get your heart rate going.
The park was once part of the Pah estate and later became home to a Catholic girls’ school. Now it’s public parkland with established native and exotic trees. The pohutukawa here are magnificent—gnarled trunks, spreading canopies, and spectacular red flowers in summer that attract tui and other native birds. Even outside flowering season, the birdlife is excellent. Early morning walkers sometimes spot kereru (native wood pigeons) in the tree canopy.
The path runs alongside the metal fence of Marcellin College grounds before opening up into the park proper. There are bench seats along the steepest sections if you need a breather. The view from the top includes One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie), and on clear days you can see across to the Waitakere Ranges and south toward Mangere Mountain.
Click here to download your FREE map
The Pah Homestead itself is worth the climb. Built in 1879 for merchant James Williamson, this elegant mansion has lived several lives—private home, Catholic convent, school building, and now an art gallery. The building underwent major restoration in the early 2000s and reopened as a public art space.
The James Wallace Arts Trust (now called TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre) focuses on New Zealand art from the 1950s onward, with particular emphasis on contemporary works. Entry is completely free, which makes this one of Auckland’s best-kept secrets. The volunteers who staff the place are knowledgeable and genuinely enthusiastic about the collection.
The surrounding gardens have been replanted with native species and include several sculptures. The formal areas near the house contrast nicely with the wilder sections that blend into the park. Note that the gallery is closed Mondays, so don’t do this walk on a Monday if seeing the art collection is important to you. Gallery hours are Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm.
The return journey takes you back through residential streets (retracing some of your earlier route) before descending Pah Road and heading along Beachcroft Avenue to the waterfront. This is where the walk delivers its reward for all that uphill effort.
Onehunga Bay Reserve runs along the Manukau Harbour shoreline, offering views across the water toward Mangere Mountain. The path follows the lagoon through the reserve—it’s flat, well-maintained, and a complete contrast to the climb you did earlier. This is where you’ll see people fishing off the rocks, dogs being walked, and the occasional boat heading out from Onehunga wharf.
The reserve has public toilets, a children’s playground, and picnic spots with barbecues. It’s a popular spot on weekends but never feels crowded. The path eventually brings you back to Beachcroft Avenue and then Princes Street, completing the loop back to Onehunga Railway Station or wherever you parked.
This walk works year-round, but autumn and spring are particularly pleasant. Summer can get hot on the exposed uphill sections and residential streets, though the tree cover provides some relief. Winter is fine if you don’t mind a bit of wind off the harbour—just dress appropriately.
Weekday mornings are quietest if you want to avoid crowds. Weekend afternoons bring more people to the parks and the Pah Homestead, but it never feels overwhelmingly busy. Remember the gallery is closed Mondays.
👉 👉 Freedom Camp Between Walks – Hire a Campervan – We’ve got the best deals
Onehunga has a surprising number of good cafes concentrated around the mall area. Columbus Coffee is reliable for a standard flat white and cabinet food. The Library Cafe offers a more relaxed atmosphere with decent food and coffee. There’s also a gelato parlor in the shops on the corner of Trafalgar and Quadrant Roads. If you’re after something more substantial, several bakeries and takeaway places line the mall.
The Pah Homestead has no cafe, which surprises some visitors. There’s a vending machine in the building but that’s about it. Pack snacks or eat in Onehunga before you start walking. The nearest cafes to the Pah are back down in Hillsborough, about a 10-minute walk away.
Public toilets: Onehunga Mall, Jellicoe Park children’s play area, Onehunga Bay Reserve, and inside the Pah Homestead (during gallery hours only)
Playgrounds: Jellicoe Park and Onehunga Bay Reserve
Picnic spots and barbecues: Jellicoe Park, Monte Cecilia Park, Onehunga Bay Reserve
Parking: Princes Street Onehunga (for the full circular walk). Grey Street and Quadrant Road frontages to Jellicoe Park (for shorter Options B and C)
Click here to download your FREE map
The main challenge is the uphill section through Monte Cecilia Park. It’s not technically difficult but it is continuous for about 15 minutes. People with mobility issues might find this section tiring. The path is well-maintained but it’s definitely an incline.
Navigation through the residential streets can be slightly confusing without a map or GPS. The streets aren’t clearly signed for walkers and it’s easy to miss a turn. Download an offline map before you start or bring the printed map from the PDF.
The walk is almost entirely on footpaths and residential streets, so you’re never far from civilization. If something goes wrong you can knock on a door or call for help. That said, the residential sections can feel a bit exposed in bad weather since there’s limited shelter.
How long does the walk take?
Pure walking time is about 1.5 to 2 hours at a moderate pace for the full 7.5 km loop. If you stop to explore the Pah Homestead and art gallery, take photos, and have a rest, allow 3-4 hours total. The shorter options (B and C) take 1-1.5 hours.
Is the walk suitable for children?
Yes, children who can walk 7-8 kilometers will manage fine. The playgrounds at Jellicoe Park and Onehunga Bay Reserve make good rest stops. Younger children might struggle with the uphill section but there’s nothing dangerous. For families with small children, consider the shorter Option C which skips the longer residential sections.
Can I bring my dog?
Dogs are allowed on leash throughout the walk. The parks are popular with dog walkers, particularly in the early morning and evening. The art gallery building doesn’t allow dogs inside, but you can leave them with someone outside or tied up briefly.
Is there an entrance fee for the Pah Homestead?
No, the gallery and grounds are completely free. Donations are appreciated but not required. This is one of the few genuinely free cultural attractions in Auckland.
Can I do this walk in sections?
Yes, the PDF map shows three options:
What if it rains?
The walk is doable in light rain with a jacket. Heavy rain makes it less pleasant since there’s limited shelter along the route. The Pah Homestead provides indoor shelter, so you can wait out a shower while looking at art. The paths don’t get particularly muddy even after rain.
Is the walk wheelchair accessible?
The residential street sections are accessible. The climb through Monte Cecilia Park is steep and would be very difficult for most wheelchairs. The Pah Homestead building itself is wheelchair accessible with ramps and a lift inside. The waterfront section along Onehunga Bay Reserve is accessible. In short, parts are accessible but the walk as a whole presents significant challenges for wheelchair users.
Where’s the best view?
The top of Monte Cecilia Park offers the best panoramic view, looking across to One Tree Hill (Maungakiekie), down to Mangere Mountain, and on clear days across to the Waitakere Ranges. The grounds around the Pah Homestead also have nice outlooks but they’re more framed by trees. The waterfront section provides harbor views across the Manukau.
I tackled this walk on an autumn afternoon when Auckland couldn’t decide whether to rain or shine. Starting from Onehunga Station felt practical rather than scenic, just another railway platform, nothing special. The walk through residential streets was pleasant enough, though I’ll admit I was checking my phone to make sure I hadn’t missed a turn somewhere around Trafalgar Street.
Jellicoe Park came as a welcome green space, and then it was back into the residential streets of Hillsborough. These streets surprised me. They’re quiet, tree-lined, and have that established Auckland character where the houses are solid and the gardens are overgrown in exactly the right way. I caught glimpses of the harbour between rooftops and wondered why more people don’t walk through here.
The climb up through Monte Cecilia Park got my heart rate going properly. It’s steeper than it looks on the map, winding through magnificent pohutukawa trees that must be spectacular in December but were just quietly impressive in their autumn colors. A few dog walkers passed me going the opposite direction, their dogs panting harder than I was. I stopped at one of the bench seats to catch my breath and take in the view back across the harbour.
The Pah Homestead appeared suddenly at the top, this grand mansion sitting in manicured gardens like it had every right to be there. After the climb, I was grateful for the excuse to spend an hour inside the air-conditioned gallery, wandering through rooms of New Zealand art. The volunteer at the desk was enthusiastic about the current exhibition and pointed me toward the sculptures in the gardens.
The return journey down Pah Road felt like a reward for all that uphill effort. Once I hit Onehunga Bay Reserve, everything opened up, flat path, harbour views, the sound of water against rocks. A couple of people were fishing off the reserve, completely unbothered by the wind picking up. I followed the lagoon path back through the reserve, past the playground where kids were making the most of the afternoon light.
The whole loop took me just under three hours with stops for photos and the gallery visit. My legs felt it the next day, particularly that climb through Monte Cecilia Park, but it was the good kind of tired that comes from actually moving your body through a city rather than just driving through it.
