The Kōtare Loop Walk is a scenic trail in Waitawa Regional Park, East Auckland. This moderate track winds through native bush and regenerating forest, offering glimpses of local birdlife including the kōtare (kingfisher). The loop takes approximately 1-2 hours to complete and features well-maintained paths with gentle gradients, suitable for most fitness levels.
Find more walks in this area… explore East Auckland walks
By Car: From central Auckland take the Southern Motorway (SH1) and exit at East Tamaki Road. Follow East Tamaki Road east then turn right onto Ormiston Road. The Waitawa Regional Park entrance is well signposted on your left. Free parking available at the main car park.
By Public Transport: Take bus route 33 or 353 to Ormiston Town Centre then walk approximately 15 minutes along Ormiston Road to the park entrance. Be aware that bus services are limited on weekends.
Address for GPS: Ormiston Road, Flat Bush, Auckland
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The Kōtare Loop is one of those rare gems that manages to feel genuinely isolated despite being in suburban East Auckland. You’re only twenty minutes from shopping centres and motorways but the moment you step onto the track you could be deep in the Waitakeres.
The track was established as part of Auckland Council’s regeneration project and it shows. Native plantings from the early 2000s have matured beautifully creating proper canopy cover. This isn’t just a walk through scrubby manuka—you’ve got proper podocarp forest sections with rimu and totara that give you a sense of what this area looked like before farming.
The walk’s namesake, the kōtare (sacred kingfisher), is genuinely present here unlike some walks where the named bird is more aspirational than actual. Your best chances of spotting one are near the two stream crossings, particularly in early morning or late afternoon. They’re migratory so they’re absent from May through August but from September through April you’ve got decent odds.
Listen for their distinctive call—a sharp descending whistle that sounds like someone blowing across a bottle. They hunt from low perches and will sit remarkably still so scan branches overhanging water carefully.
Tui are absolutely everywhere here and their complex songs provide a constant soundtrack. Fantails (piwakawaka) will often follow walkers flitting around to catch insects disturbed by your footsteps. The regenerating sections near the end of the loop are excellent for spotting silvereye and grey warbler.
The Kōtare Loop is well-maintained but that doesn’t mean it’s a manicured city park path. Tree roots cross the track frequently and can be slippery when wet. The track surface is mostly hard-packed clay which drains reasonably well but after Auckland’s inevitable winter downpours sections become properly muddy.
The “moderate” grading is fair. There’s nothing technically challenging but the gentle climbs are sustained enough that you’ll know you’ve done some exercise. People with reasonable fitness who walk occasionally will handle it comfortably but absolute beginners might find themselves breathing hard on the uphill sections.
The track width varies considerably. Some sections are wide enough to walk two abreast chatting away but others narrow to single file where you’ll need to negotiate right of way with oncoming walkers. If you’re bringing a dog keep them close on these tighter sections.
Summer brings the kingfishers back and the canopy provides welcome shade on hot days. The forest stays surprisingly cool even when Auckland is sweltering. However summer also means more people especially during school holidays though this walk never gets truly crowded.
Winter walking has its own appeal with fewer people and moody atmospheric conditions. The downside is mud—proper sticky clay mud that clings to boots and makes the tree roots even more treacherous. If it’s been raining recently wear your scruffiest shoes and accept you’ll be cleaning them thoroughly afterwards.
Spring is probably optimal. The regenerating forest bursts with new growth, the migratory birds return and the mud has usually dried out from winter. Tui are particularly vocal during spring breeding season.
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This isn’t a backcountry expedition but being prepared makes the walk more enjoyable. Sturdy walking shoes or trail runners with good grip are essential—the roots and clay demand decent tread. Tramping boots are overkill unless it’s been very wet recently.
Water is important even though it’s a short walk. There’s no drinking water on the track and you’ll work up a sweat on the climbs. A litre per person is plenty.
Insect repellent in warmer months keeps the mosquitos at bay particularly near the streams. They’re not terrible but they’re present.
Binoculars transform the birdwatching experience. Even a cheap pair lets you properly appreciate the kingfishers and spot more distant birds in the canopy.
The Kōtare Loop doesn’t present serious hazards but it’s worth knowing the niggles. Navigation can be confusing at junctions where multiple tracks intersect. The orange markers are clear enough if you’re paying attention but it’s possible to accidentally veer onto a different loop if you’re deep in conversation.
The track can be genuinely slippery when wet. The clay surface and exposed roots create a skating rink effect after rain. Take your time on descents and don’t be embarrassed to grab onto trees for stability.
Mobile reception fades once you’re in the thicker bush. This isn’t a safety issue on a well-formed loop track but it means you can’t google which bird you’re looking at or summon help immediately if someone twists an ankle. Basic first aid knowledge and self-reliance matter even on suburban walks.
Dogs are allowed but must be leashed. The narrow sections and occasional other walkers mean voice control isn’t sufficient. Also there are ground-nesting birds in the regenerating areas that dogs can disturb.
No. The tree roots, narrow sections and gradient make it unsuitable for wheels. The nearby Puweto Loop in the same park has better surface for wheeled access.
The streams are small shallow trickles rather than swimming holes. They’re barely ankle-deep and primarily habitat for aquatic insects and the occasional eel.
No facilities on the track itself. Use the toilets at the main car park before starting.
The climbs are gentle and sustained rather than steep. Reasonably fit older walkers manage fine but it’s definitely hillier than a flat waterfront walk. Take breaks as needed.
Yes. This is a popular suburban park with regular foot traffic. Still smart to tell someone your plans and carry a charged phone even if reception is patchy.
Not at all. This is an excellent introduction to bush walking for beginners. The track is well-formed and signposted without being so manicured that it loses its natural character.
No. Kōtare are migratory and absent from approximately May through August. Your best chances are September through April with peak numbers in summer.
The morning mist still clung to the trees when I started the Kōtare Loop Walk, threading my way through thick native bush that seemed to swallow the sounds of the outside world. The track wasn’t difficult, but it demanded attention—tree roots crossed the path at awkward angles, and in places the trail narrowed to barely a shoulder’s width.
I’d come specifically hoping to spot a kōtare, the sacred kingfisher the walk is named after. About twenty minutes in, near one of the small streams that cuts through the park, I heard that distinctive call—a sharp, descending whistle. I froze mid-step and scanned the branches until I found it: a burst of turquoise and rust perched on a low branch, head cocked, watching the water below.
The loop took me just over an hour, winding through groves of rimu and nikau palms that filtered the light into soft green shadows. There’s a section where the path climbs slightly, opening up to glimpses of the Hutt Valley below through gaps in the canopy. The air smelled clean, heavy with that particular dampness that comes from decaying leaves and moss-covered bark.
I passed only two other people the entire walk—a couple with a well-behaved dog who nodded as we squeezed past each other on the track. By the time I emerged back at the car park, my shoes were caked in mud and my legs felt pleasantly tired. The kingfisher sighting made the whole thing feel like a small gift, though even without it, the quiet and the green would have been enough.
