Epsom Village & Mt Eden Volcano Loop Walk

Walk Highlights

• Melville Park: This exquisite 4.7 hectare park opened on 3 December 1939 as a home for women’s cricket and hockey in Auckland. The Women’s World Hockey Championships were held here in 1971. Named after Ellen Melville, the first woman elected to a city/town council in New Zealand (Auckland City Council, 1913). She remained on the Council for 33 years.
• Auckland Normal Intermediate: The route takes you through the grounds of Auckland Normal Intermediate and the University of Auckland Epsom Campus. Prior to 1995 this was the home of the Auckland Teacher Training College where thousands of teachers trained.
• Historic Housing: Poronui Street and Mt Eden Road feature interesting examples of mostly older housing including lovely two-storied wooden homes and villas, many in immaculate condition.
• Maungawhau Crater: The look into the crater and the outer views reward the effort. You could easily spend half an hour taking in the spectacular 360-degree views of Auckland city, the harbours, and out to the islands.
• Government House Grounds: On the descent you’ll pass two sides of the grounds of Government House, the residence of the Governor General when in Auckland for longer visits. You can’t see the buildings but the walls and the density of the trees and shrubs are impressive.
• The Pines: You’ll also skirt The Pines, now about 60 years old. This was the first luxury apartment building in Auckland, set in 7 acres of parklands.

Getting There

• By bus: The main bus route from town is 275. Get off at the Epsom Community Centre.
• By car: Parking is usually available on Kimberley Road near Epsom Community Centre, 259 Gillies Avenue.
• Alternative start: You could also take any bus going to Mt Eden shops along Mt Eden Road. Get off at the shops and join the route partway through, then come back to the same spot for your return.

What You’ll Actually See

The route starts at Melville Park, what is now also the Epsom Remuera Croquet Club on Gillies Avenue, originally created for the Epsom Club from a Great Depression work project in 1934. The rock wall at the end of the short entry marks one boundary of Melville Park.

The Northern side of the Park steps up and gives an elevated view back over the ground. Towards the right hand end the steps and path has an information panel detailing the accomplishments of Ellen Melville.

The route along Poronui Street and Mt Eden Road has interesting examples of mostly older housing including some lovely two storied wooden homes and villas, many in immaculate condition.

The shops in Mt Eden contain a wide variety of eateries so refreshments won’t be hard to find. Perfect for a post-walk coffee.

The walk starts to steepen beyond the shops but then levels out just before reaching the entry road into Maungawhau. The gradient now is steeper and stays this way for about 500 metres until arriving at the crater.

The look into the crater and the outer views reward the effort. You could easily spend half an hour taking in the spectacular views.

There are also fine examples of older wooden housing in Marama Street on the way back down.

Who It’s For

This walk is great for anyone with reasonable fitness who wants to explore Auckland’s volcanic heritage and see some of the city’s oldest suburbs. The steep sections on Mt Eden mean it’s more challenging than a flat walk, but the views are absolutely worth it.

Perfect for history buffs interested in Auckland’s development, architecture fans who appreciate villa-lined streets, and anyone who wants crater views without leaving the city.

Not ideal for mobility issues or very young children due to the steep climb and more than 100 steps on the descent.

When to Go

Early morning gives you the best views from the crater rim before any cloud builds up. Late afternoon is also good if you want to avoid the midday heat on the climb up.

The walk can be muddy after rain, particularly on the bush sections of the descent from Mt Eden.

Avoid during school hours if you want a quieter experience through the university and school grounds.

Important Stuff

• Water: Bring plenty, especially if it’s a warm day. The climb up Mt Eden is steep and there’s no water available on the route.
• Sun protection: The crater rim is exposed with no shade. Hat and sunscreen essential on sunny days.
• Footwear: Good walking shoes. The descent has lots of steps, so you’ll want proper grip.
• Mobile coverage: Good coverage throughout – you’re in central Auckland.
• Safety: The steps on the descent can be slippery when wet. Take your time.

History

This walk takes you through the heart of one of the oldest settled areas on the Auckland Isthmus. The area’s proximity to the new settlement on the Waitematā and the resident Māori population in Onehunga, and the fact that the direct routes between these points passed through it, enhanced its attraction to newcomers.

This led to population growth and the demand for more sites to build more homes. Subdivision upon subdivision was a quick and easy way to make money.

This growth is beautifully tracked in The History of Epsom edited by Graham Bush, published in 2006.