It was one of those late-summer afternoons where the sun hit just right — low in the sky, golden, and not a whisper of wind. I’d ducked out of the city with nothing more than a banana, a camera, and a pair of worn-in trail shoes.
Te Akeake isn’t the most famous walk in Wenderholm Regional Park — but maybe that’s the charm. It feels like a secret whispered by the sea. You won’t find signs pointing to it, and you might even doubt you’re on a “track” at all. But follow your nose north along the beach and you’ll uncover one of Auckland’s most soulful strolls.
“Te Akeake is where land, river, and sea blur into one peaceful moment,” says Sandra, our resident walking specialist. “It’s perfect for reflection, and for skipping stones if you’re still a kid at heart.”
What stood out most was how untouched Te Akeake feels. It’s not the track you do for Instagram glory — it’s the one you remember months later when you need to calm your mind.
Long before Wenderholm became a beloved Auckland day trip destination, it was a thriving settlement for Māori who lived here for nearly a thousand years, drawn by the fertile land, sheltered estuary, and abundant seafood. The flat sandy spit at the mouth of the Pūhoi River was called Te Akeake, while the forested headland was called Maungatauhoro, which was part of a wider cultural and spiritual landscape, nestled between the Pūhoi and Waiwera Rivers.
In the late 1700s, the area played host to a significant peace-making event (mihirau) between the Kawerau and Hauraki tribes, a moment that echoes through the whenua (land) even today.
Then came the Europeans. In 1868, politician and entrepreneur Robert Graham bought the land and built a holiday homestead he called Wenderholm, literally meaning “winter home.” The estate was his retreat from the bustle of Auckland, and also conveniently close to his nearby hot spring resort in Waiwera. The house, now known as Couldrey House, still stands and is open to the public.
The track itself — the Te Akeake Walk, remains unofficial and unformed, much like how early Māori and settlers would have experienced the land: by following the natural contours of coast and river. “Te Akeake” refers to a native tree species, but it’s also tied to the traditional name for this part of the sandspit.
It wasn’t until 1965 that Wenderholm became Auckland’s first regional park, protecting the area’s lush coastal forest, important wetlands, and historic grounds for future generations.
Today, as you walk barefoot along the beach to Te Akeake, you’re quite literally retracing the footprints of centuries, where peace was made, birds still call, and tides keep time better than any wristwatch ever could.
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