Western Springs Park Lake Walk

Last Updated on: 23 October 2026

A flat 1.8km loop around one of Auckland’s original water supply lakes, taking about 30 minutes on mostly wheelchair friendly concrete path. The eels under the bridge, the birdlife and the free MOTAT tram rattling past the fence line are the highlights. Dogs are welcome on a lead, but keep them out of the playground and don’t feed the birds.

Quick facts

Location	Western Springs, Auckland, North Island, NZ
Distance	1.80 km
Time needed	30 minutes
Difficulty	Very easy
Wheelchair access	Yes
Route	Loop (round trip)
Elevation	16 m
Wet feet	No
Toilets	Yes
Dogs	On a lead at all times, not allowed in the playground
Mobile coverage	Yes

Where is Western Springs Park

Western Springs Park sits between Grey Lynn and Morningside, right beside Auckland Zoo and the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT). The park surrounds a natural spring fed lake, one of Auckland’s early water supplies, and the loop track runs the whole way around it. The hub page for more walks in this part of the city is the Auckland Central walks page.

Parking at Western Springs Park

From the Auckland CBD, head up Queen Street, then turn right onto K Road at the lights. Follow K Road for about 4km through the traffic lights, and at Grey Lynn follow the sign for Western Springs, turning left and downhill all the way to the park. You’ll pass MOTAT on your right first. Keep going past MOTAT for about 300m and you can park on the side of the road, or carry on another 300m and turn right into the car park, which is also where the free tram ride leaves from.

Paid parking operates at the MOTAT Aviation Hall car park and the Auckland Zoo car park beside the park, charged at $3 an hour up to a $9 daily maximum, payable at the machines or through the AT Parking app. Some free on-street parking remains on Motions Road and Old Mill Road nearby, though it pays to check current signage as some spots are time-restricted.

Regular buses, including the 11T, 11W and 18, run from the city centre to Western Springs, and the nearest train stations are Morningside and Baldwin Ave on the Western Line, each around a 20 to 27 minute walk from the park. If the kids finish the loop with energy to burn, the indoor, air conditioned Odyssey Sensory Maze is a handy backup for a wet or windy day.

Walking around Western Springs lake

I’ve walked this loop more times than I can count, and it rarely takes more than thirty minutes, a bit longer if the park is busy. There are a few different entrances, but they all feed onto the same path around the lake, so you really can’t get lost. If it’s a sunny weekend, expect plenty of company, families picnicking on the grass and kids on the playground.

A word of warning if the ducks have taken over the footpath, they leave a mess behind, so maybe don’t wear your good shoes. Not far from the playground there’s a small bridge. Stop here and look down into the water for the eels, they’re usually easy to spot. Don’t try to catch one for dinner, and don’t feed them or the birds either, the lake already provides enough food and human food can make the wildlife sick.

From the bridge, cut over towards the side road and keep an eye out for MOTAT’s heritage tram, which runs along the edge of the park. It’s free to ride, and it’s at its most frequent on weekends and public holidays.

Eels, birdlife and the free MOTAT tram

The eels under the bridge are the big drawcard for kids, along with the birdlife on and around the lake, pukeko, teal, Australian coot and shoveler all turn up regularly. MOTAT’s heritage tram, which runs between its two sites along the edge of the park, stays free for everyone and operates daily from 10am to 4pm. If the kids want to keep the active streak going after the loop, Treasure Island Adventure Golf is a well reviewed option for an outdoor style activity.

The lake itself is a natural spring, one of Auckland’s early water supplies, and Auckland Zoo and MOTAT are both a short walk from the park. The old Western Springs Stadium next door has been redeveloped into Western Springs Bowl, an outdoor venue hosting concerts for up to 30,000 people between October and March and sports through winter, so it’s worth checking for scheduled events before you visit, parking and crowds nearby can be affected on show days. For a quieter, indoor follow-on to the day’s history and nature theme, Te Whatu Stardome runs a relaxed planetarium show that suits families.

A playground loop that suits kids and buggies

This is one of the easiest walks in Auckland to do with small kids. The path is sealed concrete the whole way round, flat enough for wheelchairs and buggies, and there’s a good playground near the lake along with plenty of grass for a picnic. It’s an easy win for a short outing when you don’t want anything strenuous, and the eels and tram keep kids entertained without much effort on your part.

The quietest times to walk the loop

Weekends and sunny afternoons bring out the picnic crowd, so if you want the path to yourself, an early morning or weekday visit is your best bet. The tram only runs more frequently on weekends and public holidays, so there’s a trade off between a quiet walk and catching the tram at its best. Check ahead for anything scheduled at Western Springs Bowl too, a concert or sports fixture next door will mean more traffic and tighter parking. If the eels were a hit with the kids, SEA LIFE Kelly Tarlton’s aquarium makes a good next stop to see plenty more marine life up close.

Dogs, events and park rules

Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times throughout Western Springs Park, and they’re not allowed into the children’s playground area at all. There’s no drinking water along the route, but toilets are available near the park. Please don’t feed the birds or the eels, the lake already provides enough food for them and human food can make them sick.

On big event days at Western Springs Bowl there’s no onsite parking, and some surrounding streets are closed to traffic, so allow extra time or consider walking from Morningside or Baldwin Ave train station instead if something is on.

My honest take

I keep coming back to this loop because it never asks much of you. It’s flat, it’s short, and there’s always something for the kids to look at, whether that’s the eels, the birds or the tram going past. It won’t test your legs and it won’t give you a big view, but as a reliable, easy outing with young kids it’s hard to beat. For a similar easy family day out, Butterfly Creek has the same low effort, high interest appeal with animals and butterflies instead of eels.

Common questions

How long does the Western Springs Park walk take?
About 30 minutes for the full 1.8km loop at an easy pace, longer if the park is busy or you stop often.

Where is Western Springs Park?
It’s between Grey Lynn and Morningside in Auckland, next to Auckland Zoo and MOTAT.

Can you feed the ducks and eels at Western Springs?
No. The lake and surrounding park already provide enough food, and feeding the birds or eels can make them sick.

Are dogs allowed on the Western Springs walk?
Yes, on a leash at all times, but they’re not allowed in the children’s playground.

Does Western Springs Bowl affect parking on event days?
It can. There’s no onsite parking for concerts or sports fixtures, and some surrounding streets close to traffic, so check what’s scheduled before you drive over.

Other walks near Western Springs

If you feel like stretching the day out a bit further, these walks are close by: Westmere Loop Walk, in the next suburb west; Mt Albert and Meola Creek Circuit, along Meola Creek to the south west; and Kingsland Explorer, in the next suburb east.

Back to all Auckland Central walks.