Last Updated on: 21 July 2023

Western Springs Park Walk is a very easy 1.8k lake front loop walk that will take you around 30 mins to complete.

Highlights of the Western Springs Park Walk are the eels and the free tram ride around the edge of Western Springs Park. The park surrounds a natural spring-fed lake, one of Auckland’s early water supplies. You’ll find plenty of places to stop for a picnic along the way. This is an excellent walk for the kids, you’ll pass plenty of birdlife on and off the lake.

Quick Facts about this walk

  • Location: Western Springs, Auckland, North Island, NZ
  • Distance: 1.80 kms
  • Time needed: 30 Minutes
  • Difficulty: Very Easy
  • Wheelchair Access: Yes
  • Route: Round Trip
  • Elevation: 16m
  • Wet Feet: No
  • Toilets: Yes
  • Dogs: On a lead only
  • Mobile Coverage: Yes
  • Last Updated: February, 2021
Western Springs Park Auckland Walks Freewalks.nz
Western Springs Park with a family

Summary points about this walk

Walk Highlights

Birdlife, playground, watching the eels, and the free tram ride along the side of Western Springs Park are all highlights on this walk.

Track Quality

There is an excellent concrete foot path and large grass lawns to walk on around the lake.

Hazards

Please do not feed the birds or eels at all (best for helping to regulate the bird population), or instead feed them “duck-friendly” foods such as lettuce, peas, corn and grain – NOT bread. If you give them bread, it can cause Angel Wings, and on busy visitor days it often piles up and sits uneaten in the water and rots, adding to botulism outbreaks.

Transport

There are lots of buses to Western Springs. Catch a bus for the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT),

Water

No water is available along this walk. There are plenty of toilets along the way.

Driving Instructions

From Auckland CBD. Drive up Queen street, uphill. At the lights you will need to turn right on to K Road. Now follow K Road for 4 Km through all the traffic lights etc, at Grey Lynn follow the sign to Western Springs, to the left and downhill all the way to Western Springs. You will most likely see Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), on your right first. Drive past the Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), for 300m then park on the side of the road. You can drive another 300Mt and turn right into the car park, the free tram ride also leaves from this car park.

Shops & Restaurants Nearby

You'll find a number of great cafes and restaurants in nearby Kingland.

Area & Trail History

The park surrounds a natural spring-fed lake, one of Auckland’s early water supplies. Around the lake you will see native Pūkeko, Teal, Australian Coot and Shoveler birds. Auckland Zoo, Museum of Transport and Technology (MOTAT), and the Western Springs stadium are just a short walk away.

Western Springs Park Map

My 3d video map of the walk around Western Springs lakefront

Points of interest along the walk​

Good quality walking track around Western Springs Park
Good quality walking track around the lake
Western Springs Park
Plenty of grass areas perfect for picnics
Western Springs Park Walk
Sitting on the free train ride around the park

Western Springs Park at the start of the walk

The walk around Western Springs is lovely, it will take you about thirty minutes depending on how many people have the same idea as you. If the sun is out the park will be a popular place on the weekend with families picnicking on the large grounds. If the ducks are out and sitting on the footpath, don’t wear your best shoes, they will be covered in duck fertiliser within a few minutes.

There are a few different ways to enter the park

But all lead to the main path which goes around the whole lake. You can’t really get lost. Keep an eye out for a small bridge not too far from the kid’s playground, walk over to the bridge, and stand by the water.

Look out for the eels.

A little word of warning, do not try and catch one for lunch unless you have $500 in your back pocket. Now cut over to the side road and if you are lucky the trams might be running, the best time is on public holidays and weekends. Please do not feed the eels.

TRAM SCHEDULE

Catch a free tram ride during MOTAT’s opening hours 10am – 4pm, Monday to Sunday.

Trams run every 30 minutes. At peak times they may run more frequently. The tram goes past the park and zoo.

Western Springs Park - Lake Walk in Auckland - Copyright Freewalks.nz (1)
One of the bridges over the lake
Western Springs Park walk - Playground
Great playground and picnic spot
Lots of eels for the kids to see
Lots of eels for the kids to see
Plenty of bird life at Western Springs Park
Plenty of bird life at Western Springs Park
One of the trams at MOTAT
One of the trams at MOTAT
Western Springs Park - Lake Walk in Auckland - Copyright Freewalks.nz
Sign at the start of the park

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Western Springs Park at the start of the walk