Auckland Foreshore Heritage Walk

Start at Pt Erin Pools, not far from the Auckland Harbour Bridge on the city side, and end at Parnell Baths in Judges Bay.

Mostly easy, flat and paved but with steep parts at either end.

TIME & DISTANCE: Approximately 3hr one-way, from west to east; 5km

FITNESS: Average fitness required

Dogs on leashes welcome

Auckland wasn’t always the mecca of shiny highrises and glittering lights that you see today. Throughout history, transformation came thick and fast, and even though each century brought a wealth of change, little remnants of the past have remained in tact.

Featuring ancient pā sites and old shipyards to modern suburban areas and beaches, this is an excellent walk to get to grips with Auckland’s interesting history. The walk goes through parks, past grand old homes and gardens in St Marys Bay, through land granted to Roman Catholic Bishop Pompallier in the 1850s, past heritage industrial buildings and into the merchant centre of early Auckland. Much of it follows the coastline under the shade of massive pōhutukawa trees, many of which will have witnessed the changes to the city scene over the decades.

This walk is one of the official Auckland City Heritage Walks. Download a PDF of the walk from the Auckland Council website; it is an informative and detailed guide. The walk is also speckled with plaques featuring photographs and information as to how the area once looked, and because this is a self-guided walk, each sign explains how to continue onto the next section.

Main Image: Couple in Britomart at night © Getty Images