Wetlands you can visit in the Auckland Region
Auckland is a maritime region nestled As with the rest of New Zealand, between the Tasman Sea and the Pacific wetlands here have been seriously Ocean. At its centre, a city of over 1 depleted and degraded, with most million people sprawls across an active freshwater wetland now less than 10 volcanic field flanked by two harbours. hectares in extent, however they The region’s landforms are diverse and continue to support a range of native stunning; a marine park dotted with species including; islands, an intricate coastline, bush clad ranges, extensive sand peninsulas, and Australasian bittern, fernbird lowlands of uplifted ancient sea bed. brown teal, grey duck, banded rail, NZ dabchick, spotless crake, Its wetlands are equally diverse, and and marsh crake include; Eight native fish species including
inanga, kokopu, and black harbours and estuaries, In the Kaipara, Franklin and Rodney mudfish dune lakes and swamps district lowlands, swamp forests with volcanic springs, swamps, and kahikatea, pukatea, swamp maire, Around one third of the nationally crater lakes raupo, cabbage trees and harakeke threatened plants in Auckland (flax) covered large expanses of poorly flax or raupo-dominated gully drained land. At the coast they graded wetlands Today Auckland has an estimated 3700 into saltmarshes with oioi and sea rush. ha of freshwater wetlands and 14,000 ha remnant swamp forest of estuarine wetland, along with over 30 gumland heaths Dune lakes formed on the peninsulas of lakes and 10,000 km of rivers and water supply reservoirs and Awhitu and Kaipara built by sand streams. water treatment ponds. deposited by the Waikato River and transported northwards by strong On the narrow Auckland isthmus, the currents. low-lying western suburbs were once full of cabbage trees and flax swamps, and inhabited by weka, banded rail, bittern and pukeko. Wetlands formed here when lava flows blocked streams, or in volcanic craters and ponds on lava flow depressions.
The Auckland wetlands directory is 1 www.wetlandtrust.org.nz sponsored by Auckland Regional Council June 2009
Some of the better known wetlands in Auckland wetlands that have been Auckland Wetland Agencies the Region include: substantially restored or created include: Auckland Regional Council The Waitemata, Kaipara and Waiatarua at Meadowbank near www.arc.govt.nz Manukau harbours central Auckland 09 366 2000
The Firth of Thames - an Manawa wetland in New Lynn – Department of Conservation internationally recognised created in an abandoned clay www.doc.govt.nz wetland quarry 09 307 9279 Kaitoke swamp and Whangapoua Awhitu and Tawharanui regional estuary on Great Barrier Island parks where previously drained Fish and Game New Zealand wetlands have been restored Te Henga wetland, north of then www.fishandgame.org.nz 07 849 1666 Waitakere Ranges Manukau Foreshore - extensive
restoration of intertidal areas in The dune lake systems on the former oxidation ponds Kaipara and Awhitu peninsulas accessible via Ambury Reigonal and at Pakiri Park Poukaraka, Te Matuku, Owhiti Matiatia wetland at the ferry and Awaawaroa wetlands on gateway to Waiheke Island Waiheke Island
Wetlands fed by volcanic aquifers A number of agencies and care groups at Western Springs, Lake including Meola Creek Eco-care, Friends Pupuke, and The Grotto of Oakley Creek, Friends of The Whau, The kahikatea swamp forest and Project Twin-streams, Te Ara O Puhinui, saltmarshes at Omaha Waitakere Rivercare, and the Waiheke Island Wetland Initiative are restoring The extensive damp sand flats at wetlands in the Auckland Region. Whatipu on the West Coast
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Wetlands to visit in the Auckland Region, New Zealand
Description/ Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information 1Name / type special features
Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Info Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. shooting scenic centre panels bird hide area Spectacular area of Whatipu http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/main/parks/our- coastal dunes and wetlands on rugged west parks/parks-in-the-region/whatipu/ Dune flats coast (Scientific To book lodge (09) 811 8860 Reserve). Threatened species incl. NZ dotterel Swimming not recommended! breed here.
Ambury Regional farm park. http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/main/parks/our- Regional Park Constructed shell banks parks/parks-in-the-region/ambury/ are an important roosting sites for waders at high Manukau Harbour, 20 mins from Auckland City. Intertidal mudflats, Follow Auckland airport signs to Mahunga Drive/ Manukau Harbour tide including the threatened endemic Favona exit, turn right into Church/Wallace Rd, right into Muir Ave, left into Ambury Rd. wrybill and NZ dotterel Regional Botanic http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/main/parks/our- 65 ha park with gardens, parks/parks-in-the-region/auckland-botanic- Gardens bush, lake. Several gardens/ Auckland wetland types Hill Rd, 25 km south of Auckland City. Go south on Threatened and rare wetland plants the Southern Motorway (SH1) – exit at Manurewa/ are represented in the ecosystems exhibit Hill Road. Heading north exit SH1 at Takanini, turn threatened ecosystems left onto Great South Road, turn right into Alfriston exhibit. Road, left at Claude Road and continue to Hill Rd. Coastal wetland complex Tahuna Torea http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/places/wal (25 ha). Sand bank kways/tahunatorea/index.asp extends out into the
Saltmarsh and Tamaki Estuary. View Tamaki Estuary, East Auckland. Access via Roberta freshwater complex wading birds between full- Reserve, Vista Cres (Glendowie) or West Tamaki tide and half-tide Nov- Road (Glen Innes) March.
1 Must see Worth a special visit Worth a short detour Plan to visit if passing Short stop if passing
2 Fishing for freshwater fish and gamebird hunting in New Zealand requires a licence: see http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/
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Wetlands to visit in the Auckland Region, New Zealand
Description/ Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information 1Name / type special features
Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Info Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. shooting scenic centre panels bird hide area
Regional Park (588 ha) http://www.arc.govt.nz/parks/our-parks/parks-in-the- on a peninsula within a Tawharanui region/tawharanui/ predator proof fence.
Restored freshwater Freshwater and Contact (09) 366 2000 for opening hours and wetlands, saline wetland coastal wetlands camping and lagoon. Re-
introduced rare pateke At Matakana village, north of Auckland, turn right at (brown teal). Safe the Omaha intersection into Takatu Road and follow swimming. signs. Largest (320 ha) and http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks- Kaitoke Swamp most pristine freshwater and-walks/auckland/great-barrier-area/kaitoke-hot- wetland in Auckland. springs-track/ Freshwater swamp Endangered birds and and fen 163 species of plants. Near Claris village, Great Barrier Island. Flights to Natural hot springs and Claris (30 mins) from Auckland domestic airport or boardwalk. North Shore aerodrome. Rent a car at Claris. Poukaraka Whakanewha Regional http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/main/parks/our- Park - native forest, large parks/parks-in-the-region/whakanewha/ Wetland freshwater wetland, estuary and beaches. Auckland Regional Council, (09) 366 2000 Freshwater swamp, Bittern, banded rail, NZ coastal wetlands dotterel, godwits, white Southern side of Waiheke Island. Ferry from faced heron, pied stilts, downtown Auckland (35 mins). Hire a car or take oystercatchers, Caspian the Rocky Bay bus from Matiatia to Gordons Rd, 15 terns, spotless crake. mins walk to park entrance.
Awhitu Regional Park has http://www.arc.govt.nz/albany/main/parks/our- Kauritutahi beaches, farmland and parks/parks-in-the-region/awhitu/ Wetland regenerating freshwater and coastal wetlands. Freshwater and Fernbird, grey duck, grey Awhitu Peninsula, 90 kms from Auckland City. Take intertidal wetlands teal, banded rail. State Highway 1 south, turn off at Drury and follow the signs to Waiuku. From Waiuku drive up the Camping and lodge Awhitu Peninsula through Matakawau. About 2 km accommodation available. past Matakawau turn right down Brook Rd.
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Wetlands to visit in the Auckland Region, New Zealand
Description/ Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information 1Name / type special features
Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Info Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. shooting scenic centre panels bird hide area Deep lake in native forest Lake Wainamu http://www.wonderwalkers.co.nz/default,361,lake- beside tall dunes. Shag wainamu-bethells-beach.sm species, bittern, spotless Dune lake (14 ha) crake, fernbird. Native Northern Waitakere Ranges, near Te Henga and associated fish include banded wetland. Take Te Henga Road (becomes Bethells dunes kokopu, inanga, common Rd), off the northern end of Scenic Drive. At Te smelt, common bully, Henga/Bethells Beach there is a small carpark at the track entrance, on the left just after the Waiti grey mullet, long fin and short fin eel. Stream bridge. Also visit Te Henga while here. Little Shoal Bay Regionally rare forest to swamp to coast sequence and largest freshwater Coastal and wetland remaining on the Main entrance is between 210 and 212 Onewa freshwater wetland North Shore. Banded rail, road, Birkenhead. fernbird and spotless crake reported. Omaha One of Auckland’s best examples of intact swamp From Warkworth, take Matakana Rd/Leigh Rd, turn Kahikatea swamp forest with wetland scrub right onto Takatu Rd, left onto Omaha Flats Rd and saltmarsh sequence. forest and continue to Broadlands Dr over the causeway to the No walkways, but good saltmarsh spit. Road passes through the kahikatea stand. view from road, or explore the harbour by kayak. http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we- Te Henga / One of Auckland’s largest do/reserves/matuku-reserve Matuku Reserve freshwater wetlands (140 ha). >300 species of Contact: John Staniland [email protected] plants and 45 bird Freshwater swamp species (including Waitakere Ranges. Matuku Reserve accessed from fernbird and bittern), 6 Snow's Lane off Jonkers Road. Views of Te Henga native fish. Boardwalk. wetland from Bethells Road. Also visit Lake Wainamu while here.
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Wetlands to visit in the Auckland Region, New Zealand
Description/ Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information 1Name / type special features
Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Info Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. shooting scenic centre panels bird hide area Urban park with natural Te Wai Orea spring-fed lake and http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/places/par (Western Springs) restored wetlands. ks/westernsprings.asp Refuge for the native eel,
pukeko, teal, Australian Volcanic springs About 5 km from downtown Auckland City. Access coot and shovelers. from Great North Road, take the St Lukes exit from Lawns and gardens. The SH 16 to access Great North Road springs emerge from lava flow aquifers. Recently restored Waiatarua freshwater wetland in 40 http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/whatson/places/par Reserve ha urban park. Habitat for ksonline/detail.asp?pParkId=2235 harriers, scaup, Caspian terns, little black shag, 98 Abbotts Way, Meadowbank. Take SH 1 south Restored wetland shoveler duck, occ. from Auckland City, exit left to Green Lane East, kotuku (white heron, rare right at Peach Pde, right at Ladies Mile, left at in the North Island). Abbotts Way. Also visit Michaels Ave, Marua Rd Paved walkways. http://www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we- do/reserves/atawhai-reserve Atawhai Whenua Freshwater raupo and flax swamp with planted Forest and Bird Reserve Reserve native trees on Waiheke Restored wetland Island. Short walk through Take the Waiheke passenger ferry to Matiatia – replanted native forest from the ferry building walk along the foreshore past skirts the wetland. the kayak hire building to the start of the walking track.
http://www.chelsea.co.nz/EnvItems.aspx Chelsea Estate An area of native forest with four freshwater Estuary, freshwater reservoirs constructed 15 mins from Downtown Auckland. Follow reservoir between 1883 & 1917. Motorway North across Habour bridge take Onewa Nesting colonies of pied Rd exit. Chelsea Sugar works are located on and little shag. Colonial Rd.
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Wetlands to visit in the Auckland Region, New Zealand
Description/ Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information 1Name / type special features
Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Info Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. shooting scenic centre panels bird hide area Adjacent to the Wairoa Estuary, one of the best http://www.arc.govt.nz/parks/our-parks/parks-in-the- Duder Regional saline wetland systems in region/duder/ the region. Supports a Park high diversity of coastal Estuary & farmpark wading birds including South Auckland. Access from Maraetai-Clevedon pied shag, white-faced Rd. to Umupuia. The park is just to the south of heron, pied oystercatcher, Umupuia on North Rd. gulls, pied stilt, godwit.
Kauri Park Rare wetland sequence in Contact: North Shore City Council 09 486 8600 Soldiers Bay from salt 20 mins from Downtown Auckland. Follow Swamp forest marsh to reedland to kahikatea and maire Motorway North across habour bridge take Onewa tawake swamp forest. Rd exit. Access via Kauri Rd and Balmain Rd.
Lake with outstanding http://www.arc.govt.nz/environment/water/regional- Lake Ototoa water quality and lakes/lake-ototoa.cfm regionally rare native fish. Kaipara Peninsula, access via Ototoa Road and Dune lake (110 ha) Rainbow and brown trout fishery. Birds include NZ Donahues Road. dabchick, scaup, grey Protect this lake’s special water quality - clean duck, shoveler, bittern, clothing / boats / equipment! pukeko, and fernbird.
Deep crater lake with From downtown Auckland take Northen Motorway small areas of wetland over the Harbour Bridge, exit at Northcote Rd (right Lake Pupuke sedgesand rushes on the at Northcote), to Access via any one of five council northern margins. Birds reserves; Killarney, Sylvan, Kitchener and Volcanic explosion include bittern, black Henderson Parks and Quarry Lake. Fishing crater swan, grey duck, NZ only scaup, and species of Note ! Fishing for freshwater fish requires herron, tern, stilt and a licence in NZ , see cormorant. Eels and coarse fish present. http://www.fishandgame.org.nz/
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Wetlands to visit in the Auckland Region, New Zealand
Description/ Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information 1Name / type special features
Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Info Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. shooting scenic centre panels bird hide area Mangemangeroa Estuary in east Auckland http://www.aerolink.co.nz/mangemangeroa/main.ht ml Reserve with podocarp forest edge. A community Contact: Manukau City Council (09) 262 5104 restoration programme. Estuary Boardwalk through 108 Sommerville Road, off Whitford Road from estuary and past waterfall Chapel Road, Manukau City
Tupare wetland, in the http://www.nznfrt.org.nz/newsletter.php?newsletter_ Marie Neverman Marie Neverman Reserve no=51 Reserve is a lake and freshwater Contact: Brian Davis [email protected] reedland complex. Birds Lake and wetland include dabchick, bittern, Kaipara Lake Road, off South Head Road, Tupare, grey duck, grey teal, little Kaipara Peninsula, 12 km north of Parakai Hot grebes and pied shag. Pools near Helensville
30,000 year old volcanic craters. Originally crater Onepoto and lakes, Tank Farm was breached by the sea and Tank Farm From Auckland City take northern motorway over became saline supporting the Harbour Bridge, exit at Sylvan Ave, left into mangroves, while Crater wetland and Tarahanga Rd right into Puawai Place.To get to Onepoto became infilled Tank Farm (Tuff Crater) turn right off Sylvan Ave at saltmarsh to form a freshwater Exmouth,immediate right into McBreen Ave. swamp. Habitat for birds including cormorants, white-faced herons, and grey duck. Farm park (40 ha) Puhinui Reserve adjacent to the Manukau http://www.manukau.govt.nz/default.aspx?id=10411 Harbour with extensive Estuary saltmarsh and brackish wetland habitat. Black Take Puhinui Rd off the Southwestern Motorway, turn left into Prices Rd stilt, NZ dotterel, fernbird, wrybill.
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Wetlands to visit in the Auckland Region, New Zealand
Description/ Activities 2 Facilities Access, further information 1Name / type special features
Walks Birdlife Boating Fishing / Highly Info Interp. Lookout/ Picnic Accom. shooting scenic centre panels bird hide area Sandspit Return walk (45 mins), boardwalks through Contact: Rodney District Council 0800 426 5169 Estuary mangroves, past Deans Island and bird roosting Sandspit Rd, Sandspit, north of Auckland City. area on sandbar Tomarata Lakes Contact: Rodney District Council 0800 426 5169 Dune lakes with wetland
fringes. Best explored by From SH1 north of Wellsford, turn right into Dune lakes kayak. Safe for Mangawhai Rd, right into School Road, left into swimming. Ocean View Rd, right into Atkins. Manawa Reserve http://www.waitakere.govt.nz/cnlser/pbr/prkgrnsp/m Small wetland created in anawa.asp an abandoned clay quarry Created wetland – a council / community Contact: Waitakere City Council (09) 839 0400 initiative. Boardwalk Access via Margan Avenue or Ambrico Place, New planned. Lynn. Short walk from New Lynn rail / bus station. http://www.arc.govt.nz/parks/our-parks/parks-in-the- Te Arai Pt Lakes Recently acquired region/te-arai/te-arai_home.cfm Regional Park, not yet
open to the public . Dune lakes and Contact (09) 366 2000 to determine if the park is Park under development, contact Auckland Regional Council for details kahikatea forest open. Wetland, forest & dune
complex, 2 dune lakes. Not rated Te Arai Point Road, Mangawhai
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