Auckland, New Zealand: Meola Waititiko Mountain to Sea Walk

This walk may particularly appeal to ecologists and urban archeologists as it traces the route of a creek from the summit of an urban mountain through the streets of a city to the sea.

The walk is featured on the website of a local community group: the St Lukes Environmental Protection Society (STEPS).

The walk begins on the summit of Mt Albert (Owairaka) - walking on the mountain is now more delightful as it has become car-free.

The route has so many twists and turns as Meola Creek (Waititiko) heads in, and out of culverts that it is is useful to print out the instructions from the STEPS website.

You get the first glimpses of the creek as you get close to the Roy Clements Treeway in Sandringham next to Mt Albert Grammar School, a pretty walkway following the stream that was created through the effort of community volunteers, school pupils, the Council and, of course, with the leadership of school teacher Roy Clements. The treeway has various informative panels one of which traces the route of the stream and thus this walk.

The route wends its way along gullies, culverts and through parks which have been created partly to serve stormwater overflow needs. The walk crosses railways and motorways.

As you head past the zoo you may see an ancient tram linking the Museum of Transport and Technology's main site with its Aviation site (which is close to the end of the trail but not in the direct line taken by the tram but by a meandering creek-like route!).

The end of the walk is in the large Meola Reef reserve, a pretty park that belies its origins as a major refuse landfill. Mostly used for dog walking the park has views expansive across and along the harbour.

There are good public transport connections for this walk. Mt Albert can ge accessed by train or bus while the end of the walk is near a stop on the Outer Link bus route.

Side attractions along the way include: Mt Albert, Alberton, Western Springs, MOTAT, Zoo.

Walked: April 2019

Summary: Easy city walk, about 3 hours