Sunday Urban Afternoon Walk- Waiatarua Reserve - Stonefields- Mt Wellington

Hi all .

Let's enjoy these weekends finally of Spring Sunshine now that the weather is getting warmer, and we have Daylight Savings.
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Join us on Auckland Trailblazers for a Sunday afternoon/evening Urban Walk with your quirky extroverted host Stephen F, as we explore Waiatarua Reserve on the boundary of Remuera and Meadowbank, featuring wide open green spaces and pathways..
surrounded by Wetlands, small bush walking areas, on the edge of Remuera Golf Course and the Stonefields Residential Subdivision where we will also explore, before getting off the concrete foot paths to visit Winifred Huggins Woodlands on the side of Mt Wellington/ Maungarei...where we will get up to the Summit for some incredible views of all of Auckland.

At a Glance -

When - Sunday November 9th , 2025.

Meet and Greet is 3.30pm.

Where Meeting - Carpark Entry to Waiatarua Reserve opposite 6 Grand Drive, Remuera.

Adult Guests Welcome today.

With a finish around 8pm, around sunset.

About 3 to 4 hours of easy going walking. Good fitness required for some short stair challenges and off the concrete walking on the grassed areas on Mt Wellington/Maungarei.

Roughly 8km approx.

Wear strong walking shoes or boots and carry everything you Need for the Afternoon Evening Walk. Bring sun protection today...carry water and snacks with plenty of protein to keep yourself happy outdoors.

Wear or have a warm base layer to put on when we stop. It's not summer yet.

No Dogs or Smokers or Children today.

Ideally suited for people looking for great social connections and gentle exercise, we stop lots to rest and take pictures.

Beginning first at Waiatarua Reserve, this is the biggest urban wetland restoration project in the country, smack in the middle of Auckland suburbia, about 20 hectares in size..There's also plenty of dry flat parkland, and pathways we will follow...plus a wide variety of both kind and sea birds, and plenty of four legged dogs on leashes...and some running free...following their owners..

We then visit nearby Stonefields Residential Subdivision on the other side of the Remuera Golf Course here alongside Waiatarua Reserve. Stonefields Residents enjoy an unique micro climate, as this large area was previously a huge Winstones Quarry...supplying Auckland with Rock for decades, building roads and buildings etc..

On the foothills of the beautiful Mt Wellington/ Maungarei , Stonefields Subdivision has thousands of people living here...there's a school, and shops so we may possibly stop for ice cream or something similar..before walking south to the Winifred Huggins Woodlands on the sides of Mt Wellington.

These Woodlands have recently had a makeover, and there's now easier access, with pathways and steps...making it easier..But this is a patch of serenity in the heart of industrial Mt Wellington, and there's many trees here, that have a long history of being here ..planted by ' tree lady of Dingle Dell fame at St Heliers..and her team of volunteers in the 1970s. There's trees here not seen elsewhere around Auckland .

Winifred Huggins , an english school teacher, founded the St Heliers Beautifying Society in 1950. And the Auckland Tree Society in 1953 and was awarded the British Empire Medal for services to the community, inspired by the beauty of English Woodlands.. she decided to plant trees that weren't nz native, so look out for oak, ash, beech, sweet gum, holly, walnut, birch...and perhaps a few nz natives..

There's also plenty of birds, and other things to look at, splendid views over Stonefields where we were previously...and at the Summit of Mt Wellington...more views of Waiatarua Reserve..and all over the Auckland CBD..and towards the west, east and north and south.

Hopefully there's something for everyone's pleasure here to connect with nature today...And I think Winifred would be happy with her woodland.

Carpooling- Transportation-

Add a Note below with your Mobile number and Area where you live and contact each other. Take a bus along Abbotts Way or something similar.

Afterwards we can grab hot food and drinks at the various Suburban Restaurant here on Lunn Ave ..or simply go home ..

Any questions or suggestions please contact me.

See you on Sunday Afternoon .

Happy Walking Everyone .

Kind regards Stephen French
Auckland Trailblazers Organiser
Mob 0274 779495