Being built on a volcanic field of 48 cones, the city of Auckland New Zealand is loaded with great views. Our favourite view is from the Mount Eden Volcano. It is one of many free views from various inactive, dormant or extinct volcanos in the city.
I prefer free.
Standing proud at 192 metres, the peak of the rim of the Mount Eden volcano not only offers one of the best spots to enjoy the skyline, it has the distinction of being the highest natural point in Auckland offering an impressive 360-degree view.
While there is plenty of parking at the top, I am into walking these days. Despite a bit of whinging from one of my teens before we started, we all found the fifteen-minute walk to the summit of the Mount Eden volcano to be more of a stroll than a hike, with only a few steep spots. Joggers dot the paths, which split and reconnect offering the options of paved or dirt walkways. As long as you are heading up, you are going in the correct direction.
Best seen in photos:
Photo Credit: Sarah Albom
Practical Information:
- Located in Auckland, Mt Eden is one of my favourite urban parks.
- We opted to drive and leave our vehicle in the car park for Tahaki Reserve on Mount Eden Road. From there, walk back to the road and turn to the left to find the stone stairs and start your climb.
- There is a toilet block just beyond the base of the stairwell, but there is none at the top.
- The road to the top has been closed to vehicle traffic. However, if you have a medical need, there is a phone at the gate that leads to the Auckland Council, who can give you access.
- Mount Eden is estimated to be 15,000 years old and is considered extinct, meaning that it is not expected to erupt again. Technically, dormant volcanoes are more than 10,000 years old and expected to someday erupt, however in normal conversation the two words are often used interchangeably.
- Interestingly, from the top of the crater, you are at nearly the same height as the viewing platform on the Skytower.
There are plenty of free things to do in Auckland, or check out these other activities and tours from Get Your Guide.
Would you walk or drive up the Mount Eden volcano? Do you seek out the free views when you travel or visit the tourist spots?
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Indah Nuria Savitri
the view from the top is indeeed amazing…Love the combination of dramatic clouds and blue sky as well as wth skyline and the green grass…Fantastic shots 🙂
Rhonda Albom
I can’t believe I lived here this long without ever venturing to the top of Mount Eden before I went for this photo shoot.
Julia Reed
Fantastic views! Great weather makes a day perfect for walking and exploring, and making hundreds of cool shots, of course
Rhonda Albom
We were lucky, a beautiful cool day, making walking even better.
Bryna
Cool views! I also prefer free 🙂 and don’t really understand when they try to charge you to enter a viewpoint, when there are alternatives that are free! Sounds like a good walk when it’s a nice day out!
Rhonda Albom
The places you would pay for a view would be more commercial, like going up to the top of the Auckland Skytower, or doing a bridge climb.
Robyn Engel
I’ve never seen such a lush volcano. These photos are gorgeous, Rhonda.
Thanks for sharing them.
Rhonda Albom
It’s an extinct volcano, over 15000 years old, so lots of time to green up.
eileen g
a manageable walk with a stunning view for your reward. can’t think of anything better. great insider’s tip!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Eileen, any plans to bring the family to New Zealand?
Velysia Zhang
Was the crater really deep? Can we go down into the crater?
Rhonda Albom
The crater is 50 metres deep and there are signs stating not to enter. While it looks temping and a great place to slide down on a large cardboard, I am not sure one would be able to get back out. And worse – if multiple people did this they would all collide at the bottom.
Comedy Plus
I’d rather do free too. When you pay you’re limited to a certain amount of time. When it’s free you can stay as little or as long as you like. Great shots of some great views.
Have a fabulous day. ☺
Rhonda Albom
You make a great point. Seems backwards though. When it’s free, it’s unlimited, and when we pay we have limits.
TB Markinson
What a wonderful place to explore. It’s fun, but also, hard to fathom how old it is. I wonder what the world was like when it was active.
Vicki Green
I prefer free, too and a 15 minute hike with such glorious scenery all around would be well worth the effort.
Rhonda Albom
I have been told by a few people that I am now in better shape than I think i am, and in fact there are a few steep bits.
Yolanda Renee
Great photos, sounds like a great day with family despite the grumbling. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
We get over the grumbling pretty quickly and had a great day.
Eli
Oh, I prefer free views too, and with walking you can find amazing spots,… Looks like you had fun on your outing:-) Great view!!
Rhonda Albom
Yes, I am really enjoying my walking.
Lisa Buie-Collard
What a gorgeous day it was too! I would walk as well…
Rhonda Albom
Not by luck, we waited for a nice day before we went up Mount Eden.
Travelera
Hi Rhonda,
I was amazed whean I read that you have been in my city, You have been everywhere!! 🙂
Wow your photos are great, the crater of the volcano is amazing.
Did you see my post of “Volcano Land”, you probably have been there too 😉
Happy Sunday! xxx
Rhonda Albom
Not quite everywhere, but we are over 40 countries.
Lexa Cain
Look at all the lush greenery! Great pics! It’s kind of exciting to live near volcanoes — as long as they’re extinct. Have a lovely week! 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Interestingly, there is an active volcano that is the main ski slope on this island. It erupts every few years, spilling ash and closing the fields for a few days.
Esther
This looks like a fun walk!!
Rhonda Albom
It is a fun walk. I hope you get to hike it sometime.
Joyce
Beautiful views. I sure hope the volcano is inactive.
Rhonda Albom
Don’t worry, it’s extinct. No chance it will erupt – at least that’s what the scientists say.
Anda
I’d love to hike atom Eden Volcano. The views from up there are fantastic! You can see the entire harbor area… Great pictures!
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Anda, I will bring you up there too. 🙂
Paula McInerney
What a wonderful view and don’t you look wonderful. I would love to visit Mount Eden volcano.
Kathy Marris
What a gorgeous view of Auckland. It is such a pretty city with all that harbour (or is two harbours?) I visited here a few years ago and really enjoyed my stay but I never got to see that view from Mt Eden.
Rhonda Albom
It’s two harbours, one to the north, the other to the south. Plus there are plenty of islands.
L. Diane Wolfe
What a stunning view. I would’ve taken a hundred photos. Okay, probably more.
I’d much rather live near an extinct volcano than a dormant one. Mt. St. Helens was once considered dormant and look what happened.
Rhonda Albom
Oh, I am sure I took 100 photos, these are just the favorites.
stevebethere
Fantastic views what a lovely place I must say your looking well Rhonda 🙂
Have a stileistic day 🙂
Shobha
I had no idea Auckland was built on top of a volcano field! how cool. Amazing how much time is relevant when you talk about volcanoes – 10,000, 15,000 years like it’s nothing.
Rhonda Albom
I was surprised to learn it had to be 10,000 years to be dormant, that means a few too many of the nearby volcanoes are actually active.
Em
Sitting on the rim of a volcano would be awesome! Check that off the bucket list 🙂 The land looks so green and beautiful below the blue sky; what a perfect day for a walk!
Rhonda Albom
It’s actually a classic New Zealand place.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
Seeing that crater is wild. You’re right, what a view. And why do you have to pay for some views? Are they special parks or something?
And I want to say congratulations – you look awesome in that photo.
Rhonda Albom
I was thinking of places like the Skytower or the Bridge Climb when I wrote that. I edited the text above to make it more clear. And, thanks.
Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor
That’s a wonderful walk! You’re looking great in that picture 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Thanks Ellen. Can you believe that was my first time.
Hilary
Hi Rhonda – lovely photos and what a glorious day for a walk up – wonderful views at the top. The crater looks inviting … to rest in and get out of the wind – perhaps it’s too steep sided. Lovely to see Auckland – and it does have many volcanoes as vantage points today … cheers Hilary
Rhonda Albom
We did get lucky with the weather. The crater is 50 metres deep so if you went in, you might not be able to get out. Besides, it’s not allowed.
Lyndall
Gotta love a free view, I say! I’d walk up the Mount Eden volcano as it gives you more idea of the surroundings etc. Great photos 🙂
Rhonda Albom
Agreed. And in this case, it’s a great walk.