Being built on a volcanic field of 48 cones, the city of Auckland is loaded with great views. Many of these views are free and sit at the rim of an inactive, dormant or extinct volcano, whilst others like the viewing platform on the Skytower or the Auckland Bridge Climb offering tourists (and locals) an opportunity to pay for a view.
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.
- 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.
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
October 17, 2015 at 7:26 amthe 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
October 17, 2015 at 12:11 pmI 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
October 15, 2015 at 8:03 pmFantastic views! Great weather makes a day perfect for walking and exploring, and making hundreds of cool shots, of course
Rhonda Albom
October 17, 2015 at 11:57 amWe were lucky, a beautiful cool day, making walking even better.
Bryna
October 14, 2015 at 2:42 amCool 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
October 14, 2015 at 9:31 amThe 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
October 13, 2015 at 4:31 pmI’ve never seen such a lush volcano. These photos are gorgeous, Rhonda.
Thanks for sharing them.
Rhonda Albom
October 14, 2015 at 1:00 amIt’s an extinct volcano, over 15000 years old, so lots of time to green up.
eileen g
October 13, 2015 at 7:43 ama manageable walk with a stunning view for your reward. can’t think of anything better. great insider’s tip!
Rhonda Albom
October 13, 2015 at 10:55 amThanks Eileen, any plans to bring the family to New Zealand?
Velysia Zhang
October 13, 2015 at 7:10 amWas the crater really deep? Can we go down into the crater?
Rhonda Albom
October 13, 2015 at 10:52 amThe 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
October 13, 2015 at 5:18 amI’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
October 13, 2015 at 10:54 amYou make a great point. Seems backwards though. When it’s free, it’s unlimited, and when we pay we have limits.
TB Markinson
October 13, 2015 at 3:39 amWhat 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
October 13, 2015 at 12:56 amI prefer free, too and a 15 minute hike with such glorious scenery all around would be well worth the effort.
Rhonda Albom
October 13, 2015 at 10:53 amI 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
October 12, 2015 at 8:38 amGreat photos, sounds like a great day with family despite the grumbling. Thanks for sharing!
Rhonda Albom
October 13, 2015 at 12:05 amWe get over the grumbling pretty quickly and had a great day.
Eli
October 12, 2015 at 6:50 amOh, 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
October 13, 2015 at 12:01 amYes, I am really enjoying my walking.
Lisa Buie-Collard
October 12, 2015 at 5:04 amWhat a gorgeous day it was too! I would walk as well…
Rhonda Albom
October 13, 2015 at 12:01 amNot by luck, we waited for a nice day before we went up Mount Eden.
Travelera
October 12, 2015 at 3:50 amHi 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
http://www.travelera.es/2015/04/a-day-in-volcanoland-lanzarote.html
Rhonda Albom
October 12, 2015 at 11:54 pmNot quite everywhere, but we are over 40 countries.
Lexa Cain
October 12, 2015 at 2:18 amLook 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
October 12, 2015 at 11:50 pmInterestingly, 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
October 11, 2015 at 10:09 pmThis looks like a fun walk!! Found you through #weekendwanderlust
Rhonda Albom
October 12, 2015 at 11:44 pmIt is a fun walk. I hope you get to hike it sometime.
Joyce
October 11, 2015 at 4:47 pmBeautiful views. I sure hope the volcano is inactive.
Rhonda Albom
October 12, 2015 at 11:33 pmDon’t worry, it’s extinct. No chance it will erupt – at least that’s what the scientists say.
Anda
October 11, 2015 at 3:31 pmI’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
October 12, 2015 at 11:32 pmThanks Anda, I will bring you up there too. 🙂
Paula McInerney
October 11, 2015 at 1:18 pmWhat a wonderful view and don’t you look wonderful. I would love to visit Mount Eden volcano.
Kathy Marris
October 11, 2015 at 10:39 amWhat 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
October 11, 2015 at 11:56 pmIt’s two harbours, one to the north, the other to the south. Plus there are plenty of islands.
L. Diane Wolfe
October 11, 2015 at 9:53 amWhat 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
October 11, 2015 at 11:54 pmOh, I am sure I took 100 photos, these are just the favorites.
stevebethere
October 11, 2015 at 9:24 amFantastic views what a lovely place I must say your looking well Rhonda 🙂
Have a stileistic day 🙂
Shobha
October 11, 2015 at 6:04 amI 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
October 11, 2015 at 11:50 pmI 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
October 11, 2015 at 4:05 amSitting 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
October 11, 2015 at 11:48 pmIt’s actually a classic New Zealand place.
Alex J. Cavanaugh
October 11, 2015 at 2:10 amSeeing 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
October 11, 2015 at 11:46 pmI 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
October 11, 2015 at 12:46 amThat’s a wonderful walk! You’re looking great in that picture 🙂
Rhonda Albom
October 11, 2015 at 11:45 pmThanks Ellen. Can you believe that was my first time.
Hilary
October 10, 2015 at 10:19 pmHi 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
October 11, 2015 at 11:43 pmWe 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
October 10, 2015 at 9:26 pmGotta 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
October 11, 2015 at 11:40 pmAgreed. And in this case, it’s a great walk.