Walk Details
NZ Walking Routes > Auckland > Central Auckland > Achilles Point & Karaka Bay Coast
Achilles Point & Karaka Bay Coast
- Location
- There are 4 Access points where you can begin this walk. From Cliff Road. Walk down the steps to Ladies Bay; the steps at the end of Waitara Road by Glover Park; down a path to Karaka Bay from the end of Peacock Street; or from the end of Glendowie Street.
- Description
The walk leads you past Ladies Bay, named after Lady Grey, the wife of George Grey, an early Governor of New Zealand. Further along is Achilles Point – Te Pane o Horoiwi. The headland was known as Te Pane o Horoiwi, named after Horoiwi who arrived on the Tainui waka. Today it is known more as Achilles Point, which commemorates the 1939 battle of the River Plate where the New Zealand crewed Achilles engaged with other allied vessels to defeat legendary German cruiser Graf Spee.
The view from the headland stretches from Auckland city in the west to the distant peaks of Coromandel Peninsula in the east. The distinctive cone shape of Rangitoto Island lies just across the water.
As you stroll down Glover Park, you are entering the crater of an ancient volcano. Also known as Whakahumu, the St Heliers volcano erupted about 50,000 years ago. Nearby Brown's Island – Motukorea is said to be the "prettiest" of Auckland's volcanic cones.
- Level
- Medium
- Amenities
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- Birds
- Boat Ramp
- Carpark
- Food & Drink
- Historical
- Lookouts
- Picnics
- Plant Life
- Playground
- Swimming
- Toilets
- Source
- www.aucklandcity.govt.nz
- Discussion
- Start a discussion on this walk