Maungawhau Mount Eden

It’s been some 15,000 years since the last eruption of Maungawhau Mt Eden, and while it’s no longer an active volcano in the technical sense, it’s still very much a place of activity with visitors and locals regularly roaming its slopes and climbing its summit to enjoy the amazing vistas of Tāmaki Makaurau.

The maunga (mountain) has always been an important hub for the people living in this area, beginning from its time as a fortified Māori pā (village). The flat terraces carved into the sides of the mountain are where Māori once lived and worked, and the pits dug into the earth around this area were used for storing crops. The name Maungawhau means mountain of the whau tree in Māori.

You can take a variety of paths around the mountain to explore these spots, and the climb to the summit and back is about 2 km, taking approximately 40 minutes in total. Along the way there are lots of opportunities to pause and enjoy different perspectives across the harbour and city suburbs. 

Perhaps the most amazing feature of this ancient volcano, however, is the huge 50-metre deep crater that sits in the centre. It is known to Māori as Te Ipu-a-Mataaho, the bowl of Mataaho - the god of earthquakes and volcanoes. It’s important to note that the crater is still considered tapu (sacred) to Māori and can not be entered by visitors. A boardwalk and viewing platform however make it easy to wander around and take in the wonder of this geological phenomenon.

To learn more about both the human history and the geology of this important place, head to the Te Ipu Kōrero o Maungawhau - Maungawhau Visitor Experience Centre, at the base of the mountain. The exhibition here is award-winning and includes interactive digital experiences.

And while you’re there, why not call in at the Whau Cafe next door and enjoy some fresh and delicious modern Kiwi cuisine. After climbing a mountain you’ll have earned it!