Tucked away on the West Coast in the Waitākere Ranges, the Omanawanui Track might be Auckland’s best day walk.

Track overview

Difficulty: Moderate to hard

Length: 7.7km, includes 2400 steps

Time: 2 hours return

This track isn’t messing around. From the get-go, you’re greeted with an almost vertical, 180m climb up a mixture of dirt hills and steep steps to the first viewpoint. Once you reach the top of this peak, you’ll get one of the best views in Auckland, overlooking Whatipu and Manukau Heads.

The following section drops down onto a rocky, exposed path (watch your footing!) before leading to a boardwalk through native bush.

Now for the most challenging part: a seemingly never-ending set of stairs. There’s not much of a view in this section (unless you stop and look back), which makes this section feel even more challenging. But it’s worth the effort. At the top, you’ll get spectacular views across the harbour, Whatipu Beach, and the surrounding Waitākere Ranges.

Personal tip: If you haven’t had lunch (or would like a post-hike drink), I recommend stopping at the Huia Store on your way back to the city. It’s a super cute cafe/shop and they're open till 2 pm every day.

For an even longer hike...

Keep walking past the top of the Omanawanui Track and continue onto Mount Donald McLean. From here, head down to Karamatura Falls and then back the way you came. It’s a 26km return journey, steep, and easily my favourite hike in Auckland!

How to get here

There is no public transport out to the West Coast, so you must have your own car. Drive from Auckland City and through Titirangi. Put “Whatipu Carpark” into Google Maps and you’ll have no trouble finding the start of the trail.

There are two entrance points for the Omanawanui Track. One end is on Whatipu Road (where the Puriri Ridge Track ends) and the other is at the Whatipu carpark. I recommend starting from the Whatipu carpark as there is much more parking and toilets at the trailhead.