Walking this section
Introduction
Te Araroa trail section: You will walk over Mount William, but this section no longer takes in the Hunua Ranges due to kauri dieback disease and other developments.
Manurewa to Mangatāwhiri - 39km
Follow the Puhunui Stream underneath the motorway to enter the Botanic Gardens near the Everglade Drive park entrance. Turn right (south) to walk up through the Botanical Gardens, following park signage, to the Huakaiwaka Visitor Centre at the Botanic Gardens entrance.
Unfortunately the Botanic Gardens Visitor map and some signboards show the old Te Araroa Route. These will be updated in time, but for now some signage indicating about along the northern edge of the gardens is incorrect. There is a lot more to be seen in walking up the hill towards the Visitor Centre
There are many beautiful routes through the Botanic Gardens, more than are shown on any map.
Exit the Botanic Gardens through or around the visitor centre onto Hill Road. Turn right (west) and follow Hill Road across the motorway bridge. Turn left/southeast into Claude Road, right at Alfriston Road and left onto Great South Road at km 656.5.
Previously Te Araroa included part of the Hunua ranges. The trail was damaged by a storm in 2015-16, and devising a suitable detour without encroaching on private land proved difficult. Later concerns around kauri dieback disease resulted in a complete closure of Hunua hiking trails for a time. Te Araroa was adapted to follow an alternative route that used minor roads through Clevedon and Hunua village to reach SH2. The long road walk to Clevedon included some sections considered dangerous. A further modification eliminated the walk to Hunua village and moved the trail closer to the main highway using urban roads.
The modified route for 2026-27 uses the Southern Path, a shared walking and cycling path parallel to the Southern Motorway with scenic view across the Pahurehure Inlet of the Manukau Harbour.
Follow the Great South Road for 1.7 km. The Southern Path begins just past the Woolworths supermarket and immediate before the motorway off ramp. Te Araroa leaves the path via a spiral pedestrian bridge at km 661.2.
On the eastern side of the motorway follow Rushgreen Ave south and walk through Jack Farrell Park to Lakeside Drive. At the end of Lakeside Drive turn right onto Elliot Street, cross Beach Road into Chichester Drive at the traffic lights and continue south. Turn right at Goodwin Drive and left at Park Estate Road and right onto Great South Road at km 665
Follow Great South Road for almost 3km to the roundabout in Drury, km 667.6. Extensive road and rail bridge construction at this intersection make direction signs hard to spot.
Turn left (east) across the bridge onto Waihoehoe Road and continue 2.7 km to the end, then turn right (south) onto Drury Hills Road.
At the intersection Drury Hills Road with Fitzgerald Road (km 671.6) turn left (south) down the hill on Jack Stevenson Road through the new industrial development. At the southern end of Jack Stevenson Road (km 673.1) there is a pedestrian path through to Ramarama Road. Some NZTopo 50 maps do not accurately represent all roads in this area.
At the end of Ramarama Road turn right into Ararimu Road past the school and then leftt (south) into Hillview Road.
Follow Hillview Road for 4 km and cross Portsmouth Road into Barber Road for 1km. After passing the school on your right turn right (west) down Paparata Road towards Bombay. Turn left into Bombay Road and continue onto Razorback Road. Pass Beaver Road East on your right. Turn left (east) into Puketutu Road and after 1 km enter the Mt William Walkway for break from road walking.
At the southern end of the Mt William Walkway continue south on McMillan Road for a short distance, then right (south again) onto Irish Road to meet State Highway 2 (SH2).
Turn left/east along the SH2 for 2km. This is an extremely busy road with limited road shoulder. Cross carefully into Serpell Road at km 692
Northbound directions from Hillview Road (km 674.5) to the Drury roundabout at km 667.6
Included here because the route has changed in early 2021 and the Drury South Crossing construction area requires extra care.
At the northern end of Hillview Road turn right on Ararimu Road, past the school, then left into Ramarama Road. At the northern end of Ramarama Road there is a pedestrian footpath through to Jack Stevenson Road. Walk north on Jack Stevenson Road for 1.5 km. At the top of the hill turn right (east) into Drury Hills Road. After 2.5 km turn left (west) into Waihoehoe Road. Follow this for 2.8 km to the roundabout on Great South Road (km 667.6). Turn right.
Getting there
Northern Start: Botanical Gardens entrance, Hill Road Manurewa
Southern End: SH2 near Serpell Road
Track conditions
Potential Hazards
- Construction traffic around the Drury South Crossing industrial site
- Farming operations
- Few water sources
Accommodation
- Applaud Bed and Breakfast - check it out on booking.com - or text Robert on 0274 928 965 - Homestead for a bed and room for tents - plenty of showers and hot water. Free wifi.
- Heaven’s Rest B&B – 180 Mill Road, Bombay. Relax in spacious rooms or self-contained cottages just minutes from the Te Araroa trail, and enjoy a soak in our spa pool after a long hike. Special tramper rates and packages include free WiFi, laundry, and breakfast, plus pick-ups and drop-offs. No space for tents. Contact Robert at 022 312 1462 or info@heavensrest.co.nz.
Trail Hosts
- Conifer Grove, near km 659.2 on the Southern Pathway. Call Joanne Schroeder 027 255 2275
- Note: We are unavailable to host from
- 10 - 19 November 2026,
- 6 - 11 January 2027
- 4 Feb - 10 March 2027
- Michelle and Ross Ashby, 144 Ramarama Road, Drury. Yellow letter box. km 673.7
5 acres, park like grounds and gardensCamping including access to a shower, toilet and kitchenette $ 25 per nightFour bedrooms from $90 to $100, including towels, linen, etc.We have an in ground pool, lovely garden, three orchards, a ten-minute walk up to the local waterfall and swimming hole. Contact phone number for walkers is 021 586 384 Ross and Michele
- Lynley Jacobs, a past TA walker, hosts hikers near Bombay (km 680.5). Double or single beds, washing machines, hot showers spa pool, and free wifi. Available from 1st October 2026. Please make contact 2-3 days before intended arrival. Ph 027 378 8804. If no answer please leave a message.
Food and supplies
- Miko Café and Visitor Centre at the Auckland Botanic Gardens - 102 Hill Rd, Manurewa - P: 09 269 3407