A Beautiful Track That Could Turn Into Your Daily Hike
01 JULY 2022
One of our fav pics of the girls!
Fun, Fitness And Fantastic Views
Just a few short minutes off SH1 when you head into Puhoi, you'll reach The Puhoi Lookout track that we walked daily for months as a family when we were living in Auckland. We made this track a family favourite and one we loved going back to it time and time again.
It's a short wee track covering a 1.3km round trip and leading you back to the carpark where you started. Don't be fooled by the shortness! This track has an awesome start to it that gets your blood pumping and will certainly help increase your fitness levels.
This track is approximately 36 minutes from Auckland's CBD and just a quick 13 minute drive from the very popular Orewa Beach. When you arrive, you will find ample parking and public toilets, which we found to be clean and tidy and there's even a nice little playground for the kids which is situated by a massive sports field.
It's a short wee track covering a 1.3km round trip and leading you back to the carpark where you started. Don't be fooled by the shortness! This track has an awesome start to it that gets your blood pumping and will certainly help increase your fitness levels.
This track is approximately 36 minutes from Auckland's CBD and just a quick 13 minute drive from the very popular Orewa Beach. When you arrive, you will find ample parking and public toilets, which we found to be clean and tidy and there's even a nice little playground for the kids which is situated by a massive sports field.
Rain, sun or fog - we did the Puhoi Track every morning! We snapped this shot on our way leaving Kaukapakapa to go to the track
Going through the Puhoi tunnel (which cost around $2 each way)
The start of the track
It's A Bird, It's A Plane... No Wait, It's A Cow (Or Even A Bull)!
We didn't expect to see cows and bulls on our journey but then again this is good old New Zealand, right? What's a walk in New Zealand without seeing a cow or bull? (This reminds me of our Smugglers Bay Loop Track walk when we reached the gun emplacement. There were cows everywhere! The ones at Smugglers Bay were super curious and would walk right up to us in search for love... no actually they were just wanting our food.)
The first part of the walk takes you through beautiful native bush and you get to climb a loooot of stairs (although not as many as Mt Manaia or Tongariro Crossing!) then you reach the top of the hill, which seems to go on foreeeever if you're unfit (there's more to come!). At the top of the stairs there's a wooden gate that takes you through to a grass track. A few meters after the gate there's a concrete bench where you can sit to catch your breath, enjoy the view and or do some Qi Gong. (The Qi Gong made Lath look like he was dancing slowly in the breeze - quite amusing really and you could probably sell tickets to that show * queue the crickets... hello... is anyone going to show up? Moving on...
If you're lucky enough and you're there in the morning or late afternoon, you may even spot a bunny or two. We ended up brining some carrots and cabbage to feed them but weeks later they were still sitting there!
The first part of the walk takes you through beautiful native bush and you get to climb a loooot of stairs (although not as many as Mt Manaia or Tongariro Crossing!) then you reach the top of the hill, which seems to go on foreeeever if you're unfit (there's more to come!). At the top of the stairs there's a wooden gate that takes you through to a grass track. A few meters after the gate there's a concrete bench where you can sit to catch your breath, enjoy the view and or do some Qi Gong. (The Qi Gong made Lath look like he was dancing slowly in the breeze - quite amusing really and you could probably sell tickets to that show * queue the crickets... hello... is anyone going to show up? Moving on...
If you're lucky enough and you're there in the morning or late afternoon, you may even spot a bunny or two. We ended up brining some carrots and cabbage to feed them but weeks later they were still sitting there!
Mooooooooove away from meeeee!
This was a great place to catch our breath after the stairs
Sienna enjoying the view just after the wooden gate
Heigh Ho, Heigh Ho, It's Up The Grass We Go
So we made it to the grass track which loops up and down and eventually lands you up the top of yet another peak in the track. The views along the grass path are beautiful. We loved every minute just walking and staring out into the valley below. I tried running up the grass track hill and JUST made it to the top. The thing with this track is we used it to boost our fitness but starting moderately (walking) and then increasing the pace.
Right at the top of the grass hill you'll come to a wooden farm gate and a wooden step. At this point you have a decision to make. 1) Do the loop, see some cool things which we'll talk about next and then make your way down the big hill and back to the car or 2) jump over the wooden step, and take a much longer hike 5KM one way, through native bush and pine forests - you'll need someone to pick you up at the other end. (We have yet to do the one-way track). We just absolutely love the loop track; it works great for the kids as well.
Right at the top of the grass hill you'll come to a wooden farm gate and a wooden step. At this point you have a decision to make. 1) Do the loop, see some cool things which we'll talk about next and then make your way down the big hill and back to the car or 2) jump over the wooden step, and take a much longer hike 5KM one way, through native bush and pine forests - you'll need someone to pick you up at the other end. (We have yet to do the one-way track). We just absolutely love the loop track; it works great for the kids as well.
Up through the grass we go
Bella giving Lath a boost up the hill
Sienna at the wooden step at the top of the grass tracks
The Lookout
Reaching the lookout point was awesome. Just before we got to the top there is a small steep grass hill that we needed to conquer. When we got there, we were stunned with how high up we were! Of course, this gave us AMAZING views!
On the lookout hill there are concrete benches for you to be able soak in the views. We always thought this would be an awesome place to take up a cooker and some food and cook dinner one evening but we never got around to it.
The track was always fairly quiet and rarely met anyone on it but we did go early morning mostly on weekdays.
On the lookout hill there are concrete benches for you to be able soak in the views. We always thought this would be an awesome place to take up a cooker and some food and cook dinner one evening but we never got around to it.
The track was always fairly quiet and rarely met anyone on it but we did go early morning mostly on weekdays.
Sienna heading up to the lookout
A lady must always look stylish on her morning walks
Our super Bella!
We Found Fairy Wings!
On one of our walks, the girls kept finding 'fairy wings', heaps of them scattered all over the grass on the track. They were soooo excited and were collecting as many as they could find.
When we reached the lookout track, there were hundreds all around the round concrete lookout! The girls were convinced this was a fairy portal because they weren't actually on the concrete, but only around them - it was a pretty magical sight!
To this day the kids believe they had truly found fairy wings (we do too) and hey, maybe they did! Or could they be from cicadas? Hmmm we're going with the fairy theory.
When we reached the lookout track, there were hundreds all around the round concrete lookout! The girls were convinced this was a fairy portal because they weren't actually on the concrete, but only around them - it was a pretty magical sight!
To this day the kids believe they had truly found fairy wings (we do too) and hey, maybe they did! Or could they be from cicadas? Hmmm we're going with the fairy theory.
Fairy wings all around the lookout
A few of the very beautiful fairy wings
We're So Glad We Didn't Rush
It is really incredible how much you see when you slow down and enjoy what's around you. If we were rushing just to get back to the car then we would have missed out on all the amazing things that nature has just waiting for us.
We saw this little fella dressed in green just hanging out and enjoying the breeze. We're pretty sure it's a katydid - let us know if you have any other ideas!
We saw so many punga fronds and the girls always found dandelions so of course they had to blow on those and make a wish!
Another thing that became pretty abundant on our last few trips there were the amount of spider's webs coating the gorse bushes! One day there are one or two and a week later the plants are almost completely white! Preparing their wee homes for winter.
We saw this little fella dressed in green just hanging out and enjoying the breeze. We're pretty sure it's a katydid - let us know if you have any other ideas!
We saw so many punga fronds and the girls always found dandelions so of course they had to blow on those and make a wish!
Another thing that became pretty abundant on our last few trips there were the amount of spider's webs coating the gorse bushes! One day there are one or two and a week later the plants are almost completely white! Preparing their wee homes for winter.
A pretty munched looking katydid
This dandelion looked beautiful with the morning dew
A beautiful punga frond
Down We Go
After so much hill climbing, it's always a relief to go downhill! With the morning dew it can be a tad bit slippery on the grass but mostly fine (and there's plenty of gorse bushes along the way to hold onto if you fall down - ouch).
When you come a wooden gate, it's easier to climb over it as the walking access way is usually overgrown and FULL of spider webs. Once you've managed to get to the other side, you'll end up in a field with no doubt, more cows or bulls. The girls used to love naming them, with Hot Chocolate and Daisy being some of the favourite names.
From here it can get a little confusing where to go as it's not marked. About 30 metres to the right, you'll see a wooden step where you need to cross over which will take you to the next part of the track.
We actually did the track the other way around once and it was WAY harder!! So if you're keen to rip your calves into shreds then we recommend doing the walk the other way.
When you come a wooden gate, it's easier to climb over it as the walking access way is usually overgrown and FULL of spider webs. Once you've managed to get to the other side, you'll end up in a field with no doubt, more cows or bulls. The girls used to love naming them, with Hot Chocolate and Daisy being some of the favourite names.
From here it can get a little confusing where to go as it's not marked. About 30 metres to the right, you'll see a wooden step where you need to cross over which will take you to the next part of the track.
We actually did the track the other way around once and it was WAY harder!! So if you're keen to rip your calves into shreds then we recommend doing the walk the other way.
Bella and Sienna heading down the first hill
The gate that leads to the paddock
Watch out for cow pats here!
The Final Stretch
Once you've survived any near-missed cow pat incidents and any gorse bush attacks, you head to the easy part of the track where it starts off as grass then turn left onto the gravel to head back to your car.
There are some nice tall trees along this track and one morning it was 'raining' leaves and the girls had an absolute blast trying to catch them!
There are some nice tall trees along this track and one morning it was 'raining' leaves and the girls had an absolute blast trying to catch them!
Sienna on the final part of the track
Head over these wooden steps and you're on the home stretch
The gravel path will take you back to your car
Playground
We're not sure what it is but every time we finished the walk we felt like we had accomplished something great and to top it off, the kids always had a play at the playground (rain, wind or shine). In fact, the girls were so disappointed the first time it was raining, that the second time we were preparing to go on this walk and there was a slight hint of rain, the girls insisted we bought a towel along with us to dry the playground off so they could still play.
If you get a bit bored at the playground (said no kid ever) and you just want to run around and kick a ball, you're in luck. There is a sports field right next to the playground with so much room to make plenty of noise and have some fun.
If you get a bit bored at the playground (said no kid ever) and you just want to run around and kick a ball, you're in luck. There is a sports field right next to the playground with so much room to make plenty of noise and have some fun.
Take a towel in the cooler months so you can wipe the dew off the slide and bars
The girls enjoying the playground
Lath, Arabella and Sienna kicking the ball around
The Puhoi River
The Puhoi River is right beside the carpark and playground and there's a nice little table down by the river, across the bridge. You can get a good coffee across the road at the Puhoi General Store, so it's a nice place to sit while you enjoy a cuppa. It's a brown river and rather boring, but it's still nice to sit and chill.
There's even a small rope swing for the kids to play on, you just have to keep an eye on the kids as there's not much to stop them falling in.
There's even a small rope swing for the kids to play on, you just have to keep an eye on the kids as there's not much to stop them falling in.
The bridge you cross to get across to the track and playground
Bella checking out the Puhoi River
There are a few picnic tables and a rope swing on the other side of the bridge
Know Before You Go
- Bring plenty of water
- Sturdy footwear is recommended on this track
- When it's been raining the track can be incredibly slippery in some places
- After heavy wind, you'll sometimes find trees have come down and are blocking parts of the track (we just stepped over them)
- If you are heading north bound from Auckland, there is a toll along the way if you stay on the motorway. If you don't want to use the toll road, just get off at Orewa and head north from there
- Bring a towel for the kids, got to have a nice dry slid to go down right mum and dad?
- There are amazing views from the lookout so pack your camera
- Sunhats on sunny days will help as most of the track is quite exposed
- If you want more of a challenge, start the track the other way
- Keep a look out for fairies!
- There could be limited parking on the weekend as the sports field and netball courts may being used by teams
- The Puhoi Markets are held here on certain days which means the carpark will be closed so you will have to park on the road before the bridge
Mappy McMap Face
Getting There
Puhoi is just a short 12 minutes from Orewa and only 35 minutes from Auckland CBD.
Turn into Puhoi Road from State Highway 1 and follow the road until you come to the shops where you'll turn right into Domain Road. Head across the Domain Bridge and parking is straight ahead.
Turn into Puhoi Road from State Highway 1 and follow the road until you come to the shops where you'll turn right into Domain Road. Head across the Domain Bridge and parking is straight ahead.
Conclusion
There was just something really great about this walk and I think that's why we kept coming back each day to do it. We loved that it was an easy walk (with some thigh burning parts, but not many) and that the playground was right there. Of course, the showstopper was the views. It's a quiet walk that we would highly recommend especially if you have kids - we're sure they will love it!
Gallery of Puhoi Loop Track
Check out the rest of the awesomeness that didn't make it to the main blog but deserves to be shown.
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