Date visited: 14 July 2021
Elevation: 54m
Volcanic history
Ōrākei Basin is a tidal lagoon that was formed from an eruption around 132,000 years ago. It was at one time a freshwater lake. Over time, it was breached by the sea from the Waitemata Harbour. It’s around 700 metres wide. It’s a very picturesque location that the locals use for water skiing.
Our visit
The walk is about four kilometers long and is supposed to take you an hour, according to the Auckland City Council website.
Well, I don’t know if we just weren’t feeling it this day, but the kids got about 15 minutes into it and decided to turn around and go back. I must admit, after Te Kopua Kai a Hiku (the Panmure Basin), what we did see of the Ōrākei Basin wasn’t terribly volcanically interesting and it didn’t have a playground, so I don’t really blame them. We also left our walking poles leaning up against the car and drove off without them.
This was not the best volcanoing day. Perhaps we’ll go back and have another go.
Directions and facilities
Access to Ōrākei Basin is from Ōrākei Road near the train station, or from Purewa Road. No toilets, at least at the Ōrākei Road entrance. Whether there might be toilets at another part of the walk that we didn’t reach, I’m not certain.
Happy adventuring,
