Exploring Te Nikau Pā
Te Nīkau Pā / Clevedon Scenic Reserve, located on the northern edge of Clevedon village near the Pōhutukawa Coast in Auckland, is a delightful destination, with scenic views and diverse walking tracks. The reserve features a 225-metre-high hill covered in native forest, primarily maturing regrowth, and is bordered by the Wairoa River. Although it is somewhat off the beaten path, it is a popular destination on weekends.
A Landscape of Cultural Layers
The reserve sits on the site of Te Nīkau Pā, a former Māori hilltop fortified settlement associated with Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki, the iwi who occupied the wider Wairoa River valley. The timing of the pā’s abandonment is unclear, but it may have occurred around the 1820s, during the Musket Wars, with Tara Te Irirangi remembered as its final rangatira.
By the early 1900s, the land had been largely cleared of old-growth forest and was used as a working quarry by the Thorp family. In 1914, the land was acquired for public use and conservation, and has been protected since, enabling forest recovery.
Nearby Camp Sladdin, opened in 1965, is a hub for youth and scout groups, blending outdoor education with the region's natural and cultural heritage.
Picnics, Tracks and Scenic Views
At the base of the hill, accessed directly from the car park, there is ample space for picnics, making it an ideal spot for a family outing. An unusual feature of the park is an obstacle course, which is likely to entertain children.
The main feature of the reserve is the 225-metre hill with a viewpoint at its summit. A 90-minute loop track with almost 1,000 steps takes you up ridges on either side of the hill. On the north side is the Puriri Track, with a climb through a variety of native trees. The Tōtara Track, which includes a section of kauri trees, about 120 to 150 years old, is on the south side. From the peak, you can also explore the Kimpton Track for 2.3 km through a mix of native forest and exotic pines.
For a short, easy boardwalk, the Thorps Quarry Track leads to a modest waterfall and beautiful, long-grassed wetlands in the old quarry, with seating areas among the ferns and grass.
How to Get There
To reach Clevedon Scenic Reserve from Downtown Auckland, take the Southern Motorway to the Hill Road off-ramp. Head east to Stratford Road, which becomes Alfriston Rd, then Brookby Road, still heading east. At the intersection of Brookby Road and West Road, turn southeast onto West Road and follow this to Papakura Clevedon Road. Turn north, drive through Clevedon, and Thorps Quarry Rd is on your left, with plenty of parking.
Nearby, you can also explore the Hunua Ranges, Ōmana Regional Park, Duder Regional Park, Waitawa Regional Park and Tapapakanga Regional Park.
