For the price of a short bus ride, Maungawhau / Mount Eden gives you the best view in Auckland. At 196 metres it is the highest volcano on the Auckland isthmus, and from the summit you look straight down into a perfectly shaped crater, Te Kapua kai a Mataoho, the food bowl of Mataoho, the deity of volcanic activity. Around you lie the CBD and the Sky Tower, the Waitematā and Manukau harbours, Rangitoto and a ring of other cones. The mountain is one of the Tūpuna Maunga, the ancestral mountains co-governed by mana whenua and the council, and its slopes still carry the terraces and storage pits of a great pā. To protect them, the summit road has been closed to private vehicles since 2016, and a boardwalk now circles the crater rim. At the foot of the summit road, the kiosk houses Te Ipu Kōrero o Maungawhau, a small visitor space with a short video, and a café. This page links to the Tūpuna Maunga Authority.
How to visit: the main entrance is at 250 Mount Eden Road, about three kilometres south of the CBD. Buses run along Mount Eden Road, and Mount Eden train station is a short walk away. There are visitor car parks around the base, with time limits enforced, and from there it is a steady fifteen to twenty-minute walk up the road or the tracks to the summit. The main gate opens at 7am and closes at 8:30pm in summer and 7pm in winter, in step with daylight saving. Entry is free.
What to expect: the summit boardwalk is designed to protect the pā features, so stay on it and follow the signage, and do not walk into or down the crater. Wear sturdy shoes for the climb and bring a jacket, because the summit is exposed to wind. In mid 2026 stabilisation works began on the old Batger Quarry wall on the south-western flank; the summit stays open, but the walking track below the wall may close at times.
Making the most of it: come for sunrise or the late afternoon light, when the city glows and the crowds thin. Afterwards, walk down to Mount Eden village for coffee, or continue to the Auckland Museum and the Domain. Combine it with Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill nearby for a volcano morning.
What to expect
The experience
A short walk up a volcanic cone to a summit boardwalk around a grassy crater, with 360-degree views of the city.
Best time
Sunrise or the late afternoon, on a clear day.
How long
One to two hours including the walk up and down.
Tips
Walk or take a bus rather than drive, stay on the boardwalk and out of the crater, and bring a windproof layer.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Anyone who wants the best free view in Auckland and a feel for the volcanic landscape.
- Families
- The walk is short enough for most children, and the crater never fails to impress.
- Couples
- Watch the sunset over the city, then have dinner in Mount Eden village.
- Pair with
- The Auckland Museum and the Domain, or Maungakiekie / One Tree Hill.
- Time needed
- One to two hours.
Good questions
How high is Mount Eden?+
Maungawhau / Mount Eden is 196 metres high. It is the highest volcano on the Auckland isthmus.
Can you drive to the top of Mount Eden?+
No, the summit road has been closed to private vehicles since 2016 to protect the maunga. Park at a visitor car park at the base and walk up in fifteen to twenty minutes.
Is Mount Eden free to visit?+
Yes, entry is free. The main gate is open from 7am until 8:30pm in summer and 7pm in winter.
Can you walk into the Mount Eden crater?+
Visitors should stay on the boardwalk and paths and not enter the crater, which is part of a sacred ancestral mountain. The boardwalk protects the old pā terraces and pits.
How do I get to Mount Eden from the city?+
Buses run along Mount Eden Road from the CBD, and Mount Eden train station is nearby. The main entrance is at 250 Mount Eden Road.