Mutukaroa / Hamlins Hill Regional Park

Mutukaroa Regional Park is a regional park in Penrose featuring a 65-meter-high hill, the largest non-volcanic peak on the Auckland isthmus, composed of Waitemata sandstone. The grounds span two former farms and offer various recreation options for visitors.

The area took its English name from James Hamlin, a reverend granted land through a Crown deed in the 1840s who established the first European settlement there. The site was later converted into parkland and is now managed by the local council.

The hill was once a major Māori settlement with extensive kūmara gardens tended by local communities. Today, visitors can explore the landscape and sense how these communities shaped the area.

The park provides walking trails, mountain biking paths, dog exercise areas, and bookable picnic spots accessible free of charge. The local council maintains the grounds and offers basic amenities to help visitors plan their time there.

The park narrowly escaped demolition in the 1960s when plans to reclaim land from Manukau Harbour were halted due to public opposition. This episode shows how important public support has been in protecting green spaces in the city.