Oakley Creek

Oakley Creek, also known as Te Auaunga, is a waterway stretching 15 kilometers from the Waikōwhai ridgeline through Auckland's urban landscape toward the Waitematā Harbour. A paved walkway spans about 4.5 kilometers with designated dog areas and picnic zones along the way.

Before European arrival in the 1840s, the site was a wetland called Te Wai-inu-roa o Rakataura. Settlers drained and transformed the land, fundamentally reshaping what was once there.

The waterway carries meaning for local Māori communities through artistic installations and shared restoration work along its path. These elements reflect how the place remains important to those whose ancestors lived here.

Access the walkway from Great North Road where the path begins along the creek. Bring comfortable shoes and weather-appropriate clothing since conditions change with the seasons.

The restoration transformed hardened concrete channels back into natural stream sections using native plants for flood control. This work demonstrates how urban waterways can be returned to functioning ecosystems.