Ōtāhuhu / Mount Richmond

Ōtāhuhu is a dormant volcano in Auckland with two distinct craters set into the surrounding landscape. Walking paths connect the crater areas and allow visitors to move around the scoria slopes.

The volcano last erupted roughly 32,000 years ago and belongs to a group of many volcanic mountains in the Auckland area. This eruption history shapes how the landscape looks today.

The name refers to an ancient portage route between two harbors that Māori travelers used to reach the sea. This shows how the place served as a key point in the maritime journeys of early people.

Two vehicle entries provide access to parking areas near the crater edges, from where visitors can explore the slopes. The Great South Road entrance offers a particularly good starting point for walking around the site.

The slopes show traces of ancient Māori settlement, with terraces and storage pits dug for storing kumara plants. These structures tell the story of people who lived and worked on the land over centuries.