Maungarei / Mount Wellington, Volcanic hill in Mount Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand.
Maungarei is a 135-metre scoria cone with a near-circular base, a flattish rim and three small craters. Its grass-covered slopes rise above the Mount Wellington suburb, with a cluster of dark trees on the right slope and scattered trees near the top.
The volcano formed approximately 10,000 years ago through an eruption that sent lava flows toward Manukau Harbor. This ancient geological event shaped the landscape of the Auckland region.
The mountain served as a Maori settlement with visible remnants of terraced house sites and storage pits dotting its slopes. These traces show how people lived and farmed on this volcanic hill for centuries.
Access to the summit is by foot only, with a designated parking area at the base on Mountain Road. Wear sturdy shoes since the path is unpaved and crosses grassland.
The 1963 reservoir near the summit holds 45,100 cubic metres, making it the fourth largest in Auckland today. It supplies the Saint Johns reservoir and the suburbs of Glen Innes, Saint Johns, Saint Heliers, Kohimarama and Glendowie.
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