Mt Wellington

 Mt Wellington, or Maungarei in Maori, is the second youngest volcano in the Auckland Volcanic Field with a 100 metre scoria cone.  This volcano was named after the Duke of Wellington.  Its Maori name, Maungarei, means 'the watchful mountain', or 'the mountain of Reipae'.  Reipae was a Tainui ancestor who travelled to Northland in the form of a bird.  Archaelogical excavations have revealed the evidence of former Maori occupation dating back as far as 1400 AD and believed to have been abandoned in the 18th century.  Mt Wellington is located 10 kilometres southeast of the city centre, in the suburb by the same name , and has the largest scoria cone.  This cone was produced by vigorous lava fountaining from 3 vents in the crater with lava flows of 6km long, which streamed into Penrose and Manukau Harbour.  The volume of the lava was 160 million cubic metres - the equivalent to 32,000 Olympic sized swimming pools!   Through the lava flow, ground water soakage contributes to the industrial water supply at Penrose which is 5 km away.  In Lunn Avenue, a quarry in the lava field produced the largest aggregate in New Zealand. Today, where the quarry used to be, preparations are made for commercial, residential and recreational development.   It is interesting to know that Auckland's Volcanic Field comprises of monogenetic volcanoes, which means that there is no likelyhood of any of the existing volcanoes to erupt again. The next eruption is likely to occur in a new location.

Mt Wellington as seen from Pakuranga Road, Pakuranga

A view of Auckland City

 A view of Tamaki River or Te Wa Mokoia towards Halfmoon Bay Marina and Bucklands Beach.