Maungawhau / Mount Eden is the highest natural point on the Auckland isthmus — a 196-metre volcanic cone that last erupted about 28,000 years ago and was one of the most important Māori pā (fortified settlements) in the country, with terraces, food storage pits, and defensive trenches carved into the cone that are still visible today. The summit provides a complete 360-degree view of Auckland, both harbours, and on clear days Rangitoto Island, the Sky Tower, and the distant Waitakere Ranges.
The 50-metre-deep crater at the summit (Te Ipu-a-Mataaho, 'The Bowl of Mataaho') is a sacred site — visitors are asked not to enter it, and the grass inside is left uncut as a sign of respect. The short walk to the summit takes 15-20 minutes from the main car park, or 30-40 minutes from the village of Mount Eden (with its boutique shops and cafés) below. The cone is one of 53 volcanoes that make up the Auckland Volcanic Field, which is still considered active.
Verified Facts
Maungawhau is 196 metres, the highest natural point on the Auckland isthmus
The volcano last erupted about 28,000 years ago
The crater is approximately 50 metres deep
The Auckland Volcanic Field contains 53 volcanoes
Get walking directions
Mt Eden Road, Mount Eden
