Starts at 108 Somerville Road, Somerville, Auckland
The Mangemangeroa Valley is one of East Auckland's hidden gems. The Mangemangeroa to Shelly Park Beach Path follows the Mangemangeroa Creek. It passes through a diverse landscape of farmland, native forest, and unique estuary and salt marsh habitat.
The main entrance and car parking area are at 108 Somerville Road, next to the barn. The walkway can also be accessed from Sandspit Road, Pōhutukawa Avenue, Hayley's Lane and Point View Drive. Car parking is more limited at these points.
From the Somerville Road entrance, pathways lead through pasture to the main walkway. The walkway passes mature and regenerating native bush, freshwater creeks, mangroves and mudflats.
Along the forest track you are likely to see or hear tūī, kererū; (NZ pigeon), pīwakawaka (fantail), tauhou (silvereye) and riroriro (grey warbler). In the estuarine areas, pūkeko and moho pererū (banded rail) prefer mangroves and rushes, while the muddy channels attract kōtare (kingfisher), white-faced heron, a variety of shags and tōrea (oystercatchers).
The walk includes steps and some short steep sections. It's not a flat walk, but the breathtaking views and bush experience make the effort well worth it. If the weather's wet the path can be slippery, so watch your step.
There are several shorter walk options you can add on from the main path. These include the Rotary Loop (a short half hour track leaving from the main car park) and the walk to Archie's Lookout. At low tide it's possible to walk from Shelley Park Beach to Cockle Bay.
The path finishes at The Sandspit, which exits onto Sandspit Road.
Mangemangeroa Valley is an area of significant ecological and cultural value. Mangemangeroa means 'valley of the mangemange", a twisting climbing fern used by Māori to tie raupō thatch to mānuka-framed whare (huts) and for making hīnaki (eel traps).
