About the path
The Grey Lynn area (named in honour of Sir George Grey), is rich in both Māori and European history. Historically, a wider area that included Grey Lynn was called Opoutukēha – ‘Poutukēha’s Place’, after an ancestor who arrived on the Tainui waka. Discover some of Grey Lynn’s notable trees and heritage sites on this short 20-minute walk.
Some features of this path are on private property. We ask that you always respect the privacy of the owners and keep to the footpath.
The path starts at Hakanoa Reserve, a local pollinator pathway. Keep an eye out for pollinators such as bees, birds, and butterflies, as well as native vegetation.
After exploring the reserve, turn right onto Hakanoa Street – whose name in Māori means to 'dance free from a tapu'. Head up Hakanoa Street where you will see an avenue of London plane, creating a canopy over the street.
At the intersection with Richmond Road, you can see the historic Richmond Buildings. In 1912, these buildings included the Semple Brothers (Drapers), R Hutchinson (Grocer), B W Davis (bootmaker) and William Findlay (baker). This is a good spot to stop for a bite to eat or a drink before continuing the walk.
Turn onto Richmond Road and use the pedestrian crossing to turn left onto Wilton Street. Here you will see pōhutukawa and kahikatea. During the summer period, the pōhutukawa is easy to spot with its bright crimson-coloured flowers.After turning left onto Stanmore Road and walking for about 250 metres, you’ll turn onto Surrey Crescent. Use the pedestrian crossing to cross over the road, heading towards St Columbia Church, which opened in 1931. This is now acknowledged as a heritage site. The notable trees (pōhutukawa, phoenix palm and English oak) on this property may have been here since 1940.
If you want to keep exploring the area, head left onto Surrey Crescent (away from St Columbia Church) and get onto Great North Road to explore Te Wai Ōrea (Western Springs Lakeside Park) – a historically significant site where Māori harvested tuna (eel). This adds another 15-minute onto the walk.
Check out the six notable tree sites on the way:
1. London Plane, Platanus x acerifolia
The London plane is a common species in this area. This species has often been used for street planting in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) due to its hardiness. There are about 53 London plane that create a canopy over Hakanoa Street. These exotic trees are fully mature and are believed to be over 100 years old.
2. Pōhutukawa, Metrosideros excelsa
Pascoe and Isabella Ellis planted this pōhutukawa in 1912. Since then, the house has been in the same family and the pōhutukawa tree is considered family taonga (treasure).
3. Kahikatea, Dacrycarpus dacrydioides
The kahikatea tree produces koroī (berries) enjoyed by birds including kererū (Native Wood Pigeon) and tūī. These koroī (berries) were also a food source for Māori. The kahikatea is a rare species to be found in this area.
This medium-sized tree is estimated to be between 75 and 100 years old, which is young considering that the kahikatea can live to be over 500 years.
4. Pōhutukawa, Metrosideros excelsa
These pōhutukawa are believed to be about 100 years old. This is relatively young for this species, which can live to be around 1000 years old.
Pōhutukawa are significant in Māori mythology. The crimson coloured flowers that bloom in summer are believed to represent the blood of Tāwhaki, who fell to earth after seeking help in heaven to avenge his father’s death.
5. Phoenix Palm, Phoenix canariensis
Caution, the phoenix palm has poisonous fronds, so please do not touch these trees.
The phoenix palm originates from the Canary Islands and are an infrequent species found in this area. The palms located on this property are believed to be about 100 years old. The phoenix palm is now considered to be a pest plant due to its potential to colonise areas and negatively affect the natural environment. For more information on pest plants, see Auckland’s Council’s pest plant search.
6. English Oak, Quercus robur
The English oak is an important species in many European cultures and is considered sacred to gods such as Dagda, Jupiter, and Zeus.
Despite being an infrequent species found in this area, there are two-medium sized trees located on this property. These trees are estimated to be around 100 years old. Due to the New Zealand climate, these trees have a shorter lifespan than in other areas.
