Lake Pupuke in Takapuna is an extinct, 57-metre deep volcanic cone filled with water. It is about 4.7 km around and dates back about 190,000 years. Around 150,000 years ago, one of Pupuke’s eruptions buried a kauri forest and the remains can be seen at nearby Fossil Point at the north end of Takapuna Beach.
Pupuke is the only cone in the Auckland volcanic field to retain a lake, with drainage via creeks, including Wairau Creek, to the nearby coastline. It is used for a range of recreational activities, and there are public access parks at the south and north end of the lake.
Including the lake on a visit to the North Shore Coastal Walk is easy. The best access to the lake is along The Promenade from Takapuna Beach to Killarney Park. This is also the location of the historic Pump House, now used as a theatre.
Access from Milford Beach is also straightforward; take one of the connecting roads from the beach to Kitchener Rd, then access either Sylvan Park or Henderson Park further to the east.
