Discover Western Springs
Western Springs Reserve in Auckland, also known as Western Springs Lakeside / Te Wai Ōrea, sits on the western side of Downtown Auckland. With its spring-fed lake, abundant birdlife, and links to Auckland Zoo and MOTAT, the park is both a green retreat and a place layered with history.
Paths Around the Lake and Grassy Lawns
A flat, sealed pathway circles the lake for about 1.5 km, making it popular with walkers, joggers, and families. Grassy banks and mature trees line much of the route, offering shaded spots for picnics and space for informal games. The lake itself is home to longfin eels, often big and visible in the shallows, and attracts large numbers of water and swamp birds.
Te Wai Ōrea and Auckland’s Water
The Māori name Te Wai Ōrea means “the waters of eels”, reflecting the lake’s long-standing importance as a food source. The springs feeding it flow through cracks in basalt lava from Te Tātua a Riukiuta / Big King, one of Auckland’s ancestral maunga. This natural filtration once supported a unique lava rock forest ecosystem, now largely lost to urbanisation but still visible at Gribblehurst Park in Sandringham.
In the 1870s, the springs were dammed to create a reservoir that supplied Auckland with fresh water for 30 years. “Western Springs” distinguished it from the earlier supply at Pukekawa / Auckland Domain. After being replaced by the Waitākere reservoirs in 1928, the lake area gradually transitioned into parkland. The zoo opened in 1922, Western Springs Stadium in 1929, MOTAT in 1964, and the reserve itself was formally established in 1977.
Birdlife, Playgrounds, and the Tram Connection
Wildlife is one of Western Springs’ highlights. Alongside a few geese, ducks and swans, you’ll find pūkeko foraging on the lawns and elegant royal spoonbills / kōtuku ngutupapa fishing in the shallows. Families gravitate to the large playground on the northern side of the park, while picnickers enjoy the open lawns. The heritage tram, linking Auckland Zoo and MOTAT, passes along the edge of the reserve and adds to its historic character. Toilets and seating areas are available throughout.
Getting There
Western Springs is easily reached by public transport, with frequent buses running from central Auckland along Great North Road. Drivers will find parking at both the zoo and MOTAT entrances and along the road. The park also connects directly to nearby cycle routes for those arriving on two wheels.
Other nearby attractions include Oakley Creek Falls, Point Chevalier Beach and the MOTAT Aviation Hall.
