Albany Totara Walkway

The Albany Totara Walkway is a tranquil walk that follows the Oteha Stream through wonderful native bush.  Many of the trees are very large native Totara’s and truly magnificent.  The native birdlife is wonderful with their constant songs ringing high above in the treetops.

This walkway is suitable for most people but not one for pushchairs, buggies or wheelchairs.   The track is dirt or gravel and while a very good walking track, it is narrow in places and has plenty of tree roots and stairs.  The Torara Track is reasonably flat (check out the elevation map below) but does have one hilly section with a climb of about 25m in altitude.

 

Natiive bush on the Totara Track and Otehe Stream
Native bush frames the Otehe Stream
Track Details
Track Location Albany
Track Distance 1.5km – 3.5km
Walk Time 25 – 80 mins
Difficulty Rating 1 – 2
Suitability Family
Wheelchair/Buggie No
Track Condition All Year
Quest Available Not Yet

Navigation Links:

Google Map: Totara Walkway GPS Map
Geocaching Map: Totara Walk Geocache Map

Why walk this track?

Great all-weather walking track
Great all-weather walking track

This is one of the most scenic walks in the North Shore and boasts:

  • Numerous large native NZ trees
  • Walkway alongside the pretty Oteha Stream
  • A serenade from many NZ native birds
  • Interesting track – easy but a genuine bush walk

The Albany Totara Walkway is approximately 3.5km for the return trip, although can be shorterned by crossing the river at the concrete slab one of the many rock weir’s.  The slab is sown on the GPS map – note it is only available when the stream is low.

The track is accessible from a number of entrances and parking is relatively available.

There is a well equipped playground en route, located between Syracuse Place and Northwood Ave.

Track Entry Points:

There are a number of entry points along the track, although most are not signposted and a little difficult to find.  Thankfully they are on the GPS map, so this can guide you to the entrances.

Main Entrances:

  • Bush Road – park by the bridge next to Pinehurst School.  Entrances are on either side of the bridge, one taking you clockwise and the other anti-clockwise around the track.
  • Obelin Close – this is a small street with parking at the end.
  • Other non-exit streets in the vicinity will give access via the paved walkway.  These do not directly interact with the walkway.  These streets have parking and include Vanderbilt Place, Syracuse Place and Northwood Ave.
  • Albany Highway entrance next to the bridge.  The entrance is okay but parking will be a challenge.

Track Highlights:

This track is all about big native trees, the stream and native birdsong.

Huge Totara Tree on Albany Totara Walkway
Massive Totara Tree

Totara Track Tall Trees
Totara Track Tall Trees

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Running and walking:

The Totara Walkway is a dream for those looking for a good off-road loop to run.  At 3.5km and plenty of flat plus little undulation it will provide a good environment for those training runs.

There are some aspects of the track that will require a little more care with uneven surface and narrow sections.

Please note that there are three weather dependent short-cuts that can not be used in heavy rain.  These are:

  1. Concrete slab across the river as shown on the GPS Map that can only be crossed when the stream is at normal levels.
  2. A part of the river that has a lot of rock with a narrow flow of water that be jumped across – there are stairs that lead up from the steam at this point.
  3. A wooden board bridge that crosses a small stream and can be underwater in a deluge.  There is a detour track that is shown on the GPS Map.

Wheelchairs and Buggies:

This track is not suitable for wheelchairs or buggies.  It has too many parts of the track that are narrow.  There is also a lot of tree roots and some stairs.

Summary:

The Albany Totara Walkway is a wonderful track that can be walked by people of most abilities.  The large native trees are spectacular and the stream provides many picturesque moments.

Totara Track Albany Picturesque Stream
Totara Track Picturesque Stream

GPS Map:

 

ELEVATION MAP:

Totara Track in Albany Auckland Elevation Map
Albany Totara Track Elevation Map

 

Video’s

 

 

 

 

 

About

I'm a family man who loves to enjoy the outdoors with my wife and 4 kids. I have spent years walking and running some of the wonderful tracks around Auckland and New Zealand .This website has been put together to help others enjoy the amazing array of walks we have in the Auckland Region. Further, we wish to honour the track-building work of my father-in-law, Hugh Willis who has spent thousands of hours since 1969 preserving, building and maintaining tracks on Auckland's North Shore.

8 Comments on “Albany Totara Walkway

        • The team continue to look at all the tracks and reserve areas to see if there are more good tracks that can be added. Most of the tracks in the area that people enjoy today have been just locals who over the years have seen the need and got on and built tracks for others to enjoy – without their hard work, we would have almost none of these tracks.
          Thanks
          Richard

  1. Hi Richard,
    this track was impacted by the recent rain and cyclone events, as the water rose to the level of the tracks in some places. The areas of silt and other rubbish that were left behind have been cleared and the track is safe to walk. All of the bridges and other structures on this walk were not disturbed.

    Warren

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