Titirangi Bush Walks

Titirangi has several walking-only trails through areas of dense plantings of native species. 

The most commonly used trail is shown in bold on the map. This can be walked from Puhi Kai Iti/Cook Landing Site National Reserve to the brick plaza lookout, then the bush track parallel to Queen’s Drive to the summit lookout over Tūranganui a Kiwa/Poverty Bay. This path includes a fitness trail. The downhill walk often follows the World War 2 Homeguard Track, then a connection via Ranfurly Street and Crawford Road to again meet Rakaiatane Road.

Other attractive, interesting walks include:

• track developed by Eastland Port from Puhi Kai Iti to Kaiti Beach around the base of the hill
• track to Te Maro sculpture
• track to World War 1 freezing workers monument
• many side-tracks off main track from Puhi Kai Iti to the brick plaza lookout, including to a lookout over Eastland Port, and a playground not far above Te Poho o Rawiri Marae.

Titirangi Maunga (mountain) is a significant reserve, a major landmark with deep historical, archaeological, recreational and cultural importance.

The reserve’s high points (some 140m above sea level) are popular sites for showing visitors the sights of the city, inner suburbs, port, beaches, rivers, fertile Gisborne Flats and bay – all just a stone’s throw from the Inner Harbour.

To the south is the land mass of Mahia Peninsula; to the east, open oceans.

Also known as Kaiti Hill, Titirangi is an ancestral site of local hapū (sub-tribe) including Ngāti Oneone. Te Poho-o-Rawiri Marae, at the base of the hill in Queen's Drive, is the home of Ngāti Oneone. When it opened in 1930, Te Poho o Rawiri was reputed to be the largest carved meeting house in New Zealand. Iwi and hapū throughout the district made financial contributions to the meeting house, the third in the vicinity of the port to bear the name.  

(Thank you to AngeLee Brown for the image at the top of this page.)