The Upper Huia Reservoir Walk crosses two dams, a 170 metre tunnel and muddy bush track past waterfalls and nikau palms in the Waitakere Ranges. It’s a solid 17km round trip taking about four and a half hours, rated medium more for mud and climbing than distance. Check track status first, closures near the top dam come and go.
Quick facts
Parking at the Huia Dam car park on Huia Road
Drive out from downtown Auckland on the road toward Piha. About 10km from Glen Eden, on the left, there’s a large car park, that’s the start. There are shops and a few places to eat back in Glen Eden if you want to stock up before you head in.
There’s a toilet a few minutes down the service road from the car park, and that’s the only one on the whole 17km, so use it. Auckland Transport has a flood damage repair site further along Huia Road with one lane traffic control in place, so check the current rules before you drive out in case it’s adding delays to the trip out.
If you fancy seeing more of the coast this road eventually leads to, the Piha Beach, Black Sand & Waterfalls Tour – Ex Auckland City covers Piha’s black sand beach and waterfalls as a guided day out, a good one to pair with this walk on a different day.
This walk is part of the wider Auckland Waitakere Ranges walks collection if you want to see what else is nearby.
The Huia Dam track step by step
Car park to Upper Nihotupu Dam, 35 minutes
A few minutes down the service road from the car park you pass the toilet and an old shed. A bit further on, look right and you’ll catch a series of waterfalls dropping through the gully.
Christies Track down to Huia Dam
The walk down to the dam itself is easy, a well formed gravel road the whole way. There’s an information board at the dam worth a read. The sign for Christies Track is a bit confusing, walk across the dam to the far side until you hit the wall, turn right and squeeze between the bank and the post to pick up the goat track. Climb for a few minutes, then at the next turnoff go right onto Christies Track toward Huia Dam Road, not left onto the Summit Track, which is permanently closed for kauri dieback anyway. Christies Track itself isn’t listed among the tracks Auckland Council currently shows as open, so check the current rules before you commit to this section.
Down to Huia Dam Road, 1 hour
This section is proper mud, and it’s rough going after rain. It’s mostly downhill all the way to a creek, through real scrubby bush. The creek crossing is only ten minutes from Huia Dam Road and you can rock hop it without getting your feet wet.
Huia Dam and the tunnel, 30 minutes
An easy walk along the gravel road from here, not much to see until you reach the 170 metre tunnel. You can see daylight at the other end the whole way through so you won’t need a torch. Huia Dam Road itself is currently listed as open by Auckland Council, though it pays to check the live track status page before you head out since conditions change. Keep walking to the top of the dam, but don’t cross it, the final climb to the very top has been reported closed at times to protect the kauri up there, so check the current rules on the day. To your right is the start of the last section.
Waterfalls, nikau palms and the old road tunnel
This walk doesn’t skimp on scenery. There are two dams to cross, one old collapsed mine, and that 170 metre road tunnel. Nikau palms line long stretches of the track and there’s no shortage of other native bush either. The gullies are deep and rough, with high waterfalls and fresh running creeks, this whole catchment is part of Auckland’s main water supply.
Who the Upper Huia walk suits
This one suits fit, experienced walkers who don’t mind mud and a long day out. Seventeen kilometres and four and a half hours with 310 metres of climbing is a proper outing, not a stroll. The navigation around Christies Track catches people out, so it helps to have done some route finding before. It’s not one for young kids or anyone after an easy flat walk.
When to go: mud, rain and Huia conditions
Go after a dry spell if you can. The sections down to Huia Dam Road and back up to Piha Road turn to thick mud fast, and tree roots get properly slippery after a day or two of rain. A fine winter’s day still works, you’ll just want decent boots and to allow extra time. If you’re making a full day of the west coast, Bethells Beach (Te Henga) – Full Day Tour – Ex Auckland covers another wild stretch of west coast not far from the Waitakere Ranges, worth it on a different trip.
Dogs, gates and kauri dieback rules
Dogs are allowed on leash in this part of Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, they’re just not permitted right by the Huia and Kiwanis lodges or Barr cottage. There’s no shortage of mud, so expect a dirty dog by the end. Auckland Council requires everyone to clean footwear and gear at the cleaning stations on the way in and out, kauri dieback is a real threat in this forest and it only takes a bit of soil on your boots to spread it. The Summit Track off Christies Track is permanently closed for the same reason, so don’t be tempted to take it even if it looks like a shortcut.
On the Piha Road section, past the second creek, keep an eye out on your right for a cutting that looks a bit too wide to be a dried up stream bed, that’s the old entrance to a mine drive. There are also old timber remains from the original road and bridge framing scattered through this stretch, a reminder of how old this route really is.
Common questions
Is Huia Dam Road open? Yes, Auckland Council currently lists Huia Dam Road, the gravel service road between the two dams, as open. It’s still worth checking the council’s live track status before you go, since tracks in this area open and close for kauri dieback work.
Are dogs allowed on the Upper Huia Reservoir Walk? Yes, on leash. They’re not allowed right around the Huia and Kiwanis lodges or Barr cottage area near the start.
Do I need to clean my boots? Yes. Cleaning stations for kauri dieback prevention are part of visiting Waitakere Ranges Regional Park, use them on the way in and the way out.
Is the car park affected by roadworks? Auckland Transport has an ongoing one lane traffic control site on Huia Road near Kaitarakihi Road for flood damage repairs, so build in a little extra time getting out there and check current conditions before you leave.
Could future works affect this track? Watercare’s Western Water Supply Programme involves new water infrastructure through the Huia catchment, and the company has flagged that some tracks could be affected and that water shutdowns would need road closures. Worth a quick check before you plan a visit.
My honest take
I walked this one start to finish and it earns its medium rating through mud rather than steepness. The stretch down to Huia Dam Road is genuinely hard going after rain, deep mud and tree roots everywhere, and the climb back up to Piha Road at the end is just as taxing. The tunnel is a highlight though, walking through 170 metres of dark with daylight waiting at the other end is a nice bit of drama partway through a long day.
If you want more context on the forest you’ve just walked through, the Auckland City & Native Forest Experience – Fully Guided Small Group Day Tour is a good guided option for a different day. For something completely different, 2 Hours Mountain Bike Hire – Including Helmet & Park Pass – Woodhill Mountain Bike Park gives West Auckland adventure a bit of speed instead of mud. And honestly, after 17km of this terrain, a 1 Hour Relaxation or Deep Tissue Massage – Nava Spa – Remuera is a fitting way to end the day.
Other walks near Huia
- Cornwallis Beach Walk, a short drive along Huia Road toward the Manukau Harbour.
- Gibbons and Muir Track Loop, Whatipu, further along Huia Road at Whatipu, south west.
- Waitakere Dam Walk, Turn off for Waitakere Tramline Track Walk, north via Waitakere Ranges Road to the other dam area.
Back to the Auckland Waitakere Ranges walks hub for more tracks in the ranges.
