Sunday walk in Ponsonby

4.5 km • 40 minutes • Easy walk • Ponsonby and Freemans Bay are great places for a Sunday walk in Auckland. Take the whole family out today.

Home » North Island » Auckland Region » Auckland Central » Sunday walk in Ponsonby

Due to the weather being unpredictable and grey clouds on the horizon, we decided to play it safe and headed to Ponsonby/Freemans Bay for a walk, knowing that we could always shelter under shop awnings if there was a downpour.

We were lucky – it stayed dry. This also meant that we could observe our surroundings – the beautiful old-style houses, the decorated ceilings, the sculptures, the shops and cafes and the trees in Western Park. It’s a changing landscape with always lots to see.

Quick facts about this walk

The Hobbiton Movie Set Day Tour - From Auckland

This is a great short walk if you work in Ponsonby and need to get out for a leg stretch. Or if you want to visit on a Sunday, there is lots of street parking available. Or you if you live here and just want to explore.

You can start at any point on this circular route. And take a short diversion to Victoria Park Markets if that takes your fancy.

If you are into heritage homes, take a side trip down Renall Street to view pre-villa Victorian houses built for lower-income workers from the 1860s to 1880s.

Western Park is an off-leash dog exercise area with picnic tables to make the most of on fine days. There is also a fun playground with slides and flying fox.

Photos from my walk along the Sunday walk in Ponsonby

More of my walks in central Auckland

Helen Wenley

This project began in 2011. My friend Grace was the walk creator – with her knowledge of Auckland, she could “see” circular routes, and then it was up to me to map out, photograph, research and document the routes. At first, I relied upon my voice recorder and Google maps but then with the advancement of technology, the smart phone became a best friend and I was able to track our route. The best fun was when we were both pleasantly surprised by what there was to see. Beautiful wetlands, views and bush kept us inspired to explore more.