The beach at Judges Bay, 1896. Photo credit: Auckland Libraries Heritage Collections

Discover Judges Bay heritage walk exploring geology, Māori waka food trade, Māori–European history, and Parnell landmarks, guided by Luke Nuie. Discover historic Judges Bay on a heritage walk exploring Auckland’s early food landscapes and cultural exchange.

Visit Te Hā, an ancient pōhutukawa, along with Parnell Baths, St Stephens, and the Parnell Rose Gardens. Learn about rich Māori māra kai and mahinga kai traditions, and how waka brought kumara, fish, fruit, and firewood to sustain the young colonial settlement in the 1840s.

Judges Bay was a key harbour edge where trade began, with Parnell forming a vital corridor linking landing sites to inland gardens. Guided by Luke Nuie, this walk reveals how food shaped early relationships and Auckland’s growth.

• Meet your guide at the car park in Judges Bay Road, by the beach.

• Cost: $5 per person

• The walk requires a medium level of fitness, and comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

• Suitable for ages 9+

• Bookings are required