Judges Bay & St Stephens Chapel Heritage Walk
Judges Bay is one of the most historic and loved areas in Auckland. When Bishop Selwyn first arrived in New Zealand, he landed at Judges Bay and purchased a significant amount of land in the area including where the historic St Stephen’s Chapel and Graveyard is now located.
This 1.6km walk covers the land surrounding Judges Bay. First we take a loop up the hill to the Parnell Rose Gardens, then return to Judges Bay and climb the adjoining hill to see St Stephens Chapel and take in the view from Point Resolution. The walk includes many sites of interest in both Maori and European settlement, the beginnings of Bishop Selwyn's Anglican expansion and a plotted history of early settlers as we visit the graves surrounding St Stephens.
Walk Details
Time: Allow 2 hours
Level of Difficulty: This is a rigorous walk , taking in a few steep hills over park pathways that may be slightly muddy in winter.
Parking: There is free car parking at the bottom of Judges Bay Road, where the walk starts, although it can be difficult to find a park during weekends and summer school holidays when Parnell Baths are open.
Train Stations: Britomart in Auckland CBD
Bus: Buses travel from Britomart up Gladstone Road past the Parnell Rose Gardens.
Walk Highlights
Parnell Rose Gardens / Dove Myer Robinson Park
Judges Bay
St Stephens Chapel and cemetery
Parnell Baths
Walk route
Judges Bay is a 1.6km walk. It starts at the bottom of Judges Bay Road, at the edge of the small beach. The map below shows the walk route and the highlights visited along the way.
Download and print a map of the walk to take with you.
Use Google Maps on your walk
Follow the map route on your mobile phone using this map - click here
Find out more
Once you've done this walk, you'll probably want to find out more about the interesting places and people you've heard of along the way. Here are some links to help you continue your exploration of Judges Bay.
Podcast
Download a podcast of the walk developed by our walk leader, Dr Warren Limbrick and Rendell McIntosh. The podcast is 45 minutes long. Follow the directions and pause the recording as you walk between points of interest. This podcast was prepared on behalf of The Village Square Trust (formerly Parnell Trust).
Our Walk Leaders
Dr Warren Limbrick has been involved with the The Village Square Trust’s Heritage Walks since they began, and developed the St Stephen's guided walk while researching nineteenth century Anglican history. He admits to enjoying the role of a historical raconteur!
Educated in Christchurch and Cambridge, Mass., he is now retired after a lifetime of church related ministry, which included diverse appointments from the Chatham Islands to suburban Epsom, some University teaching, Dean of Dunedin Cathedral, St John Ambulance voluntary chaplaincy, and ministry at Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell.
Warren has authored and researched several published works, including contributions to the Dictionary of New Zealand Biography, and most recently A Controversial Churchmanon the life and work of Bishop Selwyn. Together with Elizabeth his wife he is an enthusiastic coastal sailor.
Local historian Rendell McIntosh lives in Judges Bay and is writing a history of the area.
This walk is brought to you by The Village Square Trust, with generous support from ASB Community Trust.
