Last updated October 2026
Pōhutukawa planted to mark New Zealand’s 1940 centennial line one of the walks through Centennial Park, a large reserve of bush and open space above Campbells Bay on the North Shore. Auckland Council looks after the park, which you enter from 184 Beach Road or from Rae Road, where there is street parking.
A network of bush tracks with boardwalks and steps winds through regenerating native forest, and the council’s 1.3 km Centennial Park Path loop takes about an hour, passing a lookout over Campbells Bay and the Hauraki Gulf.
Volunteers from the Centennial Park Bush Society work on the bush, and the park is also home to Pupuke Golf Club and Campbells Bay Tennis Club.
Practical Information
- Location
- 184 Beach Road, Campbells Bay, with a second entrance from Rae Road
- Size
- About 74 hectares in the council’s park extents data, including the club grounds
- Managed by
- Auckland Council (Hibiscus and Bays Local Board area)
- Walking times
- Centennial Park Path: 1.3 km loop, about 60 minutes
- Dogs
- On a leash in Centennial Park; the council notes a dog off-leash area near the path
- Facilities
- Picnic tables and seating; a lookout with seating; parking along Rae Road. The nearest public toilets are at Campbells Bay Beach or Kennedy Park
- Status
- Auckland Council: Centennial Park – Campbells Bay page
About Centennial Park
The council describes the park as a large reserve with plenty of open space for recreation alongside areas of bush. A network of tracks runs through the bush, with boardwalk sections and stairs. Those steps and boardwalks may be hard going for people with access needs.
The bush is regenerating forest, with ferns, nīkau, pines and other native trees along the main loop. The Centennial Park Bush Society, run by volunteers, restores it by pulling weeds, growing native plants, trapping pests and keeping the tracks in order.
Not all of the reserve is bush. Pupuke Golf Club and Campbells Bay Tennis Club both have their home in the park, and picnic tables and seats are set out for anyone who wants to stop and sit among the trees.
Walking the Bush Tracks
Centennial Park Path
The council’s Centennial Park Path is a 1.3 km loop that starts at the park entrance on Beach Road. It heads down Morton Way and takes a track to the Avenue of Remembrance, a shaded line of pōhutukawa planted for the 1940 centennial, then loops back through regenerating bush to Morton Way.
The walk finishes on the Magnolia Track, a gentle downhill path to the start. Along the route is a lookout with seating over Campbells Bay and the Hauraki Gulf. The surface is mainly gravel and bush track, and the council warns that some sections, especially the Avenue of Remembrance, can be muddy and slippery, so wear good shoes.
The nature trail from Sandford Street
A second way in starts at the end of Sandford Street, where a welcome sign made by local school students marks a signposted nature trail into the park. It uses an elevated boardwalk and gravel sections, with some gentle climbs and a few steps.
Information stations along the loop help you identify the native bush, and the council mentions native birds, groves of ponga (silver fern) and yellow kōwhai flowers. A short signposted detour leads to a Second World War pillbox, and a QR code at the trailhead brings the trail notes up on your phone.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Centennial Park?
In Campbells Bay on Auckland’s North Shore. The main entrance is at 184 Beach Road, and you can also enter from Rae Road or by the nature trail at the end of Sandford Street.
Where do I park?
The council says parking is available along Rae Road.
How long is the walk?
The Centennial Park Path is a 1.3 km loop that takes about 60 minutes.
Are the tracks suitable for everyone?
The tracks include boardwalks and steps, which the council says may be difficult for people with access needs. Some sections can be muddy and slippery, so wear good shoes.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, on a leash. The council says dogs must be on a leash in Centennial Park, and notes an off-leash area near the path.
Are there toilets?
The council’s path notes say the nearest public toilets are at Campbells Bay Beach or Kennedy Park.
What is the Avenue of Remembrance?
A section of the main loop lined with pōhutukawa planted to mark New Zealand’s 1940 centennial. It can be muddy and slippery, so wear good shoes.
Spotted something incorrect on this page? Let us know.
Related links 3
- Auckland Council: Centennial Park – Campbells Bay: entrances, parking, facilities, clubs and park rules.
- Auckland Council AKL Paths: Centennial Park Path: the loop route, track surface, dog rules and nearest toilets.
- Auckland Council AKL Paths: Centennial Park nature trail: the signposted bushwalk from Sandford Street, with its information stations.