Jubilee Walk
Following a long period of closure due to the threat of kauri dieback disease spreading, the much-loved Jubilee Walk at Cornwallis Beach re-opened to the public in December 2019.
Dieback is an easily spread fungus-like organism that is killing native kauri trees throughout the Waitakere Ranges and greater Auckland area.
The Jubilee Walk was orginally opened by Judge A.R. Turner on 13 May 1990 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Cornwallis reserve.
Substantial work has been done on the track by the Auckland Council parks team during the closure to make it an ideal, entry-level walk for people of all ages.
The following photographs were taken along the walk, starting by the reserve gates (shown on the above map as the "You are here" label) and heading west.
After you have cleaned your footwear at the kauri dieback cleaning station, the track follows a recently relaid track that is gentle and easy to follow. Any minor hills and slopes are gentle and not strenuous at all. The track is suitable for nature lovers of all ages and ability.
Some track sections follow a wooden boardwalk, avoiding the uneven tree roots on the ground. Poles and rope guide rails have also been installed in places to make sure people stay on the track and avoid kauri trees.
Soon the track takes you through a small wetland area. A wire covering on the boardwalk slats provides extra grip for this section.Water from this wetland eventually makes its way to Cornwallis Beach to the east.
From beginning to end, the track can be walked in 30mins and covers a varierty of vegetation types. There are two benches for resting and enjoying the view at separate locations on the track.
The first section of the Jubilee Walk ends at a second kauri dieback shoe cleaning station. Follow the instructions at the site to ensure your footwear is clean. After the station, cross the road and enter the rectangular carpark. Walk all the way to the other side of the carpark to rejoin the track.
The track briefly heads downhill taking you to the Cornwallis Beach reserve. Walk back up the beach and a short way up the hill, towards the park gates, before you rejoin the track.
To rejoin the track, look for the commemorative plaque attached a boulder. The plaque notes the walk's official opening in 1990. A small track marker (shown above) is also present. Both these items will be on your right as you head up the hill. Don't miss this small section of track, as it features some of its most scenic locations.
As before, a wooden boardwalk is now in place over some of the more uneven ground.
The second of the rest stops (shown inset top right) offers a great place to enjoy a terrific view of the Manukau Harbour, looking out to Mangere Mountain and Puketutu Island in the distance.
You can also just make out Mill Bay through the trees to your right.
A final easy stretch up a slight incline to the north takes you back to where you started on Pine Avenue, near the main gates to Cornwallis Beach.
New community noticeboard
Cornwallis Beach has a new community noticeboard – which was officially launched on a sunny Sunday afternoon in late April.
It is located at the southern end of the beach, on the grassy area above the Cornwallis Wharf car park. The noticeboard has been given the name “Te Karanga” or The Call – which was painted on by local resident Marie McNeil.
The noticeboard was proposed and planned by Cornwallis Community Resilience (CCR) – a relatively new group in the area, formed in 2023 in the wake of the damaging January storms in Auckland and February’s Cyclone Gabrielle.
The group – which has received some funding from Auckland Council’s Climate Action Grant to start its work – aims to grow and improve the local community’s resilience to damaging climate events, such as the storms. This includes developing a group of community volunteers and improving communication between Cornwallis households – even when events disrupt power and communication lines. The noticeboard is seen as small first step in this regard, providing focal point for people where none existed beforehand.
Speaking at the launch, Cordelia Locket of CCR says one outcome of their work so far is that more people know a wider group of other residents than ever before. “In times of desperation people have to resort to things like noticeboards for communication” but adds that it is not for commercial advertising.
A group of around 30 residents gathered for the launch, refreshments and to hear different local speakers discuss issues around climate change and sustainable living. The honour of cutting the noticeboard’s red ribbon went to long-term Cornwallis resident Pam, who has lived at the beach for over 40 years.
Also in attendance was Liz Manley from the Waitākere Ranges Local Board who says she and the board strongly support such community action and the need to consider the effects of climate change.
The site of the noticeboard was approved by Auckland Council, as it is located on regional park land, and confirmation of the final location was made by park ranger Gavin Bensemann. The board itself was constructed by local resident Heinz Ryter using some of the funds from the Climate Action Grant.
Members of CCR were also in touch with local iwi Te Kawerau ā Maki, who provided some text for the noticeboard, which will be added at a later date. The message features information about the te reo name for the peninsula, Karang- ā -Hape, or the place where Hape called out a greeting to people.
- Buy a trap
- Cornwallis high and low tide chart
- Fishing tides for Manukau Harbour
- Is Cornwallis safe for swimming?
- Facilities at Cornwallis Beach
- MPI fish and shellfish regulations
- Waitākere Ranges Local Board
- Manukau Harbour Restoration Society
- Detailed swell map for region
- Huia Settlers Museum website
- Huia & Cornwallis Ratepayers Assoc.