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Location & access
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route. Check the official route directions before travel.
Official location informationLocation source
DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.
Reference point: -37.20805, 175.02293. WGS84 coordinates retained at the official service's returned precision; decimal resolution is not survey accuracy. Source positional accuracy is not specified.
DOC Maps walking and tramping reference point (WGS84), exact official-page GUID / Department of Conservation. Checked 2026-10-12.
Key facts
- Distance
- Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time
- Not specified in the checked DOC directory
- Track grade
- Advanced
- Location
- Mount William area
- Seasonal restrictions
- The farmland section of the track from Puketutu Road to the reserve boundary (so no access to the trig) is closed for lambing from 1 August to 1 October. The reserve section from McMillan Road to the farmland remains open.
- Dog access
- No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Checked against official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules and conditions are set by Department of Conservation — confirm with them before you go.
Route overview
Enjoy the views from the summit of Mount William, just south of the Bombay Hills. This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.
This DOC directory entry covers Mount William Walkway in Auckland, within Mount William area. Where DOC groups several walks, times and grades refer to the listed options rather than a single continuous itinerary.
Distance, time and grade
- Distance: Not confirmed on the checked DOC page; see individual route sections
- Walking time: Not specified in the checked DOC directory
- DOC grade: Advanced
Access and alerts
Source checked 2026-10-08. This page is a dated snapshot, not a live track-status report. Check current DOC route information immediately before travelling. An absence of listed alerts does not establish that a route is open.
Seasonal restrictions
The farmland section of the track from Puketutu Road to the reserve boundary (so no access to the trig) is closed for lambing from 1 August to 1 October. The reserve section from McMillan Road to the farmland remains open.
Dog access
No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.
Description
This track is part of Te Araroa Trail.
McMillan Rd car park to Mount William summit
Time: 1 hr 30 min one wayDistance: 2.5 km one way
From the McMillan Rd end, the track follows a farm fence line with markers to the Mount William Scenic Reserve. The reserve hosts a wide variety of native trees and shrubs, including kauri, hard beech and king ferns. From the Mount William summit (373 m) there are expansive views to the West Coast and Firth of Thames.
Note that a fence has been erected restricting access to the trig. Visitors are welcome to cross the fence at a corner post using a stile.
Mount William summit on to Puketutu trig and Puketutu Rd
Time: 1 hr 30 min one wayDistance: 2 km one way
The track continues along a saddle of rolling farm land to Puketutu trig (376 m) and Puketutu Rd.
Getting there
The Mt William Walkway is near Mangatawhiri, approximately 50 km south of Auckland City, on the Waikato side of the Bombay Hills.
The car park is on McMillan Rd, off Irish Rd, which is off SH2. Alternatively start from the other end of the track on Puketutu Rd, off Razorback Rd, which can be accessed from Beaver Rd, off SH1.
Know before you go
Keep to the track when crossing private farmland and take care around stock. Leave farm gates as you find them (open or closed).
Dogs are not permitted on the tracks because of the threat they pose to stock and wildlife. Exceptions include certified assistance dogs.
Sources and reuse
Route descriptions and practical information reproduced from the Department of Conservation, Crown copyright, under CC BY 4.0, subject to DOC's copyright policy. Formatting has been adapted, including flattening page sections; follow the original DOC page for maps, section-specific layout, current notices and linked documents. Outdoor Next is independent and is not endorsed by DOC.
The accompanying photograph is a licensed general hiking illustration, not a photograph of this route.
