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Whangaparapara: Old Mill Track: Walking Guide, Time & Access

A walker seen from behind carrying a grey and orange backpack, with hills in the background.

Illustrative photograph. General backpacking illustration; location unverified. This is not a photograph of the named route or evidence of its terrain, condition or difficulty.

Photo: Cody Black / Unsplash License / Details

Discover the site of the Kauri Timber Company sawmill and an historic steam traction engine.

Last checked 8 October 2026 · Department of Conservation

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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 information
Location source

DOC track reference point, not a verified trailhead, entrance or the whole route.

Reference point: -36.23975, 175.39542. 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
2 hr return
Track grade
Easy
Location
Great Barrier Island/Aotea
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

Discover the site of the Kauri Timber Company sawmill and an historic steam traction engine.

This DOC directory entry covers Whangaparapara: Old Mill Track in Auckland, within Great Barrier Island/Aotea. 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: 2 hr return
  • DOC grade: Easy

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.

Dog access

No dogs. Other pets on conservation land rules.

Description

Old Mill Track travels through rejuvenating bush. It follows the edge of mangroves to The Green Campsite (15 minutes), before crossing two steep spurs and descending to the site of the Kauri Timber Company sawmill and an historic steam traction engine.

At low tide, the track can be walked around the shoreline, beginning at The Green Campsite.

Getting there

Start the track from Whangaparapapa Road, near The Green Campsite.

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.

Sources & official links

  1. 1.Whangaparapara: Old Mill Track: official route information— Department of Conservation
  2. 2.DOC walking and tramping directory— Department of Conservation

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