About | Western Springs Park
Western Springs Park is a sanctuary for wildlife and people wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of Auckland. Enjoy a nice stroll around the lake, it’ll take about 30 minutes.
There are plenty of wild birds here, including Brown Teal Ducks, Pūkeko, Australian Coot, Black Swans and New Zealand Scaup. And there are heaps of eels, too.
Though this is a great place to see the eels, there is strictly no fishing for eels. The long-finned eel, which is only found in New Zealand, has been classified as ‘in gradual decline’ which means they are likely to be extinct in 50 years. This is because eels take a long time to grow, only growing 1 – 2 centimetres a year and females only spawn once before they die, which can be around 80 years. If you see someone fishing – make sure you report it.
There’s a kids playground around the lake, picnic tables, toilets, drinking fountains and BBQs. There’s also a free tram ride around the Western Springs Park.
Western Springs Park makes a great addition if you’re going to be in the area, there are plenty of other family attractions nearby, including the Auckland Zoo and MOTAT.
Nearby
MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology)
Location
Photos
Getting outdoors for an early morning walk is always a nice way to start the day. There were hardly any other people around, there was a morning chill in the air, the boys got their scooters out and had a lovely ride around the Western Springs Park.
We really enjoyed seeing all of the different birds but the kids got the most enjoyment out of the eels, they have such a fascination with them. They love that they are so friendly and will come right up to you, especially if you have food!
