
Terraces and pits can be clearly seen (thanks Google)
This is an impressive place considering I had no idea of it’s existence! The highest point now is just one of the cones that wasn’t quarried away in the 1950’s. There was extensive destruction of the cones on the south and east side.

Springfields on Cranbrook Place
I parked on Cranbrook place as I’d heard there was a spring in a field and that is what I found, along with some huge lumps of scoria just sitting in the middle of suburbia.

Access from Cranbrook place (thanks Google)
I then crossed the road and hopped this fence and surprised a small flock of pukekos grazing on the side of Taurere.

A couple of pukekos who were sounding the alarm at my arrival

Looking Southeast from Cranbrook Place access
At this point I seemed about as far away from the highest point as possible but it’s a pleasant and quick walk to the top.

One of the old kumara storage pits on the north side

The summit 56 metres above sea level

Found this taped inside the trig
Now to pause and take in the 360 views which is basically the purpose of climbing any hill worth climbing.

Rangitoto Island to the north

Buckland’s Beach across the water and remnants of the sacred karaka grove of Parehuia (on the left)
It is said that the lad Turanga i mua gave some karaka berries to his young love Parehuia to plant, telling her that he would return to marry her in the first season of their fruiting. Parehuia tended the young karaka trees until they set fruit and waited for Turanga i mua to return, which he did. Turanga i mua proved himself well skilled compared to the other young men and as the time drew near for him to depart he requested Parehuia’s hand in marriage from her father, Titahi. Titahi did not grant Turanga i mua’s request so he left and was soon joined by Parehuia who would not return home at the urging of Titahi so a there was a battle but Ngati Titahi lost and Titahi died. Returning to his home in Taranaki, Turanga i mua and his party passed over the Ruahine Ranges where they had to fight a battle and although they won, Turanga i mua himself died. After living among her husband’s people for some years, Parehuia returned to Taurere where she later died and was buried in her karaka grove. The name Taurere, meaning ‘loved one flown away’, comes from this story.

Remnants of the sacred karaka grove of Parehuia, suburban backyard right (thanks Google)

Looking (approximately) south

Sky tower hiding in the west

Evidence of a volcanic origin
After coming down I decided to walk around and see what this hill looked like from other angles.

View of the summit from Mount Taylor Drive

View of the summit from Crossfield road
There’s nothing here but a grassy hill but that is kinda the point 🙂 It’s perfect, although, maybe it could do with a few more karaka trees?