Auckland's Volcanic Lakes and Lagoons Explained
Several of Auckland's lakes and lagoons are actually volcanic craters, formed by explosive eruptions that blasted out round basins now filled with water. Lake Pupuke, Orakei Basin and Panmure Basin are the best known.
Why does Auckland have volcanic lakes?
Because some of its eruptions were explosive rather than lava-building. When rising magma hits groundwater it can erupt violently, blasting out a wide, shallow crater called a maar rather than building a cone. These craters then fill with water or seawater over time. Auckland has a string of them, which is why several of the city's lakes and tidal basins are near-perfect rounded shapes.
Lake Pupuke
Lake Pupuke on the North Shore is Auckland's best known volcanic lake. It is a deep, freshwater maar crater, one of the oldest features in the field, fed by rainfall and groundwater rather than a stream. It sits right in suburban Takapuna, ringed by houses, and is used for swimming, kayaking and sailing. Its twin crater across the way formed at the same time and is now flooded by the sea as Shoal Bay.
The tidal basins
Several of Auckland's round tidal basins are also volcanic craters, opened to the sea. Orakei Basin, Panmure Basin and Onepoto are all explosion craters that now fill and empty with the tide, their rounded shape a giveaway of how they formed. The Mangere Lagoon in the south is another. They make distinctive walking loops, with paths often ringing the rim.
Can you visit them?
Yes, and they make easy outings. Lake Pupuke has parks, swimming and boating around its edge. Orakei Basin and Panmure Basin both have walking and cycling paths around the rim, popular with locals. Because the basins are craters, the loop tracks give you a real sense of standing inside an old volcano, even though it now holds water rather than fire.
Every crater, cone and lake mapped
Volcanic AKL covers the whole field, including the maar craters now filled with water. Walk the rims with the history in your pocket. Works offline.
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