Awaruku Bush Reserve is an attractive three-hectare forest reserve in Torbay on the North Shore, 18 km north of Downtown Auckland. The main entrance is on Awaruku Road, accessed from East Coast Road, then Fitzwilliam Drive. It is more suburban than most of the reserves and parks we highlight on the North Shore, so check your map carefully.
The reserve has several short connected tracks through a native forest with a stream through the main gully. The highlights are a 20-metre kahikatea tree over 600 years old, several big mature pūriri trees, various other native trees and a picnic area in an old quarry. The quarry dates back to the early 1900s and is overgrown by the forest ferns and lichens. It drips with water after rain, making for a near-magic sight. According to Peter Janssen, the quarry is a good location to see glow worms at night.
The main track climbs about 40 metres towards the rear of the reserve, with some steps to an area of forest regrowth. From there, you can exit the reserve at Moorgreen Heights.
