Chatwood Reserve sits in a steep valley within the suburb of Chatswood on Auckland’s North Shore. The reserve is a genuine surprise, with many big kauri trees over 400 years old and a series of short walks connecting with the surrounding suburban streets. The trees are well-protected by boardwalks and bridges that navigate the steep ups and downs of the valley, formed by Duck Creek as it flows towards Chelsea Estate Heritage Park.
A further feature of the reserve is the presence of beech trees in the kauri forest. The somewhat unusual combination of cool-climate beech growing alongside warm-climate kauri was a feature of the forests on the North Shore before European arrival.
The biggest issue in accessing these wonderful walks is the poor quality of the track information. The tracks were mostly closed due to kauri dieback. Maps still show the original network, but part of it is permanently closed, and most of the new open sections are still shown as closed on the Auckland City kauri dieback map.
In addition, one section - between Ravenstone Place and David Beattie Place and towards Homewood Place - is a rough, narrow tramping track, including a short scramble with mud and tree roots! It is interesting and connects to a track around the larger Duck Creek lakes in the Chelsea Estate Heritage Park and to the upgraded kauri tracks that link Langstone Place, Portsea Place, and Homewood Place. However, access from these streets to the upgraded tracks is much easier, and it only takes about 20 minutes to explore this magnificent pocket kauri forest.
You can also walk through the reserve a little further north between Fitzpatrick Place and Mappin Place but you need to take sidestreets to link with the lower sections.
The most direct access is along Chelsea View Drive, from Mokoia Road to Portsea Place or Homewood Place. You can also get to the reserve by walking in from the Chelsea Estate Heritage Park around either side of the Duck Creek lakes and ponds from Colonial Drive (not well signposted).
The superb Kauri Point Centennial Park is also nearby at the end of Chelsea View Drive.
