Best Hunua Ranges Walks: Massey Cossey Loop Track

The Massey Cossey Loop Track is, without doubt, one of the best Hunua Ranges walks, both in accessibility and length. It’s really two individual walks pieced together, the Massey Track and the Cossey Gorge Track.

The 8.3km loop track is one of our favourite walks in Auckland as it’s long and challenging enough to count to get our hearts pumping but doesn’t knock us out for the rest of the day. It’s a go-to walk when we crave activity and true nature without having to venture outside of Auckland.

During our latest visit to the Hunuas, we noticed a massive spike in visitors to the Hunua Falls and the Massey Cossey Walk, so I decided it’s time to finally write up a walking guide of the track to help you plan your next weekend walk.

Hunua Walks: Massey Cossey Loop Track info

Location: Hunua Ranges, South-East Auckland
Distance: 8.3 km
Walking Time: 3h
Ascent: 380m
Descent: 375m
Difficulty: Medium
Dogs allowed? Yes, on leash
Toilets: At Hunua Falls and Cosseys Reservoir

Hunua Ranges walks map of massey cossey loop. click to enlarge

Part 1 of Massey Cossey Loop Track:

Massey Track from Hunua Falls to Cossey Dam

Starting off at the Hunua Falls parking, you first need to pass through the shoe cleaning station. Disinfecting your shoes should (hopefully) reduce the spread of kauri dieback. Passing the bridge, a first sign shows you the direction for the Massey Cossey walk as well as the much shorter Hunua Falls loop.

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Passing the sign on your left, a soft incline leads to the next sign. Either way works as this is is the beginning and the end of the loop but we usually turn right, leaving the best (the stream crossing) for last.

From here on, your glutes and leg muscles are put to a first test as you climb the hill on a lot of stairs. The path is all metalled and the stairs are even, so there’s no additional difficulty apart from climbing stairs. My Garmin sport watch buzzes on my wrist every few minutes as I reach yet another stair climbing goal.

Turn right onto the Massey Track to follow our route.

The first hour of the walk isn’t particularly scenic, although a New Zealand forest is never dull. It’s mostly uphills through the forest. After recent rain, the mosses on the walls and the trunks of fern trees are soft and moist to touch but because of the drought we’ve had the past six months or so it’s pretty dusty. If you’re out of breath, take the opportunity to stop and take in the colours of the forest around you.

After the worst part of the climb is done, there’s yet another sign. It’s almost impossible to get lost on the Massey Cossey Loop Track. The intersection crosses with the trail that used to come from the Wairoa Cossey Track that has been closed for years due to kauri dieback.

Keep following the track, now undulating with a slight descent. Not too much longer, after the 1-hour walking mark, a lookout platform rewards you with a view over the Hunua Ranges and Cossey Dam in the distance. The lookout is the perfect spot for a first break.

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About 15 minutes down the hill you meet up with Cosseys Reservoir. Cosseys is one of a few dams in the Hunua Ranges that secures Auckland’s water supply. Right now, even after some rain, the dam’s water level is worryingly low for early Spring. It’s definitely the lowest I’ve seen it so far.

Dam levels at cossey dam are the lowest I’ve seen them…

Part 2 of the Massey Cossey Loop Track:

Cossey Track from Cossey Dam to Hunua Falls

Keep walking along the dam wall and stick to the path that leads along the water. The intersection after the dam wall is the only confusing part of this Hunua walk. When you follow the water’s edge, you’ll come past the water gauging station and the public toilets.

Follow the road for a few meters and you’ll see another sign, now for the Cossey Gorge Track. This part of the Hunua walk feels different as it’s accompanied by a distant murmur of the Wairoa Stream in the distance and the track itself comes with a few more hurdles. Cossey Gorge Track makes for a much more interesting second halftime for sure.

Descending into the valley, wooden bridges pass over trickles and small waterfalls, even when it hasn’t rained in a while. Despite its beauty, it’s not hard to imagine how wild the gorge can get in a downpour.

Evidence of this natural force obstructs the track a little bit further down: One of the last rain showers has tipped a tree right onto the walking path. Usually, DOC and Auckland Council are pretty fast at clearing hazards like this one so it must’ve only happened recently. We crawl underneath it and feel for the families walking with baby carriers on their backs.

Not too far after the fallen tree, you need to pass over a landslide. The slide occurred years ago and the walking path leads over it which means it’s completely safe. If you don’t like heights, you might not want to look down into the valley, though.

After a few more corners and turns, you reach the stairs that lead you all the way down to the valley floor where the Wairoa Stream flows idly. Earlier, in the first part of the walk, you had to climb stairs to get to the summit, now they’re descending steeply and will make your knees wobble a little.

And over the landslide. Chris demonstrates how it swooshed into the valley

At the bottom of the stairs, the muddy path follows alongside the stream before you have to cross it. Depending on the water levels, there are enough rocks to skip, hop and jump to the other side with dry feet. Sometimes, however, it’s easiest to just take your shoes off and wade through the nippy water.

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After a short ascent up the hill on the other side of the stream, the walking track re-joins the intersection coming from the parking lot, closing the Massey Cossey Loop.

Once you’re back at the beginning of the track, don’t forget to pay a visit to the Hunua Falls and take a picture in the famous picture frame. Or, if you haven’t walked enough yet, add the 20-minutes Hunua Falls Loop.

Tip for all your Hunua walks on a Sunday:

Get up early for your walk. Not only will it have a lot less people than in the afternoon but you also get to visit the Clevedon Farmers Market after your walk. After burning all these calories walking, you deserve treating yourself to a delicious lunch. We usually get the woodfire pizza at the market but all food there is absolutely delicious.

Massey Cossey Loop Track: One of the best Hunua Ranges walks

In our opinion, Massey Cossey Loop track really is one of the best Hununa Ranges walks. It’s scenic, adventurous and just the right amount of challenging for a weekend (or weekday) walk. And only 40 minutes from Auckland makes it easy to reach, too.

Did you walk the Massey Cossey Loop before? How did you like it? Or do you prefer another Hunua Ranges walk better? Let me know in the comments below!

Short alternative to the Massey Cossey Walk

If you’re short on time or not too much of a walker but still like to do something for your fitness near the Hunua Ranges? Try the hill walk at Clevedon Scenic Reserve. A quick (but not painless) 30 minute ascent will get your pump going and you’re rewarded with views all the way over to the Coromandel.