Lake Pupuke

Lake Pupuke is one of the oldest known features of the Auckland volcanic field, erupting an estimated 193,200 years ago.

Lake Pupuke remains a lake because, unlike the other vents, its eruptions produced substantial lava flows; water can thus escape through cracks in the lava reaching under the crater wall, creating a series of freshwater springs along the beaches between Takapuna and Milford.

The lava flow at the end of Takapuna Beach enveloped a kauri forest, producing an internationally significant collection of tree moulds, which has been called "New Zealand’s only example of a fossil forest preserved in a lava flow" and which "ranks among the best examples in the world.

"[5] Some moulds have escaped burial by the boat ramp and car park built on top of the lava, and can be viewed at low tide.

[6] A small scoria cone existed to the west of Lake Pupuke, which was quarried during European settlement.

[7] In 1894, a pump house was built on the shore of the lake to supply fresh water to the local area.

[7] A Māori myth surrounding the lake tells of a tupua couple, children of the fire gods.

[22] Lake Pupuke is identified as a "high risk" area in the event of a tsunami, and a high-tech phone alert system was developed for North Shore residents in case of an emergency.

Takapuna Reef's exceptional fossil forest was exhumed by coastal erosion when the sea level rose to its current height, following the last Ice Age, 7,200 years ago
The historic pump house, now home to The PumpHouse Theatre
The lakeshore and jetty near the pump house