A challenging climb of Mt William will be rewarded with impressive views.

Mt William Walkway, now part of Te Araroa, straddles the Bombay Hills and it can be done either way. The farmland section of the walk, beyond the Mt William Scenic Reserve boundary to Puketutu Road, is closed for lambing from August 1 to October 1.

If walking from the north, Mt William (373m) can be seen almost immediately beyond the expanse of gently undulating farmland. It’s a more gradual ascent than the southerly approach, where the summit is hidden as the track ascends quite steeply through the densely wooded reserve, and doesn’t reveal itself until the forest ends at 1.5km. There’s somehow more of a sense of discovery this way.

This description begins at the southern entrance. Don’t be deterred by earlier reports of muddy, slippery sections through the forested Mt William Scenic Reserve. It is now well-formed with many flights of boxed steps constructed to protect the trees and shrubs, which include kauri, nīkau, beech, kohekohe, pūriri and king ferns.

Once out of the bush the track climbs across paddocks following orange markers and poles. When the grass is long it may be a challenge to make out the trail. Allow an hour from the start to reach Mt William trig (2.25km), where there is a memorial seat and, more importantly, impressive views across Auckland and the Waikato, to the west coast and Coromandel Peninsula. 

As the trail wends its way from the trig down past smaller pockets of native bush, the market gardens by the lower reaches of the Bombay Hills and around Pukekohe are noticeable. 

The Bombay Hills are a remnant of a shield volcano that erupted some 600,000 years ago, depositing rocks that have weathered to form some of the richest growing soils in Aotearoa. This gentle section of the walk leads to the northern entrance on Puketutu Road. 

The return journey feels like walking the track afresh. There’s a clear line of sight to Mt William and views of Waikato farmland and the township of Pōkeno before the track dips down into the bush again. 

It’s best to choose a fine day for this walk as it’s mostly about the views – Mt William is one of the best vantage points within easy reach of Auckland. The area is exposed on the tops and can be windy and chilly even in summer. There are no toilets or drinking water.