Upper Nihotupu Dam - Waiatarua

Location: very convenient to find Parking:off street parking available Pak your car and walk a short trail for 6 mins to the main trial, walk another 30 mins to get to the dam. Picnic area with covered area Toilet facility available, just one to share though. Overall experience: Good

So nice but really long walk

Lovely view, great walk

Great walk, 60 mins round trip from parking lot to the dam

Nice walk. Not too strenuous with the dam and a nice picnic area too look forward to at the end. Noticed that there was very little wildlife in the area except for birds. Attractive waterfalls with some that you can drink the most refreshing water from.

Awesome place to walk and see the beauty view around the dam. Need a bit walk from the car park to get to the dam. But you will love it. Recommend place to walk if you bored with the city life..

The Waitakere Ranges Water Supply System taps into the resources of these ranges in West Auckland and its Huia, Nihotupu and Waitakere streams. A series of five large dams were constructed throughout the 20th century. These created the reservoirs, and associated tramways, piping, tunnels, filter stations, and other structures were also built in order to facilitate access to the water catchment and create a gravitational water supply into Auckland.A good water supply is essential to human existence. Early historical accounts show a marked improvement in health after a piped water supply was introduced to Auckland City from Western Springs in 1877. Financial stringency delayed the water from the Waitakere ranges being supplied to Auckland until 1902 when the first temporary supply was introduced. Severe water shortages and deterioration of the quality of Western Springs water forced Auckland City Council to act. From that time, progressive development of the water resources of the Waitakere Ranges continued to keep up with population growth, not only of Auckland, but also with demands from surrounding districts.Auckland is very fortunate to have two upland catchment areas, the Waitakere Ranges and the Hunua Ranges, where rainfall is higher than at lower levels and much of the water could gravitate to the City without pumping. The Waitakere water supply followed by supplies from the Hunua Ranges and more recently from the Waikato River has undoubtedly contributed enormously to the wealth and prosperity of the Auckland region. The system’s main structures are the dams which are still in use:Waitakere Dam (completed 1910)Upper Nihotupu Dam (completed 1923)Upper Huia Dam (completed 1929)Lower Nihotupu Dam (completed 1948)Lower Huia Dam (completed 1971)Concrete gravity dams characterise the first three, while the latter are earth dams. The Waitakere Dam was among the first large scale concrete dams in New Zealand, and the Lower Nihotupu Dam was the country’s first earth dam.

Great walk. Mostly shaded on the track. Some lovely large mature native trees line the waters edge of the track. The tramline was a highlight of the day to walk. Loved the history. Picnic area at the end of the track with several large BBQ tables. I even spotted a gecko !