Māngere Mountain Education Centre sits on the lava dome of Māngere Mountain, a volcano at 100 Coronation Road in Māngere, Auckland, looking over the Manukau Harbour. It is run by local tangata whenua, and it offers learning about the mountain's geology, Māori lifeways and heritage, with guided walks past the remains of a fortified pā and the villages, gardens and storage pits of the first people who settled here. The traditional gardens grow kūmara, taro and hue, and visitors can talk to the people tending them.
The centre runs workshops, educational programmes and community connections, and a visitor centre is on site. A cottage linked to Taawhiao, who lived in Māngere, has been moved to the grounds and is being restored. Our pick in Māngere for a guided walk with a local host.