Mangere Mountain Education Centre (MMEC)
Mangere Mountain Education Centre (MMEC)
Mangere Mountain Education Centre (MMEC)
4.5
About
Mangere Mountain has stood tall for over 18,000 years. This unique Geopark close to the city takes you a world away. The site of an historic Maori settlement, it offers panoramic views over the city. It also gives an intriguing glimpse into the past. Join a guided walk. Encounter a unique volcanic lava dome, see traditional Maori gardens, learn about medicinal plants, try your hand at crafts.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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4.5
11 reviews
Excellent
8
Very good
2
Average
1
Poor
0
Terrible
0
motiver2018
Singapore, Singapore245 contributions
Jun 2018 • Family
The centre was closed for the Saturday we were there. Nevertheless we went up via a side track passing by a school field watching the activities taking place. The track up is a short 15 mins walk but you are rewarded with a view of the habour area. A great place to visit on the way to Ambury Farm
Written 28 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lee0414
Auckland Central, New Zealand1 contribution
Sep 2017 • Family
My son has ADHD and can be easily distracted and struggles to keep on task. Our guide identified this within the first 5 mins and took my son under her wing for the remainder of the practical gardening session. See made him feel welcomed and managed to channel his energies on point with a light touch and great enthusiasm. She is a great asset to your centre and a credit to the teaching community.
I would highly recommend the centre for both schools and organised tourists trips.
I would highly recommend the centre for both schools and organised tourists trips.
Written 14 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chilux
Auckland, New Zealand8 contributions
Jul 2017 • Family
We visited the MMEC over the school holidays. We enjoyed the different activities set up for the kids to participate in. We joined in a sing along and discovered the history of the first waka that arrived in the area, also were surprised to discovered that many of their descendants, are still living in Mangere bridge. We thoroughly enjoyed our walk up to the volcano, easy enough for school children to take. Big thumbs up and keep up the good work!
Written 16 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Ann C
Auckland Central, New Zealand158 contributions
Jun 2017 • Business
A educational tour, with song, flax crafting and kumara. Making of the traditional poi. good time especially for tourist to know the Maori protocol and culture. Instructors are well versed.
Written 10 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Marieka86
United Kingdom272 contributions
Mar 2017 • Family
After very helpful and encouraging communication with the centre to arrange our visit, the day began full of hope and promise with a brisk walk up and around the mountain. After a brief lunch we continued with our workshops at the centre, but some kind of lethargy/distraction seemed to have taken over. Much of the workshops were the children watching the guides make things (which the children were delighted to be able to take away) unless I asked for further instruction to help the children make things themselves. Unfortunately, the children were all too aware that what they'd been promised by the guide in the morning didn't happen. "I thought we were going to..." "Why didn't we..."
Written 14 April 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi there,
Thank you for your feedback, I am glad that you enjoyed your walk and that our communication with you to set up your visit was a great experience.
I am grateful that you have taken the time to feed back so candidly about the workshop experiences and I apologise that for you, the experience fell short. I have alerted our Head of Visitor Experience and this has triggered a review of our practices to ensure that we can learn fully from your feedback. Our intention is to ensure that all our visitors have a full, interactive and engaged experience - clearly we did not deliver on this occasion for which I apologise.
I sincerely hope that if you visit to NZ in the future that you will return to our site. Very best regards
Simon
CEO Mangere Mountain Education Centre
Written 1 May 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Minnelinjo
Saint Paul, MN1 contribution
Jan 2017 • Family
A satisfying- and fun- experience for the family! Be sure to call ahead to arrange a guided tour- it greatly enriches your visit.
Our extended clan- 4 adults and two children- spent a day at Mangere Mountain as part of a larger group summer holiday program.
We all took away a better understanding of and emotional connection to the depth, breadth and continuing power of Maori life in the Auckland area. The many children in the group were strongly engaged by the activities.
A guided walk led by Ane Karika introduced us to the Mountain, its geologic history, its place in Maori history and culture. Ane helped us to see and feel the presence all
around us of generations of life on the maunga- and to know that those little green hillocks were remnants of Maori garden mounds, that grassy bowl nearby the site of a covered storage pit for harvested kumara, the terraces around the Mountain's crater the ground where the people built their homes.
Later in the day we had a hands-on opportunity to prepare ground in the Center garden and help plant kumara as the people of Mangere did and a chance to craft small poi and a flower-made-from-a-leaf to take home.
Our extended clan- 4 adults and two children- spent a day at Mangere Mountain as part of a larger group summer holiday program.
We all took away a better understanding of and emotional connection to the depth, breadth and continuing power of Maori life in the Auckland area. The many children in the group were strongly engaged by the activities.
A guided walk led by Ane Karika introduced us to the Mountain, its geologic history, its place in Maori history and culture. Ane helped us to see and feel the presence all
around us of generations of life on the maunga- and to know that those little green hillocks were remnants of Maori garden mounds, that grassy bowl nearby the site of a covered storage pit for harvested kumara, the terraces around the Mountain's crater the ground where the people built their homes.
Later in the day we had a hands-on opportunity to prepare ground in the Center garden and help plant kumara as the people of Mangere did and a chance to craft small poi and a flower-made-from-a-leaf to take home.
Written 30 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vmorris123
Auckland Central, New Zealand6 contributions
Jan 2017 • Family
Wow what a fantastic day at the Mangere Mountain Education Centre. My children and I were lucky to join one of their school holiday programmes, a full day of fun and educational activities suitable for all ages.
We thoroughly enjoyed our walk up the mountain. The guides really brought the history to life for the children, and made the walk so meaningful and interesting for everyone.
The hands on workshops, particularly the community garden activities were excellent - fun and engaging for everyone.
We came away feeling like we had enjoyed really full, fun and varied day, and with a much better understanding of the special place that is Mangere Mountain. Thanks to the wonderful Mangere Mountain team for welcoming us to the mountain and providing such an awesome day!
We thoroughly enjoyed our walk up the mountain. The guides really brought the history to life for the children, and made the walk so meaningful and interesting for everyone.
The hands on workshops, particularly the community garden activities were excellent - fun and engaging for everyone.
We came away feeling like we had enjoyed really full, fun and varied day, and with a much better understanding of the special place that is Mangere Mountain. Thanks to the wonderful Mangere Mountain team for welcoming us to the mountain and providing such an awesome day!
Written 23 January 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
TOKOLISI
Auckland Central, New Zealand3 contributions
Nov 2016 • Business
The Mangere Education Centre is friendly, welcoming and informative. The Mangere Mountain walk is wonderful too and great views of Manukau Harbour and 360 views of Auckland.
From the moment I received the first email & pre-plan with the MANGERE MOUNTAIN EDUCATION Facilitators. They were helpful, open minded and friendly. It is important to plan together with the facilitators and know what to expect from each other. The Hikoi(walk) and Background history of Mangere Mountain is fantastic. I know now not to climb up with my Geography Senior students up to the top of the Tholoid is Taboo. Excellent walk for everyone. Enjoyed the traditional Garden demonstration. I would have wanted the students to do a bit of weeding if needed to fill time. Loved that we were able to use the fresh veges for lunch. And lunch was divine Stir Fry Chicken with veges, fresh green salad from the garden, Healthy meat patty burgers was brilliant. This allowed the students to experience and learn healthy ways to prepare food. Thank you to Nestle for supporting this.
Important to have water breaks and a good 30 min interval after the walk and leave a good 1hr for lunch and any questioning.
A must to bring a water bottle, wear good walking shoes. Bring a rugby ball for a game of touch if you have time at the end.It is a great all day event if you plan interactive activities for the students don't get disengaged.
Great to do an evaluation at the very end, if maybe turn WIFI so students can go on their phones and complete it straight away when the trip is fresh in their minds.
Kind regards Very happy MC Social Studies Y10 ESOL class teacher
From the moment I received the first email & pre-plan with the MANGERE MOUNTAIN EDUCATION Facilitators. They were helpful, open minded and friendly. It is important to plan together with the facilitators and know what to expect from each other. The Hikoi(walk) and Background history of Mangere Mountain is fantastic. I know now not to climb up with my Geography Senior students up to the top of the Tholoid is Taboo. Excellent walk for everyone. Enjoyed the traditional Garden demonstration. I would have wanted the students to do a bit of weeding if needed to fill time. Loved that we were able to use the fresh veges for lunch. And lunch was divine Stir Fry Chicken with veges, fresh green salad from the garden, Healthy meat patty burgers was brilliant. This allowed the students to experience and learn healthy ways to prepare food. Thank you to Nestle for supporting this.
Important to have water breaks and a good 30 min interval after the walk and leave a good 1hr for lunch and any questioning.
A must to bring a water bottle, wear good walking shoes. Bring a rugby ball for a game of touch if you have time at the end.It is a great all day event if you plan interactive activities for the students don't get disengaged.
Great to do an evaluation at the very end, if maybe turn WIFI so students can go on their phones and complete it straight away when the trip is fresh in their minds.
Kind regards Very happy MC Social Studies Y10 ESOL class teacher
Written 5 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
David P
1 contribution
Nov 2016 • Business
The Mangere Mountain experience is truly a once in a life time opportunity to feel and see the best Auckland has to offer on both a cultural hands on experience and a mountain trekking experience. The host were very accommodating and the knowledge shared was very insightful. The full day experience was everything we were expecting and more.
Written 27 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Faye W
Auckland Central, New Zealand2 contributions
Oct 2016 • Friends
The mountains is stunning and the views are breathtaking. Our trip was topped off by the contact with the people who run the centre, who were so warm and welcoming, and the guide who was charming. It is still natural and unaffected by glossy tourist enterprise which is lovely.
Written 23 November 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingMANGERE MOUNTAIN EDUCATION CENTRE (MMEC): All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Mangere Mountain Education Centre (MMEC)
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