Tucked away in the rural area of Clevedon, sits the Camp Sladdin walk, otherwise known as Clevedon Scenic Reserve.
The short walk up Camp Sladdin may not seem all that interesting at first, but this epic walk is becoming increasingly popular with many locals including me.
It is a bit of a climb to the top with the walk consisting of stairs most of the way up. However, this is one of the main reasons I love it. If you like a bit of a challenge and being rewarded with amazing views then this is one for you.
Where is Camp Sladdin and how to get there?
Camp Sladdin is located in Clevedon Scenic Reserve in South East Auckland. This is a fairly up and coming area, so it is beginning to increase in popularity.
The Camp Sladdin walk is one of the two popular walks in this area along with Duder Regional Park, a farm style walk about 10 minutes away.
Being a bit of a drive from central Auckland at 45 minutes, Camp Sladdin does take a bit of effort to get too. However, once you are in Clevedon, getting to the start of the walk is easy.
The best way to get to Camp Sladdin is to go through Ardmore and up Papakura-Clevedon Road and right up to the main street of Clevedon. Continue through to the round about and go straight. About 100 metres on you left you will see Thorps Quarry Road. The car park is located at the end of this road.
From the car park, follow the driveway past the camp and across the bridge where you will find the start of the Camp Sladdin Walk.
The walk up Camp Sladdin
The Camp Sladdin walk is a loop track, starting and finishing at the carpark in Clevedon Scenic Reserve.
The walk takes about an hour return, including some time to take photos and enjoying the beautiful views at the top.
This walk is hard but not too long so it is generally doable for everyone as long as you give yourself enough time. This is one of the top walks for giving you that sense of achievement once you reach the top.
Tracks are well maintained and as long as there has not been a lot of recent rain, hiking shoes are not needed. General walking shoes will be suitable as footwear.
Being a loop track you can choose either way to begin your walk. Most people will walk up the main Camp Sladdin track and come back down the other way, or return along the main track again.
Please always spray your footwear to prevent Kauri Die Back.
The main Track
The main track up to the summit of Camp Sladdin is the most popular track to take on the way up. It is well known for having over 1000 stairs mixed in with uphill tracks leading through the Clevedon Scenic Reserve to the top.
The track is 1.1 kilometres long from bottom to top but it is a very steep climb. If you are used to doing quite a bit of walking then it should take anywhere between 20 to 30 minutes to get up.
If you think you will need to stop for lots of breaks on the stairs then allow yourself a bit more time so you can still enjoy the walk and not hate every single one of those steps.
The native bush through here is so peaceful, with no main roads too close you can only hear the local birdlife.
If you do get the chance to go on a weekday when there will be less people around, it can feel like you are in your own little world.
The track does flatten out a bit near the top eventually leading you to a large lookout platform.
The Camp SLaddin Lookout
From the top there are views over the Clevedon Scenic Reserve as far as the eye can see. Looking south you will see the Hunua Ranges, to the west on a clear day you can even see the Sky Tower.
The walk can be tough, so resting at the lookout and catching your breath back before you head back down is ideal. There is a table and some bench seats to sit on up here as well.
On a clear day, you can see out to Kawakawa Bay and Tawhitokino Beach.
Check out the information signs and find a bit more out about the area. And don’t forget to snap that photo so you can show people the epic walk called Camp Sladdin you did on the weekend.
The Secondary Track
The secondary track is a little bit longer than the main one at 1.2 kilometres. Most people will use this track to come back down from the lookout using the full loop.
This track has a lot less stairs than the main track and tends to loop around a bit more hence why it is a bit longer.
Not being the main route of the Camp Sladdin walk, this track is often a lot quieter than the main one and is the track to take if you would prefer to see less people on your walk.
This track in this part of the Clevedon Scenic Reserve is just as beautiful and pristine as the main track. The difference is it doesn’t have the stairs which many locals like to use for fitness.
Facilities at Camp Sladdin
Camp Sladdin has all the essential facilities at the start of the track. There are plenty of car parks and a small toilet just before the beginning of the walk.
Being located right by all the shops, it is easy to quickly grab some water and food before you park up to do the walk. You could also go the the local strawberry farm for a real fruit ice cream.
There are no bins or toilets along the walk so please use the facilities provided before you begin, and take all your rubbish with you.
Wrap up: Camp Sladdin Walk
So, now you know all you need to know about the Camp Sladdin Walk in Clevedon Scenic Reserve and why it is a must do walk.
There aren’t many other spots in Auckland where such a short walk can get you such amazing views. It is a bit of a hard climb, but there is no doubt, that once you make it to the top it will all be worth it.
Make sure to keep Camp Sladdin in mind when planning your next walking adventure.
