Macleans Flying Fox

An 80 metre dual flying fox is the reason to come to Macleans Park in Eastern Beach, Auckland: two riders race each other side by side down a grassy hill, with the Hauraki Gulf and Rangitoto spread out in front.¹ This is less a playground than a single big thrill ride in a bush clearing, and Auckland Council itself pitches it at older children.¹

Equipment

The twin cables run down a long worn strip in a glade between two stands of native bush. Because the hill is steep, the design includes a speed-reduction system at the bottom end, and the ground was shaped and surfaced so the fall height stays within a metre.² Google reviewers call it long, fast and great fun. Swings sit near the flying fox,³ but there is no toddler area, so this suits confident school-age kids best and under-fives mostly watch.

History and Cultural

Ngāi Tai ki Tāmaki lived along this coast, and the 36 hectare park is named after the Maclean family farm of the 1850s. Sir William Goodfellow gave the land to Auckland City Council in 1973.³ The flying fox has had downtime before: in 2018 worn cables kept it shut for three months or more until new ones were fitted.⁴

Practical Info

Park on Macleans Road, where a path leads across the open lawn to the run, with bench seats beside it. Expect mud after rain: the council has renewed paths and culverts in this part of the park for drainage problems,⁵ and reviewers advise gumboots. For toilets, head down to the free barbecue area at the southern end of Eastern Beach; a metalled path from there climbs through regenerating native bush to the flying fox, which makes a good loop walk. Pushchairs can manage it, though the uphill from the beach is a slog.³ Richard Park, about 400 metres away, is the nearest other play space.