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Accessibility: EASY
WHAT'S HERE?
Hampton Park with scoria cone inside remaining part of explosion crater backed by tuff ring. 2009
The only surviving volcano of four in East Tamaki.
Historic church made from local basalt lava flow.
Historic church made from local basalt lava flow.
LEARN ABOUT IT
Hampton Park with scoria cone inside remaining part of explosion crater backed by tuff ring. 2009
Hampton Park is one of four volcanoes that erupted in a line (probably along a fault) in East Tamaki. The other three have been destroyed by quarrying and industrial subdivision.
Hampton Park erupted initially with wet explosive blasts that created a wide explosion crater surrounded (particularly in the south and east) by a tuff (layered ash) ring. The style of eruption switched to 'dry' with fire fountaining producing a small welded scoria cone in the centre of the explosion crater. Much of this small cone still remains but it has been extensively modified by quarrying years ago. Lava burst forth from around the base of the cone, partly filling the explosion crater and overtopping the tuff ring to the west and flowing off in two rivers. Later a lava flow from adjacent Otara Hill flowed over the tuff ring in the north and around the base of Hampton Park scoria cone.
Basalt lava from the crater was used to construct the small St Johns Church on the tuff ring in 1862. The walls were made of random basalt blocks but rendering and pointing was added to give the impression of ashlar construction in sandstone.
Hampton Park erupted initially with wet explosive blasts that created a wide explosion crater surrounded (particularly in the south and east) by a tuff (layered ash) ring. The style of eruption switched to 'dry' with fire fountaining producing a small welded scoria cone in the centre of the explosion crater. Much of this small cone still remains but it has been extensively modified by quarrying years ago. Lava burst forth from around the base of the cone, partly filling the explosion crater and overtopping the tuff ring to the west and flowing off in two rivers. Later a lava flow from adjacent Otara Hill flowed over the tuff ring in the north and around the base of Hampton Park scoria cone.
Basalt lava from the crater was used to construct the small St Johns Church on the tuff ring in 1862. The walls were made of random basalt blocks but rendering and pointing was added to give the impression of ashlar construction in sandstone.
HAVE A LOOK!
View from church down into explosion crater with scoria cone.
Visit the scoria cone - can you distinguish what was natural and what is old quarrying scars?
Can you make out the remaining arc of the tuff ring?
Can you make out the remaining arc of the tuff ring?
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Directions/Advisory
Park on the side of East Tamaki Rd or up in the carpark for small St Johns Church at 334, East Tamaki Rd.
Use gates where possible and close them after you. Keep clear of any stock in the paddock.
Google Directions
Accessibility:
EASY
Walk around the outside of the church and admire the stonework.
Walk through the grassy paddock and examine the crater and remains of small scoria cone in Hampton Park.
Features
Volcanic
Landform
Geological Age
Late Pleistocene, erupted about 20-30,000 years ago.
Zealandia Evolution Sequence
Pākihi Supergoup: 5 million years ago – present
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