The Pukekohe East Explosion Crater is one of the best-preserved volcanic features in the South Auckland volcanic field — a basalt maar crater approximately one kilometre in diameter, formed about 680,000 years ago through a phreatomagmatic eruption. It sits on private farmland in Pukekohe East, and the historic Presbyterian church built on its rim in 1863 marks the site from the road.
Quick Facts
| Type | Basalt maar (explosion crater) |
|---|---|
| Age | ~680,000 years old |
| Diameter | Approximately 1 kilometre |
| Location | Pukekohe East, Franklin district |
| Land status | Privately owned — no public access to crater floor |
| Volcanic field | South Auckland Volcanic Field (Franklin Volcanic Field) |
| Notable feature | Pukekohe East Presbyterian Church (1863) on the crater rim |
About the Crater
The Pukekohe East Explosion Crater is a maar — a type of volcanic crater formed when rising magma encounters groundwater, causing a violent steam explosion that blasts out a wide, shallow depression rather than building a cone. The Pukekohe East maar is regarded as one of the finest examples of this formation type in New Zealand, and one of the best preserved features of the wider South Auckland volcanic field.
The South Auckland (or Franklin) Volcanic Field covers an area of extinct monogenetic volcanoes around Pukekohe and the Franklin district, extending into north-western Waikato. Unlike the more famous Auckland volcanic field to the north, the South Auckland field is substantially older, with eruptions dating back hundreds of thousands of years.
The crater floor lies on privately owned farmland and there is no public access. The most visible way to appreciate the feature is from the road near the Pukekohe East Church — the church, built in 1863, sits directly on the crater rim and gives a sense of the scale of the depression below. The crater is best understood from aerial or topographic maps, which clearly show its circular form in the landscape.
What Visitors Say
“An extraordinary piece of geology hiding in plain sight in South Auckland. The church on the rim is a helpful marker — once you know what you’re looking at, the scale of the crater is remarkable.”
Where to Learn More
Wikipedia — Pukekohe East Explosion Crater — geological details on the maar, its formation and its significance within the South Auckland volcanic field.
Wikipedia — South Auckland Volcanic Field — overview of the wider Franklin volcanic field, including all known volcanic features in the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I visit the Pukekohe East Explosion Crater?
The crater floor is on private farmland and is not publicly accessible. The Pukekohe East Church, located on the crater rim, provides the best roadside view of the feature.
How was the crater formed?
Through a phreatomagmatic eruption — magma rising through the earth encountered groundwater, causing a violent steam explosion that blasted out a wide maar crater rather than building a volcanic cone.
How old is the crater?
Approximately 680,000 years old.
What is the South Auckland Volcanic Field?
An area of extinct monogenetic volcanoes around Pukekohe and the Franklin district, distinct from (and much older than) the active Auckland volcanic field to the north.
More Historical Sites in Pukekohe
The crater is closely associated with the Pukekohe East Church on its rim. For more on the area’s geological and cultural heritage, see Historical and Cultural Sites in Pukekohe.
