11th February 2017 – Random pictures with a walk around Pukekohe Hill and Waitangi Falls around the former Franklin District.
I still need to draw down the excessive annual leave racked up and travel overseas, somewhere, anywhere, for say a month.
Did two hikes over the weekend. One was an explore around Waiorongomai, near Te Aroha and a much refreshing stream hike down Piha Valley Stream.
A possible plan for a stream bash and Hike. North Piha, Waitakare ranges
Weather dependency… Will go if there is a little bit of showers, though if there has been a lot of rain preceding the chosen date, the hike will be cancelled. Not a safe one to do with torrential swollen streams.
The stream section is quite slow going. Expect to be in the stream for about 4-5 hours + Hike along Maungaroa ridge / Anawhata Road (About 2½-3 hours to end of Hetig Track where the stream section starts)
Grapes overhanging a fence at a friend’s place in Papakura…
Possible plan for a further out day hike from Auckland. Walk up Karangahake Hill. Moderate amount of hill climbing… More difficult if going anti Clock wise (Steeper)
Weather Dependency… Ideally, best done on a relatively clear day for the views.
30th January 2017 – Wairoa Cosseys Track (one way involving car shuttle) Redux. Fairly easy walk through some pretty lush bush. Due to the ambient temperature of 27°C, still ended up hitting my heat limit a number of times. Hunua Falls upon our arrival was packed with people looking to cool off in the pool at the base of the falls.
Easier stream bash along Mokoroa Stream (Goldie Bush). Pictures uploaded to Mokoroa Stream Track album.
Beware, the trail head of this reserve now has parking enforcement at the Horseman Road End. Avoid parking on the side with the “No Stopping” / “No Parking” signs. Upon our arrival, we saw a Parking warden going around issuing tickets.
When to explore Moirs Hill Walkway before the Pine Forest surrounding it gets deleted. Including an explore around Pohuehue Falls. Photos posted to NUI.NZ.
Walked to the Moirs Hill Road end, returned back the same way back to Beverley Price Loop Track and returned down the other way to complete the loop. Although several cars were parked there at the Pohuehue Car Park, I did not meet anyone on the trail itself… Most cars had just pulled off to have a rest.
Have to admit, struggled a little with 25°C heat which I found zapped my energy levels (hence, won’t be doing any hiking tomorrow as it has been forecast to be higher than that.).
The Pine Forest behind Pohuehue Scenic Reserve is going to be logged in preparation for expanding the Motorway North, hence the closure of Moirs Hills Walkway.
Total time spent on trail about 4 hours, includes a few bush bashes and side tracks (to explore).
A spontaneous and short ihumatao loop explore this afternoon…
Righteo, here’s our Southland Road Tripping Pictures and other side trips before Stewart Island / Rakiura, in between, and after Humpridge Track.
Photos have been uploaded here for Stewart Island and here for Humpridge Track. Will write up trip reports for them both at some point. For some reason feeling really zonked out… Sleeping for about 12 hours straight. Will also get around to uploading the Road Trip photos (that were taken on side trips outside of the Two main Hikes)
Merry Christmas all, Season’s Greetings! Be sure to take some time out of your busy life to enjoy the magic of the holidays this season with friends and loved ones.
May this holiday season sparkle and shine, may all of your wishes and dreams come true, and may you feel this happiness all for the coming new year.
21st December 2016 – Photos from a nice and easy short little walk around St Heliers with the Auckland Hiking Meetup Group Wednesday walks series. Hosted and led by Ruth Donde whom gave excellent commentary on the history of the area throughout. Walk concluded with an excellent public performance by the Auckland City Brass
Update 4th January 2017 – Happy to announce that the “mega rage face” status can now be retracted. The weather on the trip turned out to be kind enough to open up a few hours after arriving at Okaka hut, rewarding our climb with views including a spectacular sunset on top of Humpridge Track. Thankfully the Computer modeled weather forecasts did not eventuate in their entirety!
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Yargh… Earlier in the week, saw the Tuesday 27th forecast appear around the corner and thought hopefully that it will go away. Looking again today and much to my chagrin, I get presented with this…
It would be perhaps fair to remark “It probably doesn’t get much worse than this”. (if weather conditions got worse, the operator would likely cancel the trip, refund us the monies and we go on our merry way to do something else)
Will pack my blue raincoat (the Swazi one) which seems to have an interesting ability to repel Rainy weather /s (as well as the regular poncho)
Rain itself I don’t mind (being rain falling on me), but simply going down there and climbing up 900m to simply see solid white / grey will likely drive me silently bonkers as it did when I did Waikaremoana and walked up the bluff only to see Stark White.
Yeah, If weather turns out to be shite and all I get is solid gray to see, I fully intend to go back down again at some later date (i.e before Christmas next year) and take up the chopper option up to the top, walk down and and do the River to Lake Jet boat (if they offer that activity combination as an option).
I’ve already forfeited my Farm Stay / Hunting Trip invite (from another circle of good friends) to attend the Humpty walk and it would be extremely disrespectful to fellow group companions to pull out. Here’s hoping that the computer modeled forecasts are wrong.
A little walk around the Tahi Estate, in Pataua North, Northland (about an hours drive from Whangarei), photos posted to nui.nz
A little, very short stroll around GIlls Scenic Reserve in Albany. Pics uploaded to nui.nz
Started from the Lower end of the reserve at GIlls Road entrance and did a figure eight type of loop. There’s a possibility to enter the park at the Carol Lee Place end instead though car park when I walked past seemed to be full, however for some strange reason, I didn’t encounter anyone else in the reserve while I was there.
Apparently there’s some board walk section to this reserve, however, didn’t manage to find it.
Labour Weekend Trip to the Kaimanawas including Mount Urchin to Waipakihi Hut.
Mini Trip report included with Album.
Did a spontaneous walk along Pararaha… Heck I wasn’t actually going to go all the way, (was going to stop at the log jam then head back) but continued on anyway. Weather conditions were showery initially while I was walking down Buck Taylor track, but later cleared up once I embarked on the Pararaha Stream (after the Pararaha Campsite)
Grippy footwear really is a must for this. You will most probably get your feet wet. Dry bags for your more sensitive gear (e.g. Non-Waterproof electronics) is highly advisable.
Log Jam can be a little daunting, particularly the bit where you get through past the logs and then climb up a moderately sloped rock. Thankfully the rock is fairly grippy
While it is technically possible (after the log jam) to continue directly up the stream, there are 3 (or may be 4 Points) where it may be better to scramble up the side of a cliff for those who wish to avoid a full immersion swim. The cliff routes are failry well worn in, it’s just a matter of finding them… If you find that a section of stream is deeper than chest height, then there’s most probably an alternative cliff trail somewhere.
Regarding Still Gully, (According to the map posted to Auckland Hiking Group meetup, it seems they are planning to go up this). In short, It’s easy to miss, which may not be a bad thing because it’s difficult to go up it. There’s a small stream and lots of thick bush and according to the Topo Map, it gets quite steep. Tried for about a 100m then gave up. There doesn’t appear to be much to see there (except dense vegetation). I believe you are better to continue up Pararaha stream till you get to intersection of Odins TImber Trail and then turn left on to it to Odens TImber Trail and head back to the car park from there.
Will shortly upload photos to nui.nz
Short stop at Clevedon Strawberries + Leisurely Sunday afternoon
Feeding time on command. In Cambridge, Waikato.
