Trip Reports April - May 2013

Kingfisher on Norfolk pine

At the entrance to Eaves Reserve

 Orewa: Estuary Walkway 
 and Eaves Reserve
14 April

Thirty one of us set off along the Orewa estuary walk, which was only completed last year, and found it easy walking on a paved cycle track most of the way.  The seven kilometres were easy to do in a short time and the beautifully carved seats along the walkway were appreciated by anyone with weary feet.

We then went on to the Alice Eaves Reserve and saw a number of good specimens of native trees -  kauri, pohutukawa and kahikatea among the most common, with a large area of nikau palms as well.  One splendid kauri was 800 years old! 
We found some kohekohe too, with their curling, shiny leaflets (paler underneath) arranged opposite each other along the petiole.

Detail from carved bench along walkway

Curly-edged kohekohe leaves

Two very different types of walks that day and both were satisfying for different reasons.
Thank you to trip leader, Margaret.

Whatipu Coast
28 April

It was a day of great walks, magnificent views and reflecting on the history of this interesting area on the northern coast of the Manukau Harbour.   Four walks were planned, all very different and all very enjoyable.    A short climb up the Mt Donald McLean Walk took us to viewing platforms looking out over the Waitakeres in one direction and to the Manukau Harbour and Tasman Sea in the opposite direction.  On a clear day you can see Mt Taranaki (unfortunately it was too hazy for this).The Kura Track was next and was easy walking - unlike the Omanawanui Track which climbs steadily from the Whatipu carpark and was a bit of a challenge.

 We turned off to walk to the signal house site overlooking the harbour entrance and Paratutai Island with the remnants of its historic wharf.   Quite a spectacular spot to eat lunch and watch the waves breaking on the Manukau Bar.  We remembered that this was the scene of New Zealand's worst maritime disaster 150 years ago - 189 lives were lost  when the HMS Orpheus was wrecked here. 

Lastly, back down at sea level again, we walked on around the headland and through  wetlands to a series of massive caves, one of which was used in days gone by to hold dance parties!

Thank you John and Molly for planning this great day.

At the beginning of Mt Donald McLean walk

Paratutai Island

What a view - and we're only half-way up!

A huge macrocarpa thriving in the crater.

Juvenile white-faced heron.

Auckland's Volcanoes:  Mt. Wellington
12 May

A beautiful autumn morning saw ten of us walking up a steep track to the trig on Mt. Wellington.  The view of the city and Rangitoto that we saw from here was unfamiliar to some of us. 

From there the site of the old Winstone quarry was visible too: this was to have been used as a rubbish dump,  but for the intervention of one of the city fathers, who realised had dumping  occurred there contaminants would have leached through the porous scoria and  ended up in the Hauraki Gulf.  It is now the site of an up-market housing  area!

Mt Auckland is by far the largest volcanic cone in Auckland.  Derek told us how a large area of the mountain had been quarried for scoria in the past, but planting has now left little of the scar exposed.  We spent time spotting local landmarks, then descended from the trig and a few of us took the extra climb down into the crater to take a closer look at the scoria boulders there.

We then headed down the road to the Panmure Basin, where we followed the "Fitness Trail" around the basin, passing the site of a former midden.  There were gulls, oyster-catchers, white-faced herons, shags, kingfishers, stilts and Paradise ducks to be seen along the way. 

The highlight for us, however, was watching a young heron foraging for food in the long grass and, finding an earthworm, swallowing it with a snaking, sideways movement of its long neck!

After lunch by the miniature railway, we completed the walk around the basin, returned to Mt. Wellington and walked through the Winifred Huggins woodland, following a tree trail.

Thank you, Derek, for your insights into so many aspects of Mt. Wellington.

North Shore
26 May

We had a great day out with leader Des, starting at Narrow Neck Beach  and heading for North Head.  Like so many vantage points in  Auckland, North Head is an extinct volcano.  There were a series of  eruptions here over 50,000 years ago  and it is one of the oldest cones on the Auckland isthmus . 

We had time to check out the North Battery  which was built to defend the Rangitoto Channel, at the height of the
Russian scares in the 1880s. These defences were extended during both world wars. Three 8 inch (200mm) disappearing guns were mounted in concrete  pits and  one of these can still be seen today.  We passed
through many tunnels and our torches came into good use.

We then followed the rocky coastline and stopped  at Devonport where we walked around the Naval Museum.  After lunch we returned to the cars, again around the coastline. 
 
Thank you, Des, for sharing your vast knowledge of local history and natural history!

Leader having a well-earned rest!