Trip Reports,  February -  March 2013

Waiheke Island  -  10 February

Waiheke Island on a summer day - what a delightful place!  John found some bush tracks we had never walked before and led us all the way to Rocky Bay (Whakanewha Bay).  We saw the dotterel breeding area (and kept well away from it) and a beautiful modern sculpture symbolising guardianship of the New Zealand dotterel.

Away from the beach we found a grassy spot for lunch and some of us chose to detour and explore the wonderful Headland Sculpture on the Gulf outdoor exhibition.   The others returned to Oneroa, making time to have an ice cream and cool down after a hot days walking,  before the leisurely return ferry trip to Auckland.  
Thank you to John for a great day. 

Dotterel sculpture near Whakanewha Bay

Northern rata, one of the five varieties in the Waitakeres

Wowed by the twin kauri

Waitawheta Stream Walk
10 March

Travelling down beyond the Karangahake Gorge, we began our walk up the Waitawheta Stream.  We started out across farmland and were soon on the old kauri logging railway track. Relics of the early logging days were still visible and many excellent information boards along the track brought the history of the area to life.  

We found we were  sharing the track with mountain bikers and quite a few tourists -   always great to see lots of others out enjoying the bush.  After a long, leisurely lunchtime at the end of the track sitting on the remnants of concrete pillars that had held up an old bridge,  we were ready to move off again. 

Another "mighty host" for orchids

Waitakere Dam to Auckland City Walk
24 February

We started the day by walking down from Scenic Drive to the Waitakere Dam, with a unique opportunity to see the many species of native trees planted along the way -  we counted over twenty species!
 
Stopping only to admire the view from the dam, the 'A' group went on up the Fenceline Track, where we were lucky enough to see and hear many tui and hear the heavy flapping of kereru wings.  We also saw a pair of North Island robins, before coming down from Simla to the main car park below.  Along the way we spotted many small native broom plants and maire (Mida salicifolia) right beside the track.

Meanwhile, the 'B' group walked along the Tramline Track where they saw a huge native broom  and lacebark, before returning to Scenic Drive and the bus.  Driving to the end of Falls Road, they completed the beautiful Auckland City Walk as well.
A lovely day, thanks to leader  Praemi.

At the start of the bush walk

The 'A' walkers then braved crossing the Waitawheta Stream to climb higher on a  more challenging, but very worthwhile, loop track.  Our reward for taking the rougher route back was to see the largest kauri in the Karangahake/ Waitawheta area, a magnificent specimen.

The final stream crossing for the day was welcome and refreshingly cool on hot, tired feet.  Some of us thought we were getting pretty accomplished at the business of getting from one side of a stream to the other after doing three in one day (without slipping over that is!).

Once again, thanks to John for a great day tramping.

Tawharanui Regional Park
24 March

Lookout at Tokatu Point, Tawharanui

A stunning day for our trip to Tawharanui Regional Park, New Zealand's first integrated open sanctuary, where a 2.5km predator proof fence maintains the pest-free habitat for the native birds that are now thriving here.   Our walk took us along the beach and over farmland watched by curious sheep and cattle,  climbing gradually towards the peninsula ridge and the trig at the top. There were spectacular views in all directions out over the Hauraki Gulf to Kawau Island, to Little Barrier Island and the top of the Coromandel Peninsula. 

Our return route passed through the most beautiful area of rejuvenating native bush alive with birdsong, particularly bellbirds, and we were able to see several of these normally shy birds at close quarters.  Not showing their faces were any of the ninety saddleback that were released into the park last year, or the kiwi! 

A wonderful day - thank you Derek for leading this walk (and we had time for a stop at Matakana on the way home where the adventurous amongst us tried organic licorice ice cream!)

Planting days are held at Tawharanui on a regular basis - to help see www.tossi.org.nz   (Tawharanui Open Sanctuary Society Inc)

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