September-October 2024

TRIP REPORTS: September - October 2024

20 October 2024 - Cascade Kauri Track

The weather was perfect as 41 of us started our walk on 20th October.
The Cascade Kauri loop track has recently reopened after a six year restoration effort.
It is home to Ark in the Park, a major conservation project, a collaboration between Forest & Bird and Auckland Council, supported by local mana whenua Te Kawerau a Maki.

We started our walk with a reminder of the devastation that kauri dieback can cause when we visited the rakau rangatira (chiefly tree), a 1,000 year old kauri killed by kauri dieback, as we completed the short walk along the Upper Te Piringa track.

The B group then headed to the reservoir via the Waitakere dam walk for an early lunch, completing the walk on good gravel paths ending with a long boardwalk descent and many steps through a magnificent stand of regenerating kauri.
Length of walk 8.5 km.

The A group walked to the Waitakere Reservoir along the Lower Te Piringa track,
which included a steep climb of over 500 steps, past the cascades, keeping an eye
out for the stitchbird and the northern robin. These species have been reintroduced
to the area as part of the Ark in the Park programme.

We lunched at the reservoir and completed the loop walk to the bus, enjoying the regenerating bush and the largest remaining stand of mature kauri trees in the Auckland region, now protected from the dreaded pathogen of kauri dieback by
new boardwalks. Total walk approximately 10.8km

We all thoroughly enjoyed being back in the Waitakeres!

Special thanks to our leaders: Liz and Sue, and their helpers Babeth and Philippe
Text: Liz Photos: Liz and Linda

6 October 2024 - Pahurehure Inlet Circuit and the Oakley Creek Walkway

Our programme was planned for the Hunua Ranges on this date but unfortunately the track was closed for repairs. Luckily the team were able to come up with 2 interesting walks, although not in the bush.

The Conifer Grove development of the late 1960’s on the Pahurehure Inlet of the Manukau Harbour has a coastal track that was probably developed at a similar time as the subdivision.

Kingfisher

The walk started at the Brylee Reserve and we crossed over the park to a wooden walkway or bridge which took us passed the very healthy looking mangroves with very fat trunks - it must be a good food source for them in the Manukau Harbour.

There were lovely views across to Karaka, Lee Island and Pararekau Island. We saw plenty of bird life on the recce but the tide was further out on our walk and we saw very few birds. It was an incoming tide on our recce.

Huge rocks have been placed on the foreshore, probably to keep erosion at bay and plenty of lichen have grown on the rocks. Lichen is a symbiosis of algae and fungi.

The path was flat and easily walkable with just a small stairway half way round, where the path stopped and we had a short walk through a couple of streets before going down to the coastal walkway again. The track ended at the walking/cycling path alongside the motorway. We walked a little way down this pathway until we got to our morning tea stop. Then it was back to the bus for our next walk.

The Oakley Creek pathway was a substantial development for all those involved. The creek starts in Hillsborough and flows through Mt Roskill, Owairaka, Waterview and out to the Waitemata Harbour but the walking path starts in Mt Roskill at the War Memorial Park.

Not very far along the path we came to the beautiful Hinaki Eel Bridge, a walking bridge over the stream and the bridge replicates an eel fishing net. A gorgeous bridge. The planting and the stone formations along the stream are also very well done. The pathway incorporates three other parks, Walmsley Park, Underwood Park and Hendon Park so there was plenty of green space around.

On top of Mt Roskill

The Hendon footbridge over the south western motorway is another great bridge – beautifully designed. After crossing this bridge we turned south and walked alongside the motorway until we reached Mt Roskill. Again, there was lovely planting between the path and the motorway. We knew a short cut to the top and the 360 degrees views were fabulous. Mt Roskill is not a very tall mountain so not a big climb.

A great day!!
Thanks to Barbara and John, Anne and Eva.
Text: Anne Photos: Barbara and Linda

22 September 2024 - Point View Reserve, Buddhist Temple, Totara Park & Botanical Gardens

After a wet week, the weather turned out beautifully for the 39 of us on this walk, even though it was a bit damp underfoot at times.

We began at Pt View Reserve, the site of a former Māori pa. The Māori name for this area is Puke Ariki, meaning hill of the gods. 40,000 acres of land was purchased by William Fairburn in 1836 and part of that land is included in this reserve. In 1975 the then Manukau Council purchased 29 acres. We enjoyed spectacular views over the city and a lesson on trig stations! A little further on we we passed the East Tamaki reservoir, which was opened in 1995 and has a capacity of 49,200 cubic metres.

From there we followed the Kereru and Piwakawaka tracks to Gracechurch Reserve, where the local chickens put on a show for us!

Sitting in the sun having morning tea at Sir Barry Curtis Park among the sculptures and a flowering kowhai tree was very pleasant.

A short walk along the road took us to the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple where we received a warm welcome followed by a 45-minute tour of the temple. A common comment afterwards referred to the warmth and friendliness of the guide and the tranquility of the temple and grounds. Several spoke of their intention to visit the temple again.

A short ride in the bus took us to the Redoubt Road entrance to Totara Park. When Manukau Council purchased the land in 1966 it was a condition of the sale that the homestead and bush remain in public ownership. The park covers 216 hectares and offers walking and cycling tracks, a swimming pool and tennis courts.

Then it was onto the Bridle Path which led to the Puhinui Stream Trail. The stream runs into the Manukau harbour but it was modified by motorway construction and became very polluted. The part of the steam we saw is now much improved after the planting of 14,000 trees over two years. The forest areas are said to have 155 species of native plants.

Once we joined the trail we descended into a very pretty area of bush before joining Friends Track and then went into the Botanical Gardens. Joining the Puhinui Stream again, there was clear evidence of flooding and erosion and Sharleen was able to explain to us the considerable efforts being made to save a damaged rimu tree.

Today’s walk was another example of the many fine parks and reserves across the city and illustrates the foresight of past civic leaders.

Special thanks to our leaders for a great day - Gilbert & Jenny, and their helpers Dawn & Philippa
Text: Jenny Photos: Barbara, Julie, Praemi and Linda

8 September 2024 - Takapuna to Devonport

Patuone Walkway

Sunday dawned fine and sunny, after a wild night. Lucky again!

32 walkers set off on the reasonably new Patuone Walkway across the mangrove-filled inlet behind Barry’s Pt Road.

Not many of the group had been on this boardwalk, which led us into Takapuna.

We by-passed the popular Sunday Market in Takapuna and walked through Hurstmere Green to access Takapuna Beach at the impressive playground and newly re-vamped toilet block.

A pleasant stroll along the beach, enjoying the sights and sounds, brought us to our morning tea spot at the southern end. From here we walked up Clifton Rd, appreciating the grand homes along this street of distinction.

Takapuna Grammar School

Next point of interest was the Wilson Home, Chapel & School complex, where we learned a bit of the history of this special place. It is a 13 acre clifftop property that was gifted by the Wilson family in 1935 to be used as a treatment centre for children with disabilities. As this was about the time of the Polio Epidemic in NZ, there was no shortage of patients for the first couple of decades. Nowadays, this Trust has changed it’s focus and concentrates on providing support to families, respite care, daycare and therapy for their young patients, as well as education in their purpose-built school.

We then turned our attention to the magnificent heritage protected building at Takapuna Grammar School, where $26 million was spent on renovations and earthquake proofing in 2016 - 2020, making it one of the most expensive school improvements in NZ history.

Our route then took us to Northboro Reserve and the waterfront pathway, past more mangrove-filled estuaries, over a bridge, past the historic O’Neill’s Point Cemetery, through Bayswater Park, and up through suburban streets to the rambling William Sanders Retirement Village, built on what used to be an area of navy housing.

Below the village we walked along Polly’s Path, or Mary Barrett Glade, a track through the bush alongside an inlet that was created from an overgrown jungle full of years’ worth of rubbish. It is a wonderful legacy to the untiring efforts of Mabel “Polly” Pollock, who spent 2 decades cleaning up and replanting in this area, in memory of her daughter Mary.

Little Pied Shag

As we walked along Seabreeze Rd, adjacent to the Waitemata Golf Club, we were treated to a view of a royal spoonbill on the other side of the creek. There were also many ducks, ducklings & shags in the creek. This brought us to Narrow Neck Beach, where we had a lunch break with a view.

After lunch, a small group opted to take the bus to the Naval Museum and Cafe at Torpedo Bay.

The main group continued on to Cheltenham Beach, and across to the little-known Cambria Reserve, which used to be a Works Depot for the area, and where the Devonport Museum is sited.

From there it wasn’t far down Church St to King Edward Parade, where the 2 groups met up again.

A short stroll along the breezy foreshore brought us to the Devonport Wharf, where there was just time for an ice cream before our bus turned up at 3pm to return us to our home bases, after our 12km walk.

Spoonbill

An enjoyable day of beaches, boardwalks, mangroves, harbour & gulf views, city centre, historic buildings, golf course, reserves, heritage areas and a bit of bush.
It was a delight to hear lots of birdsong and notice touches of spring in the fresh foliage on the trees and colourful flowers.

Many thanks to Shona and Sandra for putting this interesting walk together.
Also, special thanks to Barbara for assisting on the day.

Text: Sandra Photos: Barbara and Linda