WalkNZ » Auckland

Auckland to Totara Park

WalkNZ — Mon, 24 May 2010 02:25:36 +0000

I was planning to be in Northland again by now to continue my Te Araroa travels from where I left off in November, but not there yet. So I have become a weekend Te Araroa walker that at least lets me walk Te Araroa from home in Auckland south via day walks. Quite a few of those within a short drive from home, so today was the first of those

Sunday 17th January 2010 – 42 km – 8 hours

From home in Epsom through the gem of Cornwall Park, then down to the Manukau Harbour following it around through Ambury Farm Park, and along the Coastal Walk to the Otuataua Stonefields – the home of one of the cutest wee volcanic cones in the Auckland area. Then a road hop around past the airport and off towards Manukau City, but with a deviation through the Puhinui Reserve – and a not so pleasant wade through the Puhinui Stream.

Then onto Manukau City, finding the Puhinui Stream from time to time, and using it to get under the southern motorway and onto its most enjoyable forest section – the Puhinui Stream Track. Which delivered me to Totara Park and my pickup for the day

Picture – the path goes ever on – here on the edge of the Otuataua Stonefields

Looking back

WalkNZ — Sun, 23 May 2010 02:24:26 +0000

South from Auckland

While I was waiting to get back up to Northland to complete the leg to Auckland, I started on the closer sections of the Te Araroa route south from Auckland. This is in a new blog – Tony on Te Araroa 2 – so click on that link to track my progress further south.

So far from Cape Reinga to home in Auckland I have covered 639 km in 21 days’ walking, with an average day being 30.4 km, 7.3 hours and 4.2 kph. A lot of variation within that – the slowest days including serious tramping tracks

Mangawhai to Matakana

WalkNZ — Sat, 15 May 2010 02:11:04 +0000

Wednesday 10th March

Te Arai beach – Pakiri – up and over Mt Tamahunga – roads to Matakana – 31.4 km – 7.6 hours

Onto the top end of Te Arai beach, then down the beach, with Te Arai Point to climb over part way along. Then on for another couple of hours to Pakiri – with racing horses training their silky riders on the beach for something a little different. An easy wade through the Pakiri river near the mouth, and then via a dusty road to the start of the real hill section for the day.

This climbed steeply up through dry paddocks to a ridge top with views to the north and then up and down, and then up again to the top of Mt Tamahunga, now with views out east to Omaha and Kawau Island. Down the other side, onto a road, that soon became the busy road from Leigh to Matakana.

Now able to stay at home in Auckland, so a chance to catch up with my blog .. and the rest .. while I finish off the last of the north Auckland section in the next few days