From Matakana township up the valley and then up the hill soon joining the track through the Waiwhiu valley and up again to the Dome summit, then down to the Dome tearooms on SH1 just north of Warkworth – 21.6 km – 5.5 hours

One day the Matakana dogleg of busy roads will be replaced by the Western Tamahunga track. But not yet, so up the valley road from the township to the hills, and then winding up and up to a minor road turnoff. Along that road with views out to the north as far as the Mangawhai Cliffs and Whangarei Heads which I now know a lot better than a week ago.

Then to the start of the tramping track that goes first along a forest road, then wends its way down a ridge line into the Waiwhiu Valley. The track winds its way on the hill side of the stream for a while, then does a quick dive across the stream at a place of large boulders, and then out into the open on a forestry road. A side road then goes up the other side of the valley, before the tramping track resumes near the top. That then follows the ridge line around to the Dome summit (with views out to Omaha / Kawau), and then heads down to the end of the track on the side of SH1

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

From near Waipu Cove to south of Mangawhai township, near the top end of Te Arai Beach – 33 km – 7.5 hours

From the main road near Waipu Cove, the day started with a walk up a road into the Brynderwyn Hills. The road became a shingle vehicle track winding up through the pines – then near the top there was a car coming down – from one of several houses in the trees right at the top.

Then a fairly straightforward following of the orange marker posts and my GPS and map along the tops – as promised there were a number of side tracks to watch out for.

Then down through some good patches of regenerating kauri to cross the main Waipu to Mangawhai road, next up (and down and up) again through some very parched farmland to reach the Mangawhai Cliffs walkway. I followed that high up the cliffs for a way with some spectacular views (picture), down to the beach, and then to the town of Mangawhai Heads.

A super estuary to walk around, and then up to the main road for a walk around to Mangawhai (Point) township, and then on via a dusty back road to the start of the forest road that will tomorrow take me onto Te Arai Beach

Author –  Tony