Walks from Devonport

Our 2003 explorations

For further information, what it's all about, minimal explanations, more walks, etc., go to the main Walks page.

Auckland North Shore Leroy's Bush Little Shoal Bay to main path 2003 January 1 Northcote and Birkenhead harbourside booklet, Le Roy's Bush leaflet N42:258646 Across a cricket ground. ( An alternative is to go to the bowling club up the road a little to the right. )
Bridge to Wilding Avenue, and back. ( Louisa Wadham walk ) 2003 January 1 as above Flat, by ( not very ) wetlands, with a hill up to the road.
Bridge to Seaview Avenue, and back. 2003 January 1 as above Short. Up through some biggish trees.
Bridge to Onewa Road ( Side trips follow ) 2003 January 1 as above A good walk. Much variety. Wetlands, stream, waterfall. Surprisingly quiet.
Path to Fairfax Avenue, and back. 2003 January 1 as above Less well used, more rugged. Some informal side paths. Steep in places.
Path to Valley Road, back along alternate route. 2003 January 1 as above Up all right; back along narrower path much better.
Path to south-west from rather below the big waterfall, and back. 2003 January 1 Informal, but very good. Climbs steeply diagonally away from the stream, eventually reaches a plateau which seems quite high and comes out behind a building. We investigated no further.
Path to Hinemoa Street, and back. 2003 January 1 Northcote and Birkenhead harbourside booklet, Le Roy's Bush leaflet Pleasant walk. The "notable tree" on the North Shore City leaflet is a Puriri arch across the path.
Path to Glade Place and back. 2003 January 1 as above Crosses the wetland; otherwise short, non-exciting.
Experiment : sewer line ? Barely marked path going into wetlands just before the first right turn as you leave the bridge going west. 2003 January 1 Goes to a manhole cover, then there's a very overgrown sort of causeway out into the wetlands. A sort of track is visible. I didn't go right across, but the path went on further.
Waitakere Huia Karamatura loop walk Car park to Karamatura track, long way 2003 January 18 Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #17; Hema Waitakere Ranges map; Waitakere Walks ( new ) HWR:492653 Easy, up and down. Views of Huia Bay and Karamatura valley.
Karamatura track Karamatura loop walk to Donald McLean track 2003 January 18 as above; #71 Hard work; a very steep bit in the middle climbing out of the valley.
A side track to the waterfall looks interesting, but I didn't explore it much.
Donald McLean track Karamatura track to Fletcher track 2003 January 18 as above; #72 Quite easy, mostly roughly metalled. Not very hilly.
Fletcher track Donald McLean track to Karamatura loop walk ( and back to car park ) 2003 January 18 as above; #74 More hard work; mostly steep, one way or the other. Lots of up and down. VERY steep down at the end, and apparently clay; beware if wet.
Some good - though fleeting - views of Manukau Heads; a short side track to a lookout just before the final descent gives a good view of Huia Bay.
Waitakere Kauri Park Auckland City Walk Car park to Cascade Track, clockwise ( from above ) 2003 January 28 Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #16; Hema Waitakere Ranges map HWR:457784 Up and down.
Cascade track Auckland City Walk to Fenceline track 2003 January 28 as above Up. Steep in places; many flights of steps.
Fenceline track Cascade track to Robinson Ridge track 2003 January 28 as above Good walking. Some steep bits, mainly towards the end. There's a view somewhere in the middle.
Bits of the fence, including barbed wire, are still there on the left. Beware !
Robinson Ridge track 2003 January 28 as above Steadily down to the stream, very rooty but quite easy when dry. Some pretty ground vegetation - moss, lichen, fern etc. - in places.
Muddier and somewhat less easy after the stream.
Cascade track Robinson Ridge track 2003 January 28 as above; #20 Down and up; muddy, particularly near the stream.
Upper Kauri track Cascade track to Auckland City Walk 2003 January 28 as above; #14 Good track; steeply downhill.
Auckland City Walk to car park 2003 January 28 as above; #16 Easy, by the river. Then there's the nasty climb up to the car park ....
Waitakere Henderson Swanson pipeline track Tram Valley Road to junction where path branches from track ( about 491778 ), and back. 2003 April 12 Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #24; Hema Waitakere Ranges map HWR:495792 A bit slippery, rather steep in parts; otherwise no trouble.
Short walk. Estimated time on Waitakere map grossly overestimated. They say 1 hour 15 minutes one way; we did both ways plus detours in 1 hour 30 minutes.
Along track to waterworks; round pond, up steps, turn left along road to Christian Road entrance. 2003 April 12 Exploration Easy.
The middle bit is informal; top of steps is bottom end of East Tunnel Mouth track. Lavatory.
Swanson pipeline track Christian Road to 491778 2003 April 12 Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #24; Hema Waitakere Ranges map Path. Easy.
Side track to right after crossing stream, unmarked but opposite a track signpost : up and down. 2003 April 12 Hema Waitakere Ranges map HWR:492781 Apparently once a vehicle track, obviously well used, easy gradient. Goes up to cleared land near Christian Road.
Nothing spectacular, but pleasant bush.
Waitakere Huia Huia Dam Road Huia Road to Christie's Track, and back 2003 May 3 Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #63; Hema Waitakere Ranges map HWR:498660 Easy; essentially a road. Short walk. Some steepish climbs.
Big Kauri track, and back 2003 May 3 Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #25 NOT SIGNPOSTED from Huia Dam Road. ( - but now it might be; I told the ARC and they replied that they'd do something about it. )
Reasonably well marked track; steep and muddy. It's a big tree, but thickly surrounded by bush on a steepish slope.
Waitakere Henderson Opanuku pipeline track Christian Road carpark to Mountain Road, and back. 2003 May 10 Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #26; Hema Waitakere Ranges map; Waitakere Walks ( new ) HWR:492777 A bit slippery, rather steep in parts; otherwise no trouble. It was raining.
Pretty scenery. Trees, of course.
Very short walk. Time on Waitakere map overestimated. They say 40 minutes one way; we did both ways plus exploration in less than an hour.
Parking possible at Mountain Road end.
Short walk from Opanuku campsite 2003 May 10 Exploration HWR:497771 Going about 50m east of the campsite along the road, there's a track to the left. That leads to a couple of small clearings by the stream, and then onwards by the stream quite some distance to a pleasant glade. Pretty.
North Whangaparaoa Fairhaven walk 2003 May 17 Rodney Walkways N38:245860 From the end of Wade River Road; not obviously maintained, but passable as far as a concrete landing stage ( ? ). Return by mud is possible; there's quite a lot of muddy rock, but we went only about half of the way and returned to the path for the rest.
Sub-exciting. Mostly scramble; view of boats on the river.
( Very short walk )
Waitakere Henderson Filter track Christian Road carpark to Scenic Drive, and back. 2003 June 14 Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #33; Hema Waitakere Ranges map HWR:492777 Sealed track through filter station; path laves track to left just after the seal ends.
Various grades of steep up a ridge; steps to begin with. Flattish at the top, muddier. Unusually good views from the ridge part.
Short walk. No parking possible at Scenic Drive end.
North Mahurangi West Regional Park Cudlip Point loop track Car park ( Otarawao Bay ) to Cudlip Point 2003 June 21 ARC Northern Parks N34:237015 Easy. A bit muddy, but not too bad.
The end of the spur to the point is fenced off. One understands why, but it spoils the point.
A quite short walk.
Cudlip Point to Park Track 2003 June 21 as above Muddier.
Park Track to central car park 2003 June 21 as above
Central car park to Bay car park 2003 June 21 as above Through the field. Not muddy; large convoluted pohutukawa tree.
Auckland North Shore Onepoto Domain Carpark to Sylvan Avenue exit 2003 November 1 Memory : a failure. We'd intended to go to the Exmouth Road exit.
Road Sylvan Avenue to Bailey Reserve on Exmouth Road ( entry to Tuff Crater ) 2003 November 1 Necessity Road.
Tuff Crater Reserve Round, clockwise ( from above ), about half way, to a steep muddy track to the left. 2003 November 1 Pathfinder Auckland Street directory, 1994. ( Not very useful, but does show some path. ) A bit muddy. Some evidence that the council is putting in boardwalks.
Tuff Crater Reserve Up the muddy track to View Road. 2003 November 1 as above Gives a better view of the crater.
Tuff Crater Reserve Along the top of the hill towards the motorway, coming slowly down to the water level. 2003 November 1 Exploration No marked path, but through a somewhat landscaped parkish area. Good view of the crater from above.
Passes the end of another path, presumably from Akoranga Drive.
Tuff Crater Reserve Back along the real path to Bailey Reserve. 2003 November 1 Interestingly different view.
Road Across Exmouth Road back into Onepoto Domain. 2003 November 1
Onepoto Domain Back to the car park. 2003 November 1

Alan Creak,
2004 March.

Auckland	North Shore	Leroy's Bush	Little Shoal Bay to main path	2003	January	1	Northcote and Birkenhead harbourside booklet, Le Roy's Bush leaflet	N42:258646	Across a cricket ground. ( An alternative is to go to the bowling club up the road a little to the right. )
			Bridge to Wilding Avenue, and back. ( Louisa Wadham walk )	2003	January	1	as above		Flat, by ( not very ) wetlands, with a hill up to the road.
			Bridge to Seaview Avenue, and back.	2003	January	1	as above		Short. Up through some biggish trees.
			Bridge to Onewa Road ( Side trips follow )	2003	January	1	as above		A good walk. Much variety. Wetlands, stream, waterfall. Surprisingly quiet.
			Path to Fairfax Avenue, and back.	2003	January	1	as above		Less well used, more rugged. Some informal side paths. Steep in places.
			Path to Valley Road, back along alternate route.	2003	January	1	as above		Up all right; back along narrower path much better.
			Path to south-west from rather below the big waterfall, and back.	2003	January	1			Informal, but very good. Climbs steeply diagonally away from the stream, eventually reaches a plateau which seems quite high and comes out behind a building. We investigated no further.
			Path to Hinemoa Street, and back.	2003	January	1	Northcote and Birkenhead harbourside booklet, Le Roy's Bush leaflet		Pleasant walk. The "notable tree" on the North Shore City leaflet is a Puriri arch across the path.
			Path to Glade Place and back.	2003	January	1	as above		Crosses the wetland; otherwise short, non-exciting.
			Experiment : sewer line ? Barely marked path going into wetlands just before the first right turn as you leave the bridge going west.	2003	January	1			Goes to a manhole cover, then there's a very overgrown sort of causeway out into the wetlands. A sort of track is visible. I didn't go right across, but the path went on further.
Waitakere	Huia	Karamatura loop walk	Car park to Karamatura track, long way	2003	January	18	Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #17; Hema Waitakere Ranges map; Waitakere Walks ( new )	HWR:492653	Easy, up and down. Views of Huia Bay and Karamatura valley.
		Karamatura track	Karamatura loop walk to Donald McLean track	2003	January	18	as above; #71		Hard work; a very steep bit in the middle climbing out of the valley. A side track to the waterfall looks interesting, but I didn't explore it much.
		Donald McLean track	Karamatura track to Fletcher track	2003	January	18	as above; #72		Quite easy, mostly roughly metalled. Not very hilly.
		Fletcher track	Donald McLean track to Karamatura loop walk ( and back to car park )	2003	January	18	as above; #74		More hard work; mostly steep, one way or the other. Lots of up and down. VERY steep down at the end, and apparently clay; beware if wet. Some good - though fleeting - views of Manukau Heads; a short side track to a lookout just before the final descent gives a good view of Huia Bay.
Waitakere	Kauri Park	Auckland City Walk	Car park to Cascade Track, clockwise ( from above )	2003	January	28	Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #16; Hema Waitakere Ranges map	HWR:457784	Up and down.
		Cascade track	Auckland City Walk to Fenceline track	2003	January	28	as above		Up. Steep in places; many flights of steps.
		Fenceline track	Cascade track to Robinson Ridge track	2003	January	28	as above		Good walking. Some steep bits, mainly towards the end. There's a view somewhere in the middle. Bits of the fence, including barbed wire, are still there on the left. Beware !
		Robinson Ridge track		2003	January	28	as above		Steadily down to the stream, very rooty but quite easy when dry. Some pretty ground vegetation - moss, lichen, fern etc. - in places. Muddier and somewhat less easy after the stream.
		Cascade track	Robinson Ridge track	2003	January	28	as above; #20		Down and up; muddy, particularly near the stream.
		Upper Kauri track	Cascade track to Auckland City Walk	2003	January	28	as above; #14		Good track; steeply downhill.
		Auckland City Walk	to car park	2003	January	28	as above; #16		Easy, by the river. Then there's the nasty climb up to the car park ....
Waitakere	Henderson	Swanson pipeline track	Tram Valley Road to junction where path branches from track ( about 491778 ), and back.	2003	April	12	Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #24; Hema Waitakere Ranges map	HWR:495792	A bit slippery, rather steep in parts; otherwise no trouble. Short walk. Estimated time on Waitakere map grossly overestimated. They say 1 hour 15 minutes one way; we did both ways plus detours in 1 hour 30 minutes.
			Along track to waterworks; round pond, up steps, turn left along road to Christian Road entrance.	2003	April	12	Exploration		Easy. The middle bit is informal; top of steps is bottom end of East Tunnel Mouth track. Lavatory.
		Swanson pipeline track	Christian Road to 491778	2003	April	12	Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #24; Hema Waitakere Ranges map		Path. Easy.
			Side track to right after crossing stream, unmarked but opposite a track signpost : up and down.	2003	April	12	Hema Waitakere Ranges map	HWR:492781	Apparently once a vehicle track, obviously well used, easy gradient. Goes up to cleared land near Christian Road. Nothing spectacular, but pleasant bush.
Waitakere	Huia	Huia Dam Road	Huia Road to Christie's Track, and back	2003	May	3	Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #63; Hema Waitakere Ranges map	HWR:498660	Easy; essentially a road. Short walk. Some steepish climbs.
			Big Kauri track, and back	2003	May	3	Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #25		NOT SIGNPOSTED from Huia Dam Road. ( - but now it might be; I told the ARC and they replied that they'd do something about it. ) Reasonably well marked track; steep and muddy. It's a big tree, but thickly surrounded by bush on a steepish slope.
Waitakere	Henderson	Opanuku pipeline track	Christian Road carpark to Mountain Road, and back.	2003	May	10	Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #26; Hema Waitakere Ranges map; Waitakere Walks ( new )	HWR:492777	A bit slippery, rather steep in parts; otherwise no trouble. It was raining. Pretty scenery. Trees, of course. Very short walk. Time on Waitakere map overestimated. They say 40 minutes one way; we did both ways plus exploration in less than an hour. Parking possible at Mountain Road end.
			Short walk from Opanuku campsite	2003	May	10	Exploration	HWR:497771	Going about 50m east of the campsite along the road, there's a track to the left. That leads to a couple of small clearings by the stream, and then onwards by the stream quite some distance to a pleasant glade. Pretty.
North	Whangaparaoa	Fairhaven walk		2003	May	17	Rodney Walkways	N38:245860	From the end of Wade River Road; not obviously maintained, but passable as far as a concrete landing stage ( ? ). Return by mud is possible; there's quite a lot of muddy rock, but we went only about half of the way and returned to the path for the rest. Sub-exciting. Mostly scramble; view of boats on the river. ( Very short walk )
Waitakere	Henderson	Filter track	Christian Road carpark to Scenic Drive, and back.	2003	June	14	Waitakere map ( 2002 ) #33; Hema Waitakere Ranges map	HWR:492777	Sealed track through filter station; path laves track to left just after the seal ends. Various grades of steep up a ridge; steps to begin with. Flattish at the top, muddier. Unusually good views from the ridge part. Short walk. No parking possible at Scenic Drive end.
North	Mahurangi West Regional Park	Cudlip Point loop track	Car park ( Otarawao Bay ) to Cudlip Point	2003	June	21	ARC Northern Parks	N34:237015	Easy. A bit muddy, but not too bad. The end of the spur to the point is fenced off. One understands why, but it spoils the point. A quite short walk.
			Cudlip Point to Park Track	2003	June	21	as above		Muddier.
			Park Track to central car park	2003	June	21	as above
			Central car park to Bay car park	2003	June	21	as above		Through the field. Not muddy; large convoluted pohutukawa tree.
Auckland	North Shore	Onepoto Domain	Carpark to Sylvan Avenue exit	2003	November	1	Memory : a failure. We'd intended to go to the Exmouth Road exit.
		Road	Sylvan Avenue to Bailey Reserve on Exmouth Road ( entry to Tuff Crater )	2003	November	1	Necessity		Road.
		Tuff Crater Reserve	Round, clockwise ( from above ), about half way, to a steep muddy track to the left.	2003	November	1	Pathfinder Auckland Street directory, 1994. ( Not very useful, but does show some path. )		A bit muddy. Some evidence that the council is putting in boardwalks.
		Tuff Crater Reserve	Up the muddy track to View Road.	2003	November	1	as above		Gives a better view of the crater.
		Tuff Crater Reserve	Along the top of the hill towards the motorway, coming slowly down to the water level.	2003	November	1	Exploration		No marked path, but through a somewhat landscaped parkish area. Good view of the crater from above. Passes the end of another path, presumably from Akoranga Drive.
		Tuff Crater Reserve	Back along the real path to Bailey Reserve.	2003	November	1			Interestingly different view.
		Road	Across Exmouth Road back into Onepoto Domain.	2003	November	1
		Onepoto Domain	Back to the car park.	2003	November	1