Te Toiokawharu is the highest point in the Waitakere Ranges (474m according to the map). Today, being Auckland Anniversary Day, I climbed it as part of a tramp around the ridges surrounding Karamatura valley. The walk took about 5 hours, a days walk not an afternoon stroll. The tracks were pretty well maintained. The ground was dry, but looks like it would be very muddy if wet. There is board walk in places, be careful though it can be slippery. The tracks I followed were: Karamatura, Huia Ridge, Twin Peaks (side trip up Goat Hill), Tom Thumb and back down Karamatura again.

Te Toiokawharu and the Twin Peaks (448m and 443m) are covered in bush, so don’t give any views. There are other places on the track where you can look over the valley and the Manukau Harbour though. And Goat Hill off the Tom Thumb Track has great views all the way back to Auckland and Rangitoto.

This clay figure was lying on a step way up on the Huia Ridge Track. Is he saying stop? Is it like the Gondor statues on the Anduin? I left him lying there.

This walk was well worth doing.