Mount Auckland/Atuanui is a 304m high mountain overlooking the Kaipara Harbour about an hours drive north of Auckland city. The track is not a loop, but more an up-n-over, so we took two cars and left mine at the SH16 end and took Roger’s up to the start at the carpark on Kaipara Hills Rd.

Everyone complains the SH16 entrance is hard to find, but no one posts a picture of it, so here it is.

DoC description (of 2km north of the the Glorit-Kaipara Hills Rd turnoff) is pretty accurate. The sign must have been erected since the Google car went through as it doesn’t show on StreetView and makes it reasonable easy to spot now.

The track climbs up past an old airstrip, through some farmland, and into some very nice bush before reaching the summit with its viewing platform. The weather was overcast and showery, so although the views were good they weren’t great and haven’t photographed well. Had lunch sheltering from a shower under a big Puriri tree, and then out and down through farmland to where I’d left my car.

We collected Roger’s car and headed off to the Hallertau brewery to sample all their brews.

After burning out the motor in my electric lawnmower on Friday, I gave up up on my lawns and contacted Robert to arrange a walk in the Waitaks for Saturday.

We walked up the Karamatura stream, had lunch with Old Tom Thumb, and climbed to the top of Goat Hill for some overcast views of Auckland and Cornwallis. Coming back we returned via the Karamatura Waterfall.

On the track up to Goat Hill I found this bullet. I called the police today to find out if I should hand it in to them, but they said that wasn’t a necessity although I could if it made me feel safer.

Had a few beers and some Sages Indian curry with Robert and Tim back at my place.

Today was the first settled sunny day we’ve had in a while, so like Mole, I bolted out of the house, and went tramping in the Waitakere Ranges. From the Falls carpark I followed the Anderson track and Waitakere Tramline up to the Waitakere Dam (an old favourite).

I could hear the tram whistle as I was coming up to the tramline and wasn’t too keen on meeting it in the tunnel, but as it was we (me and another guy doing the walk) passed the tram at the end of the line where there was plenty of room. I think the tram gives plenty of warning, and you’d normally have enough time to find a place where you could get off the track although in some places it might require a bit of backtracking.

There’s definitely no water shortage in Auckland with the dam brim full and the overflow making an impressive waterfall down into the valley below.

I came back via the Cascade and Upper Kauri tracks. It isn’t the most direct route back, but was definitely worthwhile. The birdlife in the Waitaks has had a fantastic recovery. Thanks to the Ark-in-the-Park project I’m told. The bush used to be dead quiet, but today I enjoyed the company of a raucous flock of tui and several kereru. I recorded some of the birdsong on my phone as I was walking along.

Technical: The photos and birdsong recording are from my phone. (My camera battery was flat.)

To upload them I used Bluetooth. This required starting the Linux bluetooth daemon, running bluetooth-properties, making the phone visible, pairing with the phone, setting ‘Receive files in Downloads folder over Bluetooth’. Then I could hold my finger on an item on the phone, choose Share, Bluetooth and then my computer. And with that the item would magically flick across to my computer.

The birdsong was recorded in the AMR format, so I used audacity-freeworld with the ffmpeg-libs to convert it to OGG and MP3. I’ve tried using the new HTML5 audio tag to publish the sound files, but there is also an old href tag above that.

Took Friday off and tramped up to the Pinnacles in the Kauaeranga valley in the Coromandel. The Pinnacles Hut is handy to Auckland being couple of of hours drive away. This was the fifth time I’ve been up there (though one time was just a day trip).

Tramped Tarawaere track which gets a bit rough and isn’t the usual way of getting to the hut, but is much more interesting. Having started late, I ended up tramping in the dark by headlamp for the last part along Billygoat track. It is interesting how the colour gradually fades and the shadows get deeper and deeper, but you hold off using a torch because once you do all that is visible is the spot it points at and that lacks depth (is that a hole or a rock?). At least that is how it is with my torch, maybe I need a better one.

Got to the hut about 7pm to find I was the only one staying there that night. And I had been worried about crowds. Slept in the dining area with the fire going.

Next day I climbed up the Pinnacles themselves. DoC have added new steps and ladders, it’s all a lot easier than the mud and rock handholds, I’m not complaining. Got a nice view of the inside of a cloud there. Was hoping it might clear, but I guess I’ve seen the views before.

Came back down via Webb Creek. So many stairs! But nice in a ferny mossy waterfall way. Then back to the car and drove home to soak tired legs.

More photos.

“The Point England Walk is approximately 11.25kms long (a four hour walk) and is intended for all ages, consisting of easy strolling pathways with surfaces suitable form normal walking shoes.”

Michelle & Brian discovered the Pt England walk. Reconnaissance was required. So Saturday afternoon was an epic exploration of Auckland City’s eastern suburbs, parks, beaches, waterways, wildlife, culture and commerce.

We kind of missed Glover Park on the way in, but followed the route through Churchill Park, explored the Tahuna Torea wildlife reserve with the sand-spit at the mouth of the Tamaki river. Through Wai-o-Taiki nature reserve, and Pt England reserve where Kilikiti was being played. Into G.I. town centre to purchase icecreams, up Apirana reserve to the ridge and St Helier’s Bay Rd. Then back down through St Helier’s and Glendowie, through Glover Park this time where the English style of cricked was being played. Out to the car which we’d parked on Cliff Rd near Ladies’ Bay.

Burkhard’s page
City Council page (the name of the walk has changed to Point-to-Point Walkway)