Cape Horn Auckland

Happy Chappy

After few weeks of doing those longer and 'tedious' walks, it might be a good idea to do a shorter track on this Sunday. After all less is more and more is less. 

Beginning of  Waikowhai Bay coastal route

Slippery surface

Cape Horn is located in the Manukau Harbour. The circuit is about 5 km and the tracks are good. However watch out for those slippery wet rocks if you intend to use the beach route at low tide. A good pair of shoes is recommended as the beach is also full of mussel shelves.

Hey It was just the beginning!

This route was just perfect for the bunch of weekend trampers, in terms of its difficulty, if any, distance and accessibility. The weather was excellent and timing was just right as our arrival coincided with the low tide in the morning. Therefore the decision to walk the beach was a no brainer, and thus unknowingly avoiding the 268 steps climb!

Looking for Pacific Oysters ?

 Look out  for Fossils on your right.

Novice trampers are always novice trampers, walk for the sake of walking and not taking any notice of flora and fauna along the way. Ignorant I guess. There were 2 million year fossils on the cliff that we don't even have a clue. But then, as KC mentioned, you need a geologist to recognise this. None in the group, anyway, and we just moved along happily.  It's a blessing, sometime, when you don't know what you are missing.

Log View

You should have noticed that our city tramper has improved leaps and bounds. First outing it was an umbrella. Second outing it was a walking post. This time he has doubled his faithful companions. So city folk no more. Hurray! 

Time to refresh reading skill

Hurry man, we were late for lunch.

This time map reading was near perfection. Not that we have improved but it was a much simple circuit. But an imaginary track on the Auckland Council map fooled us all, leading us up to nowhere. So we decided to seek assistance from a local regular tramper. That was when we were told about those fossils on the cliff by this kind helper!

One the way back, negotiating the 268 steps needed full concentration of the tire body and mind. But definitely easier than going the opposite way.

Teenagers: "Keep moving senior, we are watching."
KC : "Don't you worry, keep sleeping."

Marine Markers

This Sunday's walk was definitely different to have two teenagers joining us. Without the load,  with springlike joints and no burden of excessive accumulation of unwanted body fat, they finished  way ahead of those weekend trampers. Any suggestions to finish ahead next time ? Simple, I guess. No backpack, stay young, more chicken feet, and finally have an hour head start! If all else fail, stay positive. Haven't you all heard of hare and tortoise race ?

Cement Plant

Fern Shoot

Mangere

Waikowhai Bay

Puketutu Island

Okura Bush Walk

Okura River

Another September Sunday, another bush walk. This time we thought we were having a party, with 5 new recruits. However 2 pulled out in the early morning and a ' non-regular' went along the same path, after having a late late Saturday night out (till 5am!).

Bridge over Okura

At the entrance to the suspension bridge, there is a cleaning station  for boot cleaning in order to prevent the spread of Kauri Dieback Disease.

Happily going down the steps 

Not long after crossing the bridge, there were several flights of steps waiting to test your climbing ability. The next best thing , after going up those steps, was the downhill descend where less energy was required.

After crossing 2 bridges and passing a little cascade waterfall, it was time to get upward again. The is an odd shape huge kauri next to the step. I decided to head down the shell spit  for some photos.

Shell Spit

Puriri Arch

Then climbing back up, passed the Puriri archway to the top and following the fence line,Karepiro Bay is just a distance away. From here it was a 50+ steps downward to the beach and the Cottage. It was lucky we were going down those steps. There is a shallow 2 m wide stream to cross before getting to the Cottage. Our city trampers took a good 20 min trying out all sorts of way - building bridge, laying plank, deciding on the narrowest crossing etc, to get across without getting wet or taking out their boots. I don't know how they did it but they managed.

Karepiro Bay

Dacre Cottage

Dacre Cottage was built in 1863 by Henry Dacre and was restored in 1984 as an historic building. It was party time (lunch time) at the Cottage garden. 

Dacre Point

Mudstone Rock

The 50+ steps up would have frightened some of us. Fortunately this time low tide was on our side. We took the coastal route back to the sand and shell spit. From here we headed back to the trail. 

Puddle  Rock

The way back from here was not too hard mostly. However going up those flight of steps really taking tolls on the tired legs and body. We managed to get back to the car park in few pieces, ie after removing the boots, jackets, backpack, camera etc.

Time to rest

So we have completed another 3 hours 30 min 11 km circuit and it was time for lunch at Northcote Food Court for the Char Kueh Teow. 

Having a conference ?

Nikau Fern

Kingfisher near Dacre Cottage

Horse Riding