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12 October: Karamatura to Mount Donald McLean, Waitakere Ranges Regional Park
This is a challenging but beautiful, well maintained track, with stunning views over the Manukau Harbour, Waitakere Ranges and the Tasman Sea.
We start on the Karamatura Loop Walk and continue onto the Karamatura Track where we will take a short detour to the Karamatura Falls. At the end of the Karamatura Track we turn left onto the Donald McLean Track and continue to the top of Mount Donald McLean, at 389 meters. We will return the same way, with the possibility of a refreshing swim at the waterfall for those keen enough.
Meeting: Upper Symonds St at 9.30 am (See details of Symonds St meeting place under General Information) or at the start of the tramp at 10.15 am.
How to get there: Take the north-western motorway (SH 16) to the Great North Road exit. Follow Great North Road onto Ash Street, continuing on Rata Street and Titirangi Road, through Titirangi Village to the roundabout. Take the first exit onto Huia Road and follow this road through Huia Village and over the narrow bridge. Turn left and follow the road for 800 metres to the Karamatura Valley carpark. If the carpark is full you can park on the other side of the road near the Huia Hall and Museum.
Cost: $5 per person to your driver.
Walking time: 4 - 4.5 hours
Level: Medium. Some steep climbs with many, many stairs. A reasonable level of fitness is required. The vertical climb is almost 400 meters.
What to bring: Lunch, water, raincoat.
Leader: Adrian, Mobile 027 379 2409. Please let Adrian know if you need transport from, or can offer transport from Symonds Street.
9 November 2025: Āwhitu Regional Park, Āwhitu Peninsula
Please note 9.00 am start time at Symonds St meeting place.
This is an easy hike with some spectacular scenery.
The hike
We start at the carpark in Āwhitu Regional Park. There are toilets there. We will take 5 minutes to see Āwhitu House then follow a loop track along the shoreline of the Manukau Harbour (Settler's Valley Walk) before heading inland, uphill, to a lookout tower. On the way out, and way back, where the pathways cross we see the historic Brook Homestead amongst a grove of trees. We return to the carpark, passing a lake and monument, on the Brook Homestead Walk.
Amongst other features of interest are a picturesque jetty, beach, restored wetlands and a huge macrocarpa trunk, said to be amongst the largest in the world. In terms of Māori history, the large waka that now rests in the Auckland Museum comes from this area.
After the walk we will take the cars for a short side-trip (18 minutes by car) to the Manukau Heads Lighthouse using the newly reopened road. There are stunning views of the entrance to the Manukau Harbour entrance from the lighthouse and lookout. (You can see Whatipu, on the other side of the harbour, where the group has previously hiked.) A further short walk from the lighthouse carpark to view carvings depicting the ancestral whakapapa of Ngati Te Ata and Waiohua tribal connections.
The walk is quite easy of about 2 hours although there is a moderate hill climb. Bring your lunch to be eaten either in the park or on the following side trip. Alternatively, some people may choose to have a very late lunch afterwards at Waiuku's fine cafes (although you might not be there before about 2.30pm).
Cost: $8 to your driver as a contribution to fuel.
Meeting point: Upper Symonds St at 9.00 am (See details of Symonds St meeting place under General Information) or at the Āwhitu Regional Park car park at 10.30 am. The Āwhitu Regional Park entrance is on Brook Road, just past the entrance to the golf course. The drive from the city follows the Southern Motorway, goes through Waiuku and up the peninsula. It should take 1 hour 20 minutes or so.
Organisers: Blair Stewart and Roy Wong. Phone: 021 0887 9156. Please let Blair know if you can offer transport or need transport from Symonds Street.
14 December - Adrian - Tracks and Trees of Kauri Point
12 January 2026 - Nick - Rakino Island
8 February - Craig - Fairy Falls
8 March - Richard - Mt William
12 April - Roy - Wairoa - Cosseys Loop
10 May - Murray
14 June - Andrew - Panmure to St Heliers, or Orakei to Glen Innes
12 July - Russell
16 August - Craig - Panmure to St Heliers
13 September - Trevor - Omanawanui
11 October - Blair
8 November -
13 December -
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