Tramp Schedule 2025

10 August - PUKEKIWIRIKI (RED HILLS PAPAKURA) WALK 

We start at the reserve on Settlement Road  opposite Crestview Rise. Not very promising as just at least initially a scruffy track running behind a subdivision of 80's group homes. It's not well marked but continuing on the same line behind a playground the track soon turns to bush and Piwakawaka are soon flitting around. Near the entrance of the Chrisarda Place Reserve there is an impressive Puriri festooned with epiphytic plants and the bush becomes even thicker with more varied bird song. A few minutes further on the track forks near a small but perfectly formed waterfall. Either fork takes us to the end of this reserve which seamlessly turns in to Margans Bush at the end of Brooke Road. We exit Margans Bush on to Gibbs Crescent, turning left giving the Red Hills Scenic Reserve a miss as it is closed and in disrepair. The next attraction is Pukekiwiriki Pa. This is situated on the northern most of the south Auckland volcanic field volcanoes. Pukekiwiriki means 'The Hill of the Little Kiwi' but is  the site of some particularly bloody battles. A list of prohibitions includes dogs, food, alcohol, fires, smoking. The site is longish with a well marked trench, kumara pits and 360 degree views to die for across to the city, east coast, a quarry and I even spotted Glenbrook. Below I could see an octagonal building and some exotic Alpaca. Having left the Pa site the same way we came in we head left on to Settlement Road navigating a short section that is one lane and no footpath. As we have ascended from 80's group homes and then more aspirational middle class housing we are now in lifestyle blocks with a few grazing sheep not to mention the alpacas seen earlier. The road dips and rises to another high point before descending again. Several access tracks go through a Totara forest - The Children’s Forest - each one planted for a new birth in the old Papakura City. At the bottom the tracks rejoin the initial track and we turn right to get back to the carpark.

It's not a difficult walk or long about two hours maximum but quite hilly, generally well formed tracks or footpaths. Suggest packed lunch at the end or cafe in Red Hills Papakura if any one has a good suggestion. Good footwear and a walking stick will not go amiss and as always rain gear in case the weather plays up.

Meeting: Upper Symonds St at 9.30 am (See details of Symonds St meeting place under  General Information) or at the Settlement Road car park opposite Crestview Rise 10.15 am. 

Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/yGJQWDMrmonTDK7k9

Cost: $5 to your driver for petrol expenses

Time: 2 hours

Level: Easy

Leader: Nick Seaman 09 845 6994 or nick.seaman@xtra.co.nz. Nick will be at the Symonds Street pickup. Please let him know if you need a ride or can offer a ride from Symonds Street. Please note that Nick does not have a mobile phone.

14 September 2025: Oteha Stream, Albany

This walk follows the Oteha Stream and some urban roads back through the Massey University Albany campus to make a pleasant and 5 km loop.

Due to recent rain the terrain may be a bit slippery so please bring appropriate footwear.

There will be a coffee stop somewhere in the vicinity of Kell Park. In the afternoon there will be the option of continuing on out to Long Bay for the cliff top walk to Pohutukawa Bay. Pohutukawa Bay is a clothing optional beach where you can swim.

Meeting: Upper Symonds St at 9.30 am (See details of Symonds St meeting place under General Information) or at 9.50 am at Bush Road, Albany (350 meters south of Albany Express Way turn off).

Please let the organiser know if you can offer transport or need transport from Symonds Street.

Albany has a well connected bus hub.

Cost: $5 to your driver as a contribution to petrol.

Level: Easy with some ups and downs. May be muddy.

Organiser: David Yang. Email: cwdyang888@gmail.com. Phone: 0210366688. Please let David know if you can offer transport or need transport from Symonds Street.

11 October: Planning Meeting

There will be a planning meeting at Nick's home, 16 Benfield Ave, Mt Albert at 7.30 pm. We will plan our tramps for the next 12 months. All welcome. If you are not able to attend please feel free to email tramp suggestions to auckland.gtg@gmail.com.

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.