THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Kaimanawa Forest Park, Turangi Parking: Urchin track access road end Toilets: No Dogs: With DOC permit, contact Turangi DOC Date Walked: 2nd & 3rd January 2022 Weather Conditions: Cloudy, warm Distance: Approx. 8km return Time Required: Around 3 hours including stopping at the top of the trig Final…
Mt. Urchin to Waipakihi River, Kaimanawa Forest Park, Turangi
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Kaimanawa Forest Park, Turangi Parking: Urchin track access road end Toilets: No Dogs: With DOC permit, contact Turangi DOC Date Walked: 2nd & 3rd January 2022 Weather Conditions: Cloudy, warm Distance: Approx. 8km each way Time Required: 3hrs 15 per way Final Rating: ★★★★★ GETTING THERE Details from DOC…
Aratiatia Rapids, Taupo
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: 630 Aratiatia Rd, Rotokawa 3377 Parking: Yes, carpark Toilets: Yes Dogs: Yes, although the sign doesnt say dogs allowed or not allowed. Keep your dogs on their leash and there shouldnt be a problem. Shoes: Any shoes would be fine, although the first viewing platform is quite rocky and…
Craters of the Moon, Taupo
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: 171 Karapiti Rd, Taupo 3377 Parking: Yes, carpark Toilets: Yes, just inside the building Dogs: No Shoes: Any shoes, walk is a mix of boardwalk and well kept gravel paths Date Walked: 25.08.2018 Weather Conditions: Sunny, clear blue skies, crisp Time Required: The ladies at the desk recommend to…
Waitawa Regional Park, Kawakawa Bay, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: 2585, 1168 Clevedon-Kawakawa Rd, Kawakawa Bay, Auckland 2585 Parking: Yes, lots of carparks have a look at the below park map Toilets: Yes, dotted around the park Dogs: Yes, on lead Shoes: Sneakers Date Walked: 25.02.2018 Weather Conditions: Very hot & sunny Distance: we only did 3km of the…
Bike Ride: Waitawa Regional Park, Kawakawa Bay, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: 2585, 1168 Clevedon-Kawakawa Rd, Kawakawa Bay, Auckland 2585 Parking: Yes, there is a parking area designated to Mountain Bikers, however the tracks are also accessible from other spots around the park. Toilets: Yes, there are toilets dotted around the park Dogs: Yes, dogs are allowed on the park at…
Bike Ride: Totara Park, Manukau Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Redoubt Rd, The Gardens, Auckland 2016 Parking: Loads of parking in the carpark. Toilets: No Dogs: Yes, dogs are allowed in the park however wouldn’t recommend for the mountain bike trail as it is rather narrow. Date: 05.02.18 Weather Conditions: Nice blue sky but cooler, as we were there…
Bike Ride: Runway Mountain Bike Park, Auckland Airport
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: End of Ansett Place, Auckland Airport Parking: Yes, off of Ansett Place there is a gravel carpark Toilets: No Dogs: No Date: 06.02.18 Weather Conditions: Hot, Sunny Distance: I did 2.28km however didn’t complete all of the track options. I did the ‘Takeoff, First Class, Banyard Boogie and…
Bike Ride / Walk: Ambury Regional Park, Mangere Bridge, Auckland
Although I biked this track, this would also be a nice easy walking track. THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: End of Ambury Rd, Mangere Bridge, Auckland 2022 Parking: Lots of parking at the end of Ambury road or there are multiple other carparks along the track accessible from other roads. Toilets: Yes, at the…
Bike Ride: Waiuku Forest, Wilson Road Entrance, Otaua
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: End of Wilson Rd S, Otaua 2682. Please note that this entrance is sealed apart from a very short gravel road. The other entrance is not sealed at all. Parking: Yes, heaps of parking at the end of the road Toilets: No Dogs: Yes Date: 29.01.2018 Weather Conditions:…
Bike Ride: Totara Park, Manukau, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Redoubt Rd, The Gardens, Auckland 2016 Parking: Loads of parking in the carpark. Toilets: No Dogs: Yes, dogs are allowed in the park however wouldn’t recommend for the mountain bike trail as it is rather narrow. Date: 27.01.2018 Weather Conditions: Very hot – around 30 degrees most of the…
Bike Ride: Harker Reserve, Onewhero, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: I have covered off most information on getting to Harker Reserve in my original walk blog, you can read about it here. Date: 24.01.2018 Weather Conditions: Very hot! Distance: 4.72km from carpark to waterfall & back. Time Required: It took my brother and I 43 minutes there and back…
First Bike Ride: Waiuku Forest – Southern Entrance, Otaua
For our first bike ride, we headed into the Waiuku Forest Southern entrance (the entrance off Ghezzie road). Note that this entrance is not a sealed road, and the gravel track can be quite bumpy. We found a spot to park up and offload the bikes, and headed through the gate onto the track. We…
Te Ara O Whangamaire, Patumahoe
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Clive Howe Bush Reserve, Patumahoe Parking: Lots of parking at the rugby fields, then its just a short walk down to the first turn of Clive Howe Road. There is a sign that I have below you need to look out for. Toilets: Not at the Dogs: Yes,…
Rooseville Park, Pukekohe, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Multiple entrances: End of Totara Avenue ; End of Roose Avenue ; Middle of Ngahere Road Parking: Yes – End of Totara Avenue & end of Roose Avenue there is a cul-de-sac that you can park on; Middle of Ngahere Road there is a gravel patch on the…
Trying Something New – Mountain Biking!
When my brother, his girlfriend and I were at the Waiuku Forest, we began thinking how fun it would be and how much distance you could cover on a bike. As we were walking we could see some tracks off the main gravel road through the forest, and we got pretty excited at the idea….
Waiuku Forest, Otaua
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: We went up the sealed entrance off End of Wilson Rd S, Otaua 2682 – however there is also an entrance off of Ghezzie Road that is an unsealed road. Parking: Plenty of parking at the end of the road. As the forest is also used for horse riding,…
Manukau Heads Lighthouse
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Manukau Heads, end of Lighthouse Road. See map below Parking: Parking at the bottom of the track, however can get quite busy. Note that the gate is open from 9am to 5pm Toilets: Yes (long-drop) Dogs: No Shoes: Normal sneakers / any shoe you’re comfortable in Date Walked:…
Historic Walkway to Waikino, Karangahake Gorge
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Karangahake Gorge Parking: Lots of parking at the beginning of the walk Toilets: There are toilets right by the car park, as well as a picnic area Dogs: Dogs on leash only Shoes: Normal walking shoes are ok, we decided to go up to the waterfall and this…
Rail Tunnel Loop + Windows Walk, Karangahake Gorge
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Karangahake Gorge Parking: Lots of parking at the beginning of the walk Toilets: There are toilets right by the car park, as well as a picnic area Dogs: Dogs on leash only Shoes: Normal walking shoes are ok, we decided to go up to the waterfall and this…
Alexandra Redoubt, Tuakau
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: End of Alexandra Redoubt Road, Tuakau Parking: At the end of the road Toilets: No Dogs: Yes, I took my dog and just kept her on her lead but there were other people there with their dogs off the lead running around. Shoes: I had my normal walking…
Mt. Ruapehu Scenic Chairlift Ride, Tongariro National Park
Although I would not class this as a walk, I would say if you’re in the area this is a must do during the summer months. Always make sure you check the website before you head off, as the chairlifts may be closed due to bad weather. To get to these chair lifts, you will…
Product Review: Scarpa Terra GTX Womens
I didn’t want to post this review too soon, as I wanted it to be as accurate as possible. I don’t believe you can get a good enough gauge of how a pair of shoes are going to be within the first wear. I have included my experiences from multiple walks below, as even walking…
Tongariro Alpine Crossing, Tongariro National Park
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Tongariro National Park, central North Island Parking: Yes, however I would recommend getting there early to get as close to the start as possible. There are also shuttle buses you can book to avoid having to take your car. Note, that both car parks are down gravel roads…
Clevedon Scenic Reserve, Camp Sladdin, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: End of Thorps Quarry Road, Clevedon, Auckland, 2582 Parking: Yes, plenty of parking Toilets: Yes, at the car park Dogs: Yes Shoes: I wore my hiking boots, however most of the walkers I passed were wearing sneakers. Date Walked: 29 January 2017 Weather Conditions: Hot, sunny, dry Distance:…
Tawhai Falls Walk, Tongariro National Park
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: 6 km along SH 48, off of SH 47, Tongariro National Park Parking: Yes, off road and road side parking Toilets: No Dogs: No Shoes: Sneakers Date Walked: 4 January 2017 Weather Conditions: Dry, Sunny, Warm Distance: 800 meters Time Required: 10 – 15 minutes Final Rating: ★★★★★ GETTING…
Upper Mangatawhiri Reservoir, Ernies Track, Hunua, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Moumoukai Road onto ARA Drive, Hunua Regional Park, Hunua *This walk is down a very rough, long gravel road* Parking: Yes Toilets: Yes Dogs: Yes on leash, however I would not recommend for this track Shoes: Hiking boots are a must on this track. There are a few very…
Upper Nihotupu Dam Walk, Waiatarua, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: 1.6km from the start of Piha Road, Waiatarua, Auckland. Parking: Yes, there is a nice big car park Toilets: Yes, one toilet just after the bush section of the walk Dogs: Yes, on leash Shoes: Sneakers would be fine, I wore my hiking boots as we had been doing…
Kitekite Falls, Piha, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Kitekite Falls, Piha, Auckland Parking: Yes, there is plenty of parking Toilets: Yes, at the car park Dogs: Yes FfShoes: Hiking boots or sneakers. Some parts of the track are quite rough, so I was glad I had my boots on! Date Walked: 28 January 2017 Weather Conditions:…
Lion Rock, Piha, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Piha Beach, Piha, Auckland Parking: Yes, there is plenty of off street parking around Piha. We parked in the Piha Domain and there was plenty of space. Toilets: Yes / No, there was no toilets near our car, however there are public toilets all over Piha and nearer…
Harker Reserve Walk, Onewhero, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: Onewhero-Tuakau Bridge Road, Onewhero, 2697 Parking: Yes, plenty of off-road parking on a nice piece of grass or on the gravel shoulder Toilets: No Dogs: Yes, on lead Shoes: I wore my sneakers, however it was muddy in patches of the track that are heavily shaded by the…
Mt. William Trig Walk, Bombay, Auckland
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: End of Puketutu Road, Bombay, Auckland Parking: Yes Toilets: No Dogs: No. Shoes: I wore my sneakers, however it was raining and they were soaked right through within a few minutes due to walking on grass. If the weather is wet or has been raining, waterproof boots would be…
Major Jones to Red Hut Bridge Walk, Turangi
THINGS TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO: Location: End of Koura Street, Turangi (There are multiple entrances to this walk) Parking: Yes, on Koura Street Toilets: Yes, at Red Hut bridge car park (long drop) Dogs: Yes, on or off lead Shoes: Sneakers, dry track in excellent condition Date Walked: 5 January 2017 Weather Conditions: Sunny,…
Tram Line / Anderson Walk, Waitakere Reservoir
Things to know before you go: Location: (Opposite number 773) Scenic Drive, Henderson Valley, Auckland Parking: Yes Toilets: Yes, at the Dam Dogs: Yes and No. Dogs are allowed on one part of the track, however there are bait stations with Poison, I would not take my dog here. Shoes: I wore my hiking / waterproof…
Tracks 'n' Treks 