Waitakere Ranges Track Descriptions TRACK DESCRIPTIONS Accuracy The following information was correct in 1995 Times Approximate times for each track have been estimated at a comfortable walking pace for a person of average ability. Track times given are one way unless otherwise stated. Terms used Walk: Relatively short, suitable for persons of all ages and varying standards of fitness. Designed for high use in all but the worst weather. Track: Well defined, suitable for people of average fitness; some tramping experience is expected. Boots generally required. Degree of difficulty dependent on weather conditions. 1. Mokoroa Falls Track: From end of Horseman 10. Simla Track: From Ridge Road Track, track Road, track follows old logging road through Goldie follows along ridge; views of Anawhata Valley unfold Bush down gentle ridge to a rock ledge with view just before track descends extremely steeply to over the Mokoroa Falls. Here track branches with a Smythe Stream at old kauri dam site. 1.7km 35 short steep section to left leading down to Mokoroa minutes; 1 hour to ascend. Stream. 1.9km, 35 minutes. 11. Chateau Mosquito Track: From Anawhata Road, N8. This track is administered by the Deportment of track follows along undulating ridge, then descends Conservation. No dogs allowed. very steeply to cross Anawhata Stream. Track follows 2. Takapu Refuge Walk: From carpark at Maori upstream on left r side for 200m and climbs a short Bay, walk skirts around headland then descends to distance to junction of Simla and Sisam Tracks. end of Muriwai Beach Access Road. Two short 2.3km, 1 hour; 1 hour 40 minutes in reverse. branch tracks lead to lookouts over gannet colony. 12. RGB Track: From Ridge Road Track just north of 800m, 30 minutes return. AUTC hut, track follows ridge, then descends steeply 3. Edwin Mitcheison Track: From Oaia Road, track to cross Anawhata Stream; then ascends steeply to descends through regenerating coastal forest to meet Chateau Mosquito Track. 2km, 1 hour. Lookout Track (20 minutes) then continues to Edwin 13. Pukematekeo Track: From bend on Pukematekeo Mitcheison Road. Spectacular views north up exit road, 70m below trig, track follows ridge with steep Muriwai Beach. 1.1 km, 35 minutes total. final descent to Falls Road, adjacent to Ranger 4. Long Road Track: From end of Long Road, old Station. 1.6km, 45 minutes; 1 hour 15 minutes to road ascends partly through farm then follows ascend. undulating ridge in bush through Smythe Corner to 14. Upper Kauri Track: From Auckland City Walk, Simla. 4.2km 1 hour 45 minutes. 100m on right, upstream from swing bridge, partly 5. Ridge Road Track: From Anawhata Road, track metalled track follows graded ascent to bluff-top ridge follows undulating ridge to Simla. 3km 1 hour 30 with impressive graves of mature and ricker kauri, then minutes. continues up long, gentle ascent to Long Road Track, 6. Wainamu Bush Track: From Long Road Track, 200m east of Smythe Corner, 3.1 km 1 hour 30 track follows ridge before descending steeply to minutes. small clearing beside Wainamu Stream; track 15. Lower Kauri Track: From Upper Kauri Track, continues an opposite bank a little way downstream track descends gently through kauri grove, over then climbs steeply to follow ridge to Smythe Ridge undulating ground and across two streams; then Track. 2km 2 hours. ascends steeply to ridge with stand of mature kauri 7. Smythe Ridge Track: From Smythe Corner, track before reaching Long Road Track. 1.9km 45 minutes. follows undulating ridge to Kuataika Track. 2.2km 40 16. Auckland City Walk: Walk starts from swing minutes. bridge at lower end of picnic area and follows bank of 8. Kuataika Track: From Anawhata Road, track Waitakere Stream. At junction of Cascade and crosses farm then descends steeply through bush to Waitakere Streams a short track (150m) on right cross Anawhata Stream, then climbs very steeply to branches up to a small gorge and waterfall. Main walk open ridge which it follows down to Kuataika continues across wooden bridge and along stream to a Stream. Track then climbs continuously up past second bridge then ascends gradually back to upper Kuataika Trig, and along undulating ridge to Smythe picnic area on Falls Road. 1.5km 1 hour. Ridge Track. 5.2km 2 hours 15 minutes. 17. Karamatura Loop Walk: From Karamatura picnic 9. Sisam Track: Track follows ridge from Smythe area, walk climbs gradually to junction of Tom Thumb Ridge Track, then descends very steeply to junction and Karamatura Tracks, then veers left away from of Chateau Mosquito and Simla Tracks just above Karamatura Stream. Track returns back along side of Anawhata Stream. 1.6km 30 minutes; 45 minutes valley, then descends steeply on side of spur to rejoin to ascend. initial part of walk. 2.4km 1 hour. Waitakere Ranges Track Descriptions NB. It is recommended that this circular walk be track climbs to meet Long Road Track. 2.9km 1 hour. done in an anti-clockwise direction. 29. East Tunnel Mouth Track: From Waitakere Filter 18. Anderson Track: Two entrances from Scenic Station at end of Christian Road, a metalled road leads Drive; either opposite top of Peripatus Track or down to east end of Waitakere pipeline tunnel, then old driveway 300m to north, both leading to a grassy continues as a track on steep ascent to saddle on clearing (site of former homestead) where track Scenic Drive. 1.2km 30 minutes. descends into bush and follows steep ridge down to 30. West Tunnel Mouth Track: From east end of Waitakere Stream; from there fairly level track Waitakere Tramline walk near pipeline tunnel, track continues to Auckland City Walk near large kauri. ascends gently to Andersen Track. 400m 10 minutes. 2.3km 45 minutes. 31. Lookout Track: Starts from Motutara Road 19. Fence Line Track: From Simla, track descends approximately 100 metres east from park shop. Track past Robinson Ridge Track down undulating ridge climbs steep stairway to Domain Crescent, then (steep and slippery in parts), crosses over Saddle recommences 150 metres further up road and climbs Dam to Waitakere Dam Walk. Track then veers to spectacular lookout (20 minutes). From lookout, sharply left uphill before descending to meet track continues through coastal forest to meet Edwin Cascade Track. 3.4km 1 hour. Mitcheison Track. 700m 25 minutes total. 20. Cascade Track: From Auckland City Walk 32. Quarry Track: From Waitea Road track climbs opposite large kauri, track ascends steep, easily through mature nikau and pohutukawa, crosses kauri-covered spur, then descends west side of spur small stream and eventually meets Lookout Track to skirt small valley and cross Cascade Stream. junction. 450m 15 minutes. From there track ascends through grove of large 33. Filter Track: From Waitakere Filter Station at end kauri to Upper Kauri Track. 1.5km 1 hour 15 of Christian Road, track ascends spur through kauri minutes. grove, very steep in places; views over Auckland; track 21. Robinson Ridge Track: From Cascade Track, then crosses flat area at top to Scenic Drive. SOOm track descends to and crosses a branch of Cascade 45 minutes. Stream, then follows a long graded ascent to meet 34. Walker Kauri Track: From Mountain Road, track Fence Line Track. 2km 1 hour 15 minutes. follows easy grade to a large kauri, then narrows and 22. Browne Track: From Ridge Road Track, track continues down to a second kauri. 750m 30 minutes follows ridge with steep descent to Anawhata return. Stream. 480m 20 minutes. 35. Spragg Bush Walk: From picnic area at the 23. Waitakere Tramline Walk. Follows tramline and junction of Scenic Drive and Mountain Road, a gentle pipeline from near base of Waitakere Dam along graded walk leads past historic cemetery to a large bluff top ledge with spectacular views of the kauri; then continues down gentle grade and crosses Waitakere Valley and falls; continues through short small stream to rejoin Scenic Drive, 500m north of the tunnel to western portal of tramline tunnel and West picnic area (30 minutes). Two branch tracks link this Tunnel Mouth Track. 1.6km 30 minutes. walk with Turanga Road. The first branch is on the 24. Swanson Pipeline Track: From end of Tram right 30m before the large kauri and meets Turanga Valley Road, track follows driveway; through low Road on its first bend (5 minutes); the second, 200m tunnel (caution required) then follows pipeline along beyond large kauri, continues downhill to meet c small bulldozed road and track over undulating terrain stream and emerges at end of Turanga Road (10 (very steep in places) to Christian Road near minutes).Total track distances 2km. Waitakere Filter Station. 2km, 1 hour 15 minutes. 36. Fairy Falls Track: From Scenic Drive opposite 25. Big Kauri Track: Short track from Huia Dam parking area, initial section of track is level and Road to large kauri tree. 200m 20 minutes return. metalled but later descends steeply to the top of Fairy 26. Opanuku Pipeline Track: A metalled driveway Falls (45 minutes). Track then makes an extremely follows pipeline from Mountain Road to Opanuku steep descent partly down a boardwalk, beside the Stream picnic area (10 minutes); then climbs steeply falls and continues downstream a short way before a along clay bulldozed track, and through short tunnel gradual ascent to Mountain Road. 3.2km 2 hours just before Christian Road near Waitakere Filter total. Station. 1.4km, 40 minutes total. 37. Maori Bay Track: Short track which connects 27. Periputus Track: From Swanson Pipeline Motutara Road and Maori Bay access road. 200m, 10 Track, track crosses Swanson Stream and ascends minutes. steeply to gentle section before ascending extremely 38.