With trips planning often up to three months in advance, I only realised that the Auckland Marathon was on this day a few days earlier in the week. After starting in Devonport the marathon route went through Takapuna and as such quite a few streets were closed to traffic until 9.30am.This made our normal Strand leaving time of 9.00am impractical so the decision was made to leave an hour later at 10am.
A hurried email to all members plus a club website update seemed to do the trick as although I was at The Strand at 8.30am just in case the message had missed anyone, no one expecting a 9.00am start was there.
As a consequence of this late start we did not arrive and be ready to start from the Whatipu car park until 11.30am.
An excellent turnout of nineteen trampers fairly evenly split into two groups, a fast one with Roger leading and a medium one led by me.
Roger's group headed off up Gibbons track to do a Gibbons, Walker Ridge, Donald McLean, Puriri Ridge, Omanawanui circuit whilst my group headed back along Whatipu Road, over the stile and up Kura track.
Given the relatively dry weather in the preceding week this track was in pretty good condition overall with only a few small isolated wet and muddy patches. It began to lightly rain soon after we started, however, it did not amount to much and the day eventually turned out to be quite fine overall. You cross the Whatipu Stream several times on Kura and this was also rather straightforward with no wet boots to contend with.
Kura eventually starts to climb uphill and in due course reaches the junction with Puriri Ridge track a short distance in from the road. By then it was 1.00pm and after exiting to and crossing over Whatipu Road we stopped at the entrance to Omanawanui track for lunch.
Omanawanui track offers magnificent views of the Manukau Harbour and Heads and also of Whatipu looking northwards to Karekare. Patrick was in his photographic element taking around 60 photos on the day.
Looking back from Omanawanui Trig at 241 metres provided a great view of Destruction Gully and Matuka Bay. Down then from the trig then up again to the Lookout at 180 metres and more great views this time of the Manukau Heads in particular with the waves crashing across the bar.
Continuing on down Omanawanui track before taking a short diversion out and along Signal House track. The cliff top plateau gives great views of Ninepin Rock, Cutter Rock and Paratutai Island. Back then to Omanawanui track and down to the carpark. Continuing on for the last part of the tramp out and along the base of the cliff towards Windy Point and the Whatipu Caves.This short track usually has some very wet and muddy sections to contend with, however, quite a number of sandbags had been put in place since I last went this way making it very easy to navigate with nice dry boots.
We spent a few minutes at the largest cave. There is apparently the remains of a wooden dance floor beneath the sands, which was regularly used one hundred or so years ago by the timber workers for weekend dance parties.Would imagine this would have been a stunning sight to see. Then back to the bus and a wait of around half an hour for Roger's party to return.
Our driver for the day was Helen, who though only back from overseas for a day or two, volunteered just two days prior to the tramp thus saving us from having to carpool over some very rough and winding road .Helen had us back in The Strand at around 6.00pm ensuring the day although starting late was still very acceptable.
Thank you Helen !