Karekare is one of my favourite spots in the Waitakeres and it didn’t disappoint! In spite of a dodgy weather forecast, it was a pretty good day out; we even had blue sky and sunshine.
Take note, all you trampers of little faith; the weather forecast isn’t always (or isn’t often?) completely accurate.
We hadn’t done this variation of the Karekare tracks for quite a while so it was really good to revisit an old and true tramp. Log Race Road was a good choice for parking the bus because the Karekare carpark was pretty full, surprising for mid-winter. From there, we set out to do the Mercer Bay loop. Is it my imagination or can you really see the curve of the horizon from the expansive view points along this track?
Then down to Karekare on the coastal track, with more superb views, then through the Pohutukawa Track to the beach. Along to Pararaha via the sand dunes, with lunch at the tunnel campsite en route. Those of us who had tramped the Hillary Trail had very happy memories of this lovely campsite.
The Zion Hill Track took us back to Karekare, then it was just the long slog up the hill back to the bus.
This was a good, honest tramp: five hours of solid walking, with superb views and great company. Karekare is a place that holds many happy tramping memories for me. Thank you, Helen and Paul, for organising a great day out.