(It was actually possible to get from Devonport by cycling the footpaths, jumping a few bollards and avoiding the occasional pedestrian!)
Monika came with me, Roger and Helen. She believed Roger that “there are hardly any hills”, the rest of us take such comments with a pinch of salt But Monika managed the “mythical” hills extremely well! The views from the Lookout were stupendous! Lots of photo ops (I’m sure we take the same photos every year, but why wouldn’t you ?)
Our group descended via the scambly track to get to the end of the beach and then up the “track” to Anawhata road past the site of the former University of Auckland hut, which stood in a grand vantage spot for 70 years until it was burned down.
Down to Piha again via the Nikau grove and usual lunch spot by the stream then on to Mangaroa lookout back to the Piha road Then along the beach to the lookout overlooking Lion Rock where we could see a few people on it and at the top. Another gobsmacking view.
Many thanks, Ian for this great trip and to Darryl for driving us - and to Whites beach for sharing it beauty with us.
Photos: Thanks to Monika for the photo above and, just to prove we do always take photos from the Lookout here is one of Helen and Mark. Taken in 2006!
Hut to HeadlandThe old Auckland university hut burnt down long ago and featured in the book Hut and Headland, which we have in the club library. A fascinating account of trips to the Waitakeres in the past and the long walk involved in even getting to the Waitakeres- visits by notables like Lucy Cranwell the botanist who has a track named after her. The site is marked by a plaque.