Seventeen woppers gathered at Arataki Visitors Centre today on a beautiful clear morning. Some early birds were enjoying a coffee from the Danish Coffee Kart in the sun & admiring the views over the Lower Nihotupu Reservoir before we commenced our day. Firstly, off down the nature tracks with its network of gravelled looped walks up & down & around to warm us up before descending down the steps towards the Kauri Cathedral Grove. Good metalled tracks here but surprisingly dry in places. Good bush views on the way & some magnificent specimens of Kauri. The Grove itself is a stunning area with the massive Kauri towering majestically above us, as you can see I took a few photos! Once we had finished admiring the Grove from its viewing platform it was time to head back up to Arataki Centre for morning tea before heading off to the lookout then Slip, Pipeline & Beveridge track loop.

Today, perfect weather for panoramic viewing & of the native bush from the lookout area. The pungas are looking particularly lush with lots of unfurling fern fronds or koru. The slip track is very well manicured these days & we pass by pristine native bush with its supplejack, lancewood, pungas to name a few. Lots of new shoots of ferns popping up everywhere in their various colours of green & of course the koru. We pass by the now defunct railway line of the Rainforest Express, it looks rather sad all closed off. The pipeline track (more like a gravel road really) of course, undulating! We stopped in a sunny spot on the bush line for lunch. Quite a few people out walking today, families, couples, dog walkers & runners.

Then it is a matter of linking onto the Beveridge track which is named after Bill Beveridge nicknamed Mr Waitakere for his contribution to the Waitakere Ranges as Chief Ranger. This track runs from Mackie's Rest to the Visitor Centre & is a good metalled track so no mud at all anywhere today. There are several good view points along the track of the Lower Nihotupu Reservoir & out back towards Auckland City. We also passed the Monkey Drive Tunnel built in 1901 to house a pipe that carried water from the Upper Nihotupu Dam to a pump station in Western Springs. The entrance all closed off & looking decidedly murky & unwelcoming. We pass by some lovely groves of Nikau palms etc - see pic of thick moss on some of the trees.

Before we know it our loop walk is over. We had a perfect day weatherwise for the last Sunday walk of T3. Many thanks Elizabeth & to the great bunch of ladies today. 

Happy holidays everyone see you back in T4.

Colleen W.

Click here to view photos taken by Colleen.