20 September 2009

Leader:  Dianne Hewitt

We arrived at the Papatoetoe meeting point to find the appointed leader needing to be elsewhere due to a death in the family. After some discussion three of us assured  Lynette we could manage leading the tramp and she should return to her family.

Papakura people arrived, 11 trampers in total, we filled 3 cars and off we set.

Several of us had done this tramp before but not starting along the Swanson Pipeline section so that was new to us, a pleasant walk following the pipeline, still in use to convey water from the filter station to Aucklanders. Stopped for morning tea at the filter station then we were off up the Filter Track having sprayed our boots at the commencement of this track. The track ascended steadily upwards to the Scenic Drive Road where there was a short period of confusion whether we should be going left or right along the road. Soon resolved and we were on our way down the road to the Waitakere Dam with a short detour to view a magnificent kauri tree. There were also patches of clematis beautifully blooming and one rata plant in flower.

The dam was over flowing a strange spectacle for most of us. The decision was made to have lunch at the picnic ground around the valley so down the steps in front of the dam we went to find the track was closed due to an unstable bank so we had an extra circuit along the dam.

Lunch at the picnic area with seats and tables was most sophisticated, very pleasant in the sunshine. The train went by and they threw us advertising pamphlets 'no we couldn't have a ride we hadn't booked'. So it was plodding along the rails for us to the West Tunnel Mouth turnoff. As we neared this junction the birdsong grew louder and louder, we looked  for the birds and saw most of the hillside covered in golden kowhai flowers full of tuis and kererus. Someone commented this must be how the bush sounded many years ago.

Up the hill with the sound of tuis still prominent making the walk most enjoyable. The last section of the tramp was the worst - down the Peripatus Track, steep at first it levelled out and we spied many clumps of hooded orchids. The last part was STEEP again and very muddy, the two men provided a helpful support to cross the Kelly Stream and it was then just a short step back to the Pipeline Track and the carpark.

Thank you Dianne for leading us along this lovely area of the Waitakeres

Jill Maw