Two from Papakura met up with seven from Papatoetoe on a lovely sunny morning and it was three cars for transport out to the start of the track in Glen Esk Road in Piha. This valley got its name from Dr Stockwell who was the first European to lease and buy land in this area and he named the valley Glen Esk after his birthplace in Scotland.

Ann set a cracking pace followed by the fit young newbies who chattered quite happily going up the hills while those of us at the back were too busy just trying to keep up. We followed the Kitekite track to the junction where we were planning on taking the track to the top of the falls. However a big CLOSED sign greeted us. The ranger who spoke to us in the carpark hadn’t mentioned the closure so the majority vote was to take the track and see how far we got. Once we’d clambered over the boulders in the river it was on to a new mud track. New steps are being built on this track with the help of a group of workers (“This is what you get to do when you get caught drink driving for the fourth time” said one of them). Most of the steps had been completed but a few at the top had the frame nailed up but not filled, and there were more steps waiting to be framed up where the mud had been dug out and a strip at the top was still waiting for attention. We all managed to get up quite safely so were rewarded with morning tea at the top of the Kitekite falls. Steve & Karina went out to the edge of the falls to see how far they could see down but the slope of the rock that the water was tumbling over meant they couldn’t see to the bottom.

From there it was on to the Kauri Grove Track via the Connect Track with the aim of arriving at the clearing at Piha Road for lunch. We had a shower of rain but it was so humid everyone was reluctant to haul out their raincoats. Steve got out his brightly coloured poncho which must have scared away the rain so he was told not to take it off in case the rain started up again. Half way along this track Ann discovered her glasses were missing so after a bit of detective work it was decided that she had them on her head at the last junction so she was sent back towards the junction with the fittest of the group (those of us left were hoping the extra distance travelled would slow them all down a bit) while Robyn led us on towards Piha Road. There were some nice sized kauris on this track and a few viewing areas where you could see out to the ocean. The lost property searchers were successful but I hate to admit that the males in the group were the ones who found the glasses swinging in the air and then tested the females to see how long they would take to spot them. They caught up with the main group again and with an increased burst of energy led us on towards the lunch spot.

After a leisurely lunch in the sun the Marguerite Track was next on the list. The ranger had laughed when this was mentioned and had the comment “You must love the mud” so we were all prepared for lots of mud. However, by Waitakere standards it wasn’t too bad. A few boots inadvertently disappeared up to the ankles but generally we all managed to steer clear of deep mud. The original plan was to follow the Home Track which was a remarkably dry track back to the carpark but there was a change of plans as we wanted to see the Kitekite Falls from the bottom so we branched off on to the Winstone track to the falls. This was a busy track and we passed lots of walkers out for a Sunday stroll including one couple where the wife hadn’t ‘seen anyone for hours” and was getting concerned that they were heading inland never to be seen again!

We stopped for a break and to admire the scenery at the falls where Steve and Karina went for a swim in the freezing water. The rest of us opted for sitting in the sun or getting rid of a bit of mud off the boots. Even though the falls looked impressive, only half of them can be seen from here. The full view that you get further on the track shows double the height of waterfall and we could see right up to where we had morning tea. There was a dam originally built at the top of the Kitekite falls but it was used only once to drive logs over the falls and down to the mill because it resulted in a pile of smashed logs so after that the dam was only used to provide extra water to a drive further downstream. From there it was a well worn and easy track back to the carpark which was overflowing with Sunday visitors.

The award for the dirtiest tramper goes to Dianne (although she tried to lose the title by washing most of the mud off in the streams).
The award for talking the most going uphill goes to Marcel.
The adventure award goes to both Steve and Karina.
The newcomers award goes to Diane P for surviving her first medium tramp.
And although Ann kept telling us it was a slow day (I’d hate to see her on a fast day) she gets the good leader award for allowing us morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea at such lovely spots during a very enjoyable day.

Adrienne