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Parua to Waima via Lower Nihotupu, Arataki & Clark Bush

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Stephen
Parua to Waima via Lower Nihotupu, Arataki & Clark Bush

Details

(Read the full description carefully before you RSVP and be sure your can honestly answer Yes to RSVP questions 1 & 2 before you RSVP, thanks :-)) ...

On Saturday we are going to southeast Waitakere Ranges for a one way hike from Parau to Waima via Lower Nihotupu, Arataki Visitor Centre, Exhibition Drive, and Clark Bush. Highlights include Lower Nihotupu Reservoir, great views from high points, large kauri trees, and a variety of native forest and terrain. This is also an opportunity to hike alternative Hillary Trail route via Lower Nihotupu while it is still open, and other tracks we rarely do.

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Duration: 5-5½ hours hike (including stops)

Distance: about 14-16km

Speed: medium pace

Difficulty: 3 on our 1-5 scale (average)

  • On a variety of walking surfaces including tramping tracks, walking tracks, pedestrian roads, and .
  • Parau, Pipeline, and Clark Bush are rough tramping tracks which are likely to be muddy and slippery in places, especially at this time of year.
  • There is fair amount of up down and hill climbing including steep sections. Parau Track gains 120m elevation at start. Pipeline & Slip tracks gain about 150m up to Arataki. Clark Bush Track is up and down. Other sections of route are relatively flat or gradual downhill.

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Important Notes:

  • This is a one way hike so a car shuttle is required between both ends after hike. All direct drivers need to carpool from Waima Superette (end of hike) to Parau car park (start of hike) to allow this shuttle to happen.
  • Hiking boots are recommended (not essential for much of route, but more suitable for rough and muddy sections).
  • While some parts of this hike are very easy, other parts are harder requiring fitness, good sense of balance, and agility. Previous hiking experience on NZ tramping tracks is recommended.
  • You need to be sure you are fit and experienced enough to complete whole hike with group at medium pace.
  • You are responsible for your own safety & preparation, and keeping up with medium pace of middle of group.

Requirements to attend this meetup:

  • To help simplify things, to attend this meetup you need to:
    -- Be a member of Auckland Hiking Group; do not bring guests.
    -- RSVP Yes on time; answer the RSVP questions (see below) when you RSVP; and answer Yes to Questions 1 & 2.
    -- Complete whole hike with group at medium pace okay.

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Meeting Places:
(Click bold links to see exact location and satellite view of each meeting place, and italics links for street views.)

Driving Directions:

Transport, Carpooling & Car Shuttle:

  • Carpooling will be arranged for everyone meeting at New World after arriving there (transport permitting; you can read more details here (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/pages/Transport_and_Carpooling)).
  • Those not carpooling from New World need to carpool from Waima Superette so enough cars are left there for shuttle after hike.
  • After hike, all drivers will shuttle back to Parau to pick up cars then return to Waima Superette/Reserve to pick up passengers.
  • If you want a ride from New World there's no need to arrange this in advance: just answer the RSVP questions.
  • If you can offer rides or want a ride from a different location you can mention this in Conversation below then contact each other to arrange your own carpooling.
  • Each carpool passenger from New World is asked to give $10 to driver.

Time Guideline: If meeting at New World:

  • 09:15 - Good time to arrive at New World, meet & greet
  • 09:30 - Latest time to arrive at New World, arrange carpooling
  • 09:35 - Leave New WorldIf going direct to Waima Superette:
  • 09:40 - Good time to arrive at Waima Superette, meet & greet
  • 09:50 - Latest time to arrive at Waima Superette, arrange carpool and drive to ParauEveryone:
  • 10:05 - All at Parau Track car park, introductions
  • 10:20 - Start hike
  • 15:30 - Approx end hike
  • 17:00 - Approx return to New World

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Maps:

Hike Details:

  • Exact hike route will be decided to some extent on the day, but we'll look to follow red trail on hike route map (http://photos4.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/7/8/7/d/highres_453450845.jpeg).
  • Basically, we hike from Parau Track car park to Waima Superette via Parau Track, Watercare service road link, Lower Nihotupu Dam Road, Pipeline Track, Slip Track, Arataki Vistor Centre, Beveridge Track, Mackies Rest, Exhibition Drive, Woodlands Park Road, Manuka Road, Clark Bush, Tainui Road, Ngaio Road.
  • (S) Start from Parau car park, head up Parau Track.
  • (1) Turn right on service road link (Hillary Trail detour).
  • (2) Left on Lower Nighotupu Road, continue past Pipeline Road (3).
  • (4) Right on Pipeline Track.
  • (5) Left up Slip Track, across tramline, up to Arataki lookout.
  • (6) At Arataki Visitor Centre: turn right on Beveridge Track near entrance to car park, cross Watercare road (7), and continue down Beveridge Track.
  • (8) At Mackies Rest: turn left up Exhibition Drive for 3.2km.
  • (9) Sharp right down Woodlands Road then first left on Manuka Road.
  • (10) Clark Bush Track entrance is on left, 90m down Manuka Road.
  • (11) At junction beside large kauri, turn right.
  • (12) At Tainui Road, left short distance then right on Ngaio Road to Waimai Superette, end of hike (E),
  • Notes
  • Route from junctions (1) to (4) is open temporarily for alternative Hillary Trail route via Parau Track.
  • If Pipeline Road is accessible to public at (3), there may be option to walk to stream and back or talk shortcut to Slip Track (pink trail).
  • At (4) we may include green trail extension loop via pipeline bridge. (Light green trail extension up steep Incline Track is also a potential option but less likely.)
  • After hike we can buy refreshments from superette and walk 150m down Woodlands Park Road (blue trail) to Waima Reserve (R) which has toilets and a playground.

More Information & Links:

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Bring:

  • lunch and drink + additional snack food
  • footwear suitable for tramping tracks
  • clothing suitable for winter
  • rain protection
  • copy of hike route map (on paper or mobile device)
  • plastic bags for wet and dirty footwear & clothing
  • additional clean clothing & footwear to change into after hike
  • first-aid items (at least for cuts and scratches)
  • cash ($10 if carpool passenger + optional extra for refreshments)

Additional Notes:

  • 9:30am is the latest time to arrive at New World and 9:50am is latest time for direct drivers to arrive at Waima Superette. We aim to leave New World and start hike exactly on time. We are unlikely to wait for late people. Arriving early is good :-)
  • We haven't hiked alternative Hillary Trail route between Pipleine and Parau tracks before. Watercare has temporarily opened this while Huia Dam Road is closed and they are expected to close this again when Huia Dam Road reopens soon.
  • We have previously hiked some parts of this route only once before: east section of Parau Track, Exhibition Drive, and Clark Bush.
  • It is safer and generally more fun to hike together as a group. We aim to do this with stops at track junctions and other points for group to regather. However, there's no guarantee this will happen so prepare well for this hike in case you become separated from group.
  • There are toilets at Arataki Vistor Centre and Waima Reserve.

RSVP Questions:

  • You need to answer the following questions when you RSVP (including Yes to questions 1 & 2) to stay on Going list.
    (1) Have you read the full description carefully; do you accept you are responsible for your own safety, preparation, and keeping up with medium pace of group?
    (2) Are you sure you are able complete whole hike at medium pace with group okay?
    (3) Where will you first meet us for carpooling: (A) Victoria Park New World; (B) Waima Superette?
    (4) What is your transport situation for carpooling: (A) have transport, can offer rides; (B) have transport, can drive if needed, but prefer to get ride; (C) have no transport, need a ride; (D) other (please explain)?
  • Notes:
  • These questions normally appear for you to answer when you RSVP Yes.
  • If they don't appear (sometimes there are issues with mobile phone apps), try to update your RSVP. If questions still don't appear on app, try to update your RSVP on website.
  • If you can't find any way to answer the questions when you RSVP, then message your answers to Stephen (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/members/7405475/).

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Preparation:
It is important to be well prepared. Before we meet:

  • Know how to get to all meeting places (even if you won't be driving, you may need to help navigate) and set up GPS if you have one.
  • Study hike details & maps well enough so you are sure you can complete hike on your own if you need to (in case you become separated from group).
  • Prepare everything you need to bring (if you need anything from supermarket then arrive early).
  • If you might be driving, have car fuelled and ready to go.

Weather Forecast Links:

Clean Footwear:
Everyone is asked to bring footwear that this clean of dirt before we meet for at least 2 reasons:

  • To help prevent spread of kauri dieback disease (we will also use any footwear cleaning stations provided);
  • To avoid dirtying someone else's car (take care to put dirty footwear in plastic bags after hike too).

RSVP / Are you Going?
If you are interested to attend:

  • Read the full details of this description carefully first;

  • RSVP Yes online soon; by 7:15pm Friday;

  • Answer the RSVP questions as required when you RSVP;

  • If you decide later not to attend, change your RSVP to No;
    Thanks :-)

  • Stephen (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/members/7405475/)

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