Goat Island to Pakiri Beach Low Tide Coastal Explore

Name: Goat Island to Pakiri Beach Low Tide Coastal Explore
Start: 2017-04-09T08:45:00+12:00
End: 2017-04-09T17:30:00+12:00
Location: Victoria Park New World

Hosted By

Karl and Stephen

Goat Island to Pakiri Beach Low Tide Coastal Explore

Details

(Read the full description carefully before your RSVP :-)) ...

On Sunday we are going to Goat Island Marine Reserve for a low tide coastal hike northwest up to Pakiri. This is a new hike for our group. We will explore the rocky area between Goat Island and Pakiri Beach. There will be an opportunity to swim at Pakiri Beach.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Duration: Hike is about 5 hours, including stops

Distance: around 11km

Speed: Medium pace (no slower than medium)

Difficulty:

3½ on our 1-5 scale (a little bit harder than average)
Main difficulty is technical on rough uneven coastal rocks which can be slippery.
You might get your feet wet.
Care must be taken as is easy to slip and get cuts from sharp rocks.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Important Notes & Updates:

This meetup can be attended separately as a day hike or combined with Saturday hike (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/237949327/) and Pakiri camping for whole weekend trip.
This meetup is for confident hikers with good balance and agility walking on coastal rock, not suitable for beginners.
This is a one way hike so we need to arrange a car shuttle between start and end points. All direct drivers must carpool from Pakiri Beach and leave enough cars there before hike to shuttle all drivers back to Goat Island car park after hike.
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.
-- Complete coastal hike at medium pace with group okay.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Meeting Places:

Victoria Park New World (https://goo.gl/maps/mNHqEjw7EC32) is our main meeting place for carpooling. We'll gather below the steps outside the main Scotland Street entrance on the sharp corner with College Hill. (If you haven't met us there before you can read more details here (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/pages/Meeting_at_Victoria_Park_New_World).)
Pakiri Beach car park (https://goo.gl/maps/wHw64vjj2Kk) is where direct drivers must meet for a short carpool to Goat Island. Overnight campers will also meet here and assist with organising this. Car park with toilet block is on left at end of Pakiri River Road. Gather somewhere visible near toilet block.
Goat Island car park (https://goo.gl/maps/3Um1F7Ne1DN2), is where we meet for start of hike. Only drivers from New World drive directly to here. Large car park with toilet block is on left near end of Goat Island Road. We'll gather somewhere visible in grassy area between car park and the coast.

Driving Directions:

Carpool drivers from New World: drive north to Goat Island car park before hike; to Pakiri Beach car park to pick waiting passengers after hike; then back to New World. See Google map for full driving directions of round trip (https://goo.gl/maps/fX3VkPB5YH12).
Direct drivers (not meeting at New World): meet at Pakiri Beach car park and either carpool drive to Goat Island car park before hike, or leave car at Pakiri and shuttle drivers to Goat Island car park after hike.. See Google map for for full driving directions from Pakiri Beach car park to Goat Island car park (https://goo.gl/maps/XRgQzjxFhdB2).

Transport and Carpooling:

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)).
If you want a ride from New World there's no need to arrange this in advance: just answer the RSVP questions.
Best if most drivers meet at New World first.
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 needs to give $15 to driver for day hike. Bring exact change.
Road Toll of $2.30 applies - each way.

Time Guideline: If meeting at New World:

08:45 - Good time to arrive at New World, meet & greet
09:00 - Latest time to arrive at New World, arrange carpooling
09:05 - Leave New World
10:20 - Arrive at Goat Island Carpark

If going direct (not meeting at New World):- 09:35 - Good time to arrive at Pakiri Beach car park

09:50 - Latest time to arrive at Pakiri. arrange carpool
09:55 - Leave Pakiri for Goat Island car park
10:15 - Arrive at Goat Island car park

Everyone:- 10:25 - All at Goat Island car park by now

10:30 - Introductions
10:35 - Start hike
12:05 - Low tide
15:00 - Approx end hike, arrange Car shuttle, passengers will need to wait 40min.
16:10 - Refreshments at the Matakana Hotel (optional)
18:00 - Approx return to city

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Maps:

https://secure.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/1/b/c/c/600_459727116.jpeg

Hike Details:

After a quick look around opposite Goat Island we follow the coast up to Pakiri beach. Just over half the hike will be walking along the rocky coastline. The water will be on your right hand side all the way. Will stop for photos and explore anything interesting along the way. When we get to the beach section of the hike will look for a good lunch and swimming spot. After lunch will be following the beach all the way to Pakiri were will explore around the river estuary before ending the hike. The Car-shuttle will be arranged from here to get the drivers back to there cars. Passengers can just relax. ;-)

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Bring:

lunch and drink + additional snack food
footwear suitable for costal rock hopping
clothing suitable for autumn
Swimming gear and towel
rain protection
sun 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 ($15 if carpool passenger + optional extra for refreshments)

Additional Notes:

9:00am is the latest time to arrive at New World and 9:50am is latest time for direct drivers to arrive at Pakiri Beach car park. We aim to leave New World and start hike exactly on time. We are unlikely to wait for late people. Arriving early is good :-)
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 Goat Island car park only. Use them before the meet and greet.

RSVP Questions:

When you RSVP, you need to answer the following multi-choice question ...
(1) What is your transport situation for carpool from New World?
-- (A) have transport, can offer rides
-- (B) will bring transport, can drive if needed but prefer a ride
-- (C) need a ride
-- (D) not meeting at New World, going direct to Pakiri Beach car park

Notes:

When you RSVP, you will normally be prompted to answer the question.
If you are not prompted to answer, try to change/update your RSVP. If this doesn't work for you on app, try website.
If you can't find any way to answer the questions when you RSVP, then message your answers to Karl (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/members/194653081/).

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

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: