Mt Tamahunga Hike

(RSVPs are now open) ...

On Sunday we are going to Omaha Valley in north Auckland for a return hike up the southern side of Mt Tamahunga to the summit (437m) and back. This is the highest peak in the greater Warkworth area with some great views through foliage near the summit. Other highlights include native forest, pastoral farmland, and a hill climbing workout :-) ... After the hike we can optionally go to Omaha on way back for walk on beach and swim. This meetup can be attended as part of weekend trip following camping at Goat Island (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/151617662/), or as a day hike only.

Duration: About 3½ hours Mt Tamahunga hike, including lunch stop, + optional 1 hour at Omaha + travel time.
Distance: Mt Tamahunga is about 5km return + optional extra on beach at Omaha.
Difficulty: 3 on our 1-5 scale for days hikes. Shorter than average and about average difficulty overall, mainly on forest tramping track and some open farmland. Main difficulty is the hill climb, gaining more than 400m elevation (more than average). This is steep in places, requiring some fitness uphill and agility downhill. Some may feel it is harder than a 3. Tramping track is rough in places but not much mud or major technical difficulties last time we did this.

Weather Update (Fri 1pm) ... Metservice forecast (http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/auckland/auckland-central) for Sunday is: "Fine, chance afternoon shower. Southeast dying out. High 25°C. (sun symbol)". Metservice rain forecast (http://www.metservice.com/maps-radar/rain-forecast/rain-forecast-3-day) and Metvuw rain forecast (http://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nzni&noofdays=7) are both showing no significant rainfall in north Auckland on Sunday.

Important Notes & Updates:

• Time Update: Guideline times have have changed to be 15 minutes later, now meeting 9:30am at New World.
• As the walkway is a simple route uphill to summit with little risk of going the wrong way, we won't have group stops in forest section allowing everyone to go up at own pace, perhaps in smaller groups. Each hiker will need to be prepared to hike alone if no one else goes at same pace.
• As this is a return hike, anyone who doesn't reach the summit by end of lunch stop can rejoin group on way back down.

Preparation:
Everyone who attends is encouraged to be well prepared for this hike. Before we meet it will help if you:

• Study the hike route and other tracks in area (see Maps and Hike Description below);
• Know how to get to all meeting places (study Google map directions (http://goo.gl/maps/RjWzG) - even if you won't be driving you may need to help navigate);
• Have vehicle fuelled and ready to go (if you might be driving);
• Prepare everything you need to bring (see Bring section below; arrive early if you need anything from supermarket).

Meeting Places:

• Victoria Park New World is initial meeting place for day hikers to carpool from. (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).) Overnight campers will continue their Saturday carpool from Goat Island.
• Omaha Valley Road carpark is where we all meet for start of hike. This is on the left side of right bend in road.
• After the hike we may go to Omaha beach carpark at end of Broadlands Drive, and stop for refreshments at Matakana on way back.
• See Google Map directions (http://goo.gl/maps/RjWzG) with following location markers:
  -- A: Victoria Park New World
  -- B: Omaha Valley car park
  -- C: Omaha beach car park
  -- D: Matakana

Carpooling:

• Carpooling will be arranged for day hikers 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 need a ride from New World there's no need to arrange this in advance - just answer the RSVP question on this.
• If you want a ride or can offer rides from another location, you can mention this in Conversation below and contact each other to arrange.
• Best if most drivers meet at New World first. Option to drive straight to Omaha Valley is only offered if New World is significantly out of your way (eg, if driving from north).
• This trip is a bit longer than usual. Each carpool passenger from New World is asked to give $15 to driver.

Time Guideline:

• 09:30 - Good time to arrive at New World, meet & greet
• 09:45 - Latest time to arrive at New World, arrange carpooling
• 09:50 - Leave New World
• 10:45 - Arrive at Omaha Valley car park if drive straight there
• 11:00 - All at Omaha Valley car park by now, introductions
• 11:15 - Start hike
• 14:45 - Approx end hike, optionally go Omaha and/or Matakana
• 17:30 - Approx return city

Maps:

• Online NZ Topo map of Mt Tamahunga area (http://www.nztopomaps.com/-36.304197,174.719954,14,Map,100)
• DOC simple map of Mt Tamahunga Walkway (http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/auckland/mt-tamahunga-walkway-map.pdf) (PDF, 83k)
• Google map directions (http://goo.gl/maps/RjWzG) (can zoom in on location markers for closer satellite view)

Hike Description & Directions:

• Starting from Omaha Valley Road carpark, the walkway starts on farmland, following marker posts up open farm paddocks to bush line. Then it becomes a tramping track through native forest up to summit with orange markers on trees.
• A short sidetrack on right near the summit leads to a rocky lookout with views of Whangateau Harbour and Omaha Bay.
• There is a grassy clearing on the summit with a trig and a helicopter pad. Can see more views of Omaha Bay through trees if climb on trig. We'll have an extended lunch here.
• Can optionally continue northward on walkway for 10 minutes or so for some northern coastal views.
• We return same way back to carpark.
• If this hike finishes on time we may optionally go to Omaha for a closer look at what we viewed from summit, walk along the beach and a swim, perhaps for an hour or so.

Bring:

• lunch and drink
• clothing suitable for late spring
• footwear suitable for tramping track
• sun and rain protection
• towel and swimming gear if interested to swim
• plastic bags for dirty footwear
• additional clean clothing/footwear to change into after hike
• first-aid items
• cash ($15 if carpool passenger; plus optional extra for refreshments afterwards)

Clean Footwear:
Everyone is encouraged to bring footwear that is clean of dirt before we start the hike for at least 2 reasons:

• To help prevent the spread of Kauri Dieback disease (we'll also use any footwear cleaning stations provided along the way);
• To help avoid dirtying someone else's car (if you are a carpool passenger; bringing plastic bags and extra footwear will also help for after hike).

More Information:

• DOC webpage for Mt Tamahunga Walkway (http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/auckland/north-auckland/mt-tamahunga-walkway/)

Notes:
(1) We have previously hiked up southern side of Mt Tamahunga on 10 Dec 2011 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/40630672/). This will be the first time we go to Omaha (if this ends up being included).
(2) 9:45am is the latest time to arrive at New World. 11:00am is latest time to arrive at Omaha Valley carpark if driving straight there. We aim to leave New World and start the hike exactly on time, and are unlikely to wait for late people. Arriving early is good :-)
(3) The drive route includes Northern Gateway toll road (http://www.tollroad.govt.nz/) tunnel that bypasses Orewa and saves about 10 minutes driving. Cost is $2.20 each way, 5 days to pay, cheapest to pay online. Time Guideline allows for longer free drive through Orewa if prefer. Each driver can decide.
(4) As this is a simple route uphill with little risk of getting lost if follow orange markers, we'll probably just have one stop at the bush line for whole group to regather.
(5) Planning is based on walking at a moderate pace that is comfortable for average hikers, with option for some to climb hill at a faster pace. It can be okay to climb a bit slower than moderate if don't mind having shorter lunch stop at summit.
(6) After the hike we can stop for refreshments at Omaha or Matakana on way back

RSVP:
If you are interested to attend it will help if you:

• Read the full details of this description carefully;
• RSVP online soon, ideally by 7pm Saturday;
• Answer the RSVP questions when you RSVP;
• "Change" your RSVP later if you decide not to attend or any of your RSVP answers are no longer accurate;
  Thanks :-)

RSVP Questions:
The following question appear for you to answer when you RSVP (if you have any problems answering online, you can e-mail your answers to Stephen (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/members/7405475/)):
(1) At this stage, how certain/uncertain are you that you will attend? Does this depend on anything (eg, weather)?
(2) Where will you first meet us: (A) Victoria Park New World; (B) Goat Island (camping); (C) Omaha Valley carpark (what area are you driving from)?
(3) What is your transport situation: (A) have no transport, need a ride; (B) have transport, can offer rides (how many passengers?); (C) have transport but prefer to get ride; (D) other (please specify)?
(4) How interested are you to visit Omaha for hour or so after the hike?
(5) We are currently planning to return to city by 5:30pm but we may end up being a bit later. Do you need/prefer to return by a certain time?

Are you interested to attend?