Dome Forest Walkway

On Saturday we are going to the Dome Forest, an hour north of Auckland. This tramp includes a walking track through the bush to a lookout (over the Hauraki Gulf), to Dome Summit (over 300m) with more views out to the Hen and Chicken islands, and then on a tramping track which is part of the Te Araroa trail to Waiwhiu Kauri Grove, with mature kauri trees of up to 4m girth. We return the same way back to Dome Valley tea rooms.

Duration: 5 hours including stops.
Difficulty: 3 on our 1-5 scale for day hikes, but can be more challenging if raining. There is a bit of scrambling up and down hill reaching a high point of 336m at Dome Summit.

Weather Update (Fri 1pm) ... Metservice forecast (http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/auckland/auckland-central) is forecasting fine weather (sun symbol) with light easterly or southeastly winds and high of 25°C for both Saturday and Sunday, with chance afternoon shower on Sunday. 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 during weekend.

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

• Read the full details of this event description carefully;
• Prepare everything you need to bring (see Bring section below);
• Study Maps and Hike Directions (see below);
• Study the google map to get from Victoria Park New World to Dome Forest (http://goo.gl/maps/VYjbE) (even if you won't be driving, you may be needed to help navigate);
• If you think you might be driving, have vehicle fuelled and ready to go;
  Thanks :-)

Meeting Places:

• Victoria Park New World is our initial meeting place for carpooling. (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).)
• Dome Forest Walkway at the Dome Valley Tea rooms, 7km north of Warkworth on SH1 is where we drive to for start of hike. We'll gather somewhere visible in the carpark.
• See Google map directions (http://goo.gl/maps/VYjbE) from New World to Dome Forest carpark.

Carpooling:

• Carpooling will be arranged for everyone meeting at New World after we arrive 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 it doesn't help to try and arrange this in advance - just answer the RSVP question about this.
• If you can offer rides or want a ride from a different location, you can mention this in the conversation below and contact each other to arrange.
• Best if most drivers meet at New World first (most people who need a ride meet there). The option to drive straight to Dome Forest is only offered if New World is significantly out of your way.
• Each carpool passenger from New World is expected to give $10 to their driver.

Time Guideline:

• 09:15 - Good time to arrive at New World, meet & greet
• 09:30 - Latest time to meet at New World, arrange carpooling
• 09:35 - Leave New World
• 10:30 - Arrive at Dome Forest carpark if driving straight there
• 10:30 - All at Dome Forest carpark by now
• 10.45 - Introductions
• 11.00 - Start hike
• 16:00 - Approx finish hike (Dome tea rooms - optional)
• 17:30 - Approx return to city or to Goat Island

Maps:

• Map of Dome Forest Walkway (http://www.doc.govt.nz/Documents/parks-and-recreation/tracks-and-walks/auckland/dome-forest-walkway-map.pdf)
• Google map directions (https://maps.google.co.nz/maps?saddr=Scotland+St&daddr=-36.8528318,174.7541236+to:Falls+Rd&hl=en&ll=-36.860944,174.622192&spn=0.321389,0.441513&sll=-36.851604,174.751968&sspn=0.020089,0.027595&geocode=FWW8zf0d63tqCg%3BFaGrzf0dS4lqCilpQafC7EcNbTH-1TxlOxsB5g%3BFf0ozf0dbPZmCg&t=h&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=15&via=1&z=11) to Dome Forest (can zoom in for closer satellite view)

Hike Description and Directions:

• DOC description to lookout
• DOC description to Waiwhiu Grove

Bring:

• lunch and drink and extra snack food
• clothing suitable for winter
• clean footwear suitable for rough tramping tracks
• rain protection
• plastic bags for dirty footwear
• extra clothing and footwear for after hike
• map of hike route as above (print or hand draw copy)
• cash ($10 if carpool passenger)

Clean Footwear:

• Everyone is asked to bring hiking footwear that is clean of dirt before we meet for at least 2 reasons:
  -- To help prevent the spread of kauri dieback (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/pages/Kauri_Dieback) disease which kills kauri trees (we will also use footwear cleaning stations provided, but starting with clean footwear is best);
  -- To help avoid dirtying other people's cars.
• Footwear will almost certainly be muddy after hike. Take care not to enter someone else's car with muddy footwear unless well covered by plastic bags. Kauri dieback disease is present in Waitakere Ranges so clean footwear well before next hike after this.

Notes:
(1) This hike was completed as far as Dome Summit on 12 December 2009. Going to the kauri forest will be new for the group.
(2) 9:30am is the latest time to arrive at New World and 10:30am is the latest time to arrive at Dome Forest 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) We'll walk at a moderate pace that is comfortable for the middle of the group, with stops at places of interest along the way.

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

• Read the full details of this event description carefully;
• RSVP online soon;
• Answer the RSVP questions that appear after you RSVP
• "Change RSVP" later if you decide not to attend or any of your RSVP answers are no longer accurate;
  Thanks :-)

RSVP Questions:
If you RSVP Yes, you will be asked the following RSVP Questions:
(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) Dome Forest carpark; (C) prefer Dome Forest but could meet at New World if needed (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) We are planning to return to city by 5.30pm but may end up being a bit later. Do you need/prefer to return by a certain time?
(5) What are your travel plans following the hike: (A) to return to New World; (B) to continue on to Goat Island and camping; (C) other (please specify)
Notes:

• If you have any problems answering the questions online, you can e-mail your answers to Ruth.
  Thanks :-)

Are you interested to attend?