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Mangatawhiri Reservoir Loop in Hunua Ranges

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Stephen
Mangatawhiri Reservoir Loop in Hunua Ranges

Details

(RSVPs closed 7pm Saturday) ...

On Sunday we are going to middle of Hunua Ranges to hike around Mangatawhiri Reservoir including Ernies Track. Highlights include reservoir, dam, great views from high points, native forest, and a variety of hiking terrain including a big steep hill climb.

Important Notes & Updates:

  • This hike is longer and more difficult than average, and is for experienced well prepared hikers who are sure they can hike up and down rough and muddy tramping track (including big steep uphill section) and complete hike at bit faster than medium pace with the group.
  • Anyone who is not keeping up with group pace may be advised to go back same way, possibly alone.
  • It is important to be well prepared with suitable footwear and clothing for winter hike. Study hike route and know how to get to Upper Mangatawhiri car park before we meet. See preparation section below for more details.
  • Large Group Warning: Extra care is needed not to keep the rest of the group waiting before or during the hike and not to lose patience if there are delays. If you hike slower than average, or you are not well prepared, or you aren't keen to hike with large group, this may not be best hike for you to attend :-)
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Summary of Main Details:
Basic Plan:
-- Meet: Victoria Park New World at 9:15am for carpooling
-- Drive: to Upper Mangatawhiri car park for hike
-- Hike: Mangatawhiri Reservoir loop clockwise
-- After hike: to be decided
Duration: 5½ hours hike, including stops
Distance: Approx 16km.
Difficulty: Harder than average (4 on our 1-5 scale)
Speed: a bit faster than medium pace
Costs: $10 if carpool passenger - give to driver
Map: of hike route (http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/6/7/e/highres_390262142.jpeg)
Driving directions: from New World (https://goo.gl/maps/Md9Yr)
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Weather Update (Sat 3pm):

Difficulty Details:

  • This hike is rated 4 (harder than average) on our 1-5 difficulty scale for day hikes.
  • Ernies Track (6.2km) is quite rough and can be muddy and slippery in places, especially the west section.
  • After Mangatawhiri River crossing (normally shin deep), there is big steep uphill climb gaining more than 320m elevation to summit (497m).
  • East side of Ernies Track is up and down on ridge with steep downhill to Lilburne Road end (steps were being built there last year).
  • The gravel park roads (Waterline & Lilburne) are relatively easy. They are more 60% of hike distance but take less than 2 hours to walk. Waterline is fairly flat. Lilburne is up and down to Pukupuka Track then steady downhill to dam. Some may think road sections are boring and this may be psychologically difficult :-)

Meeting Places:

  • Victoria Park New World is our first 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).)
  • Upper Mangatawhiri car park beside campground is where we meet for start of hike. Moumoukai Road heads into Hunua Ranges off Paparimu Road. Continue past Wairoa Dam turnoff on left to Mangatawhiri Dam. Short side road on right just before locked gate at public end of road to dam leads to car park.
  • See Google map & driving directions (https://goo.gl/maps/Md9Yr) from New World to Upper Mangatawhiri car park. (Note road on map stops short of car park, but can drive all the way. Short side road on right (just before locked gate to dam) leads to car park.

Transport & 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 want a ride from New World there's no need to arrange this in advance - just answer the RSVP questions about this.
  • 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.
  • Best if most drivers meet at New World first. Option to drive straight to Upper Mangatawhiri is only offered if New World is far out of your way or you can't carry any more passengers.
  • Each carpool passenger from New World is asked to give $10 to driver.

Time Guideline:

  • 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 World
  • 10:20 - Arrive at Upper Mangatawhiri car park if driving straight there
  • 10:35 - All at Upper Mangatawhiri car park by now, introductions
  • 10:50 - Start hike
  • 16:30 - Approx end hike, refreshments
  • 18:30 - Approx return to city

Maps:

Hike Details:

  • Basically we walk up to top of dam then loop clockwise via Waterline Road, Ernies Track, and Lilburne Road. (See hike route map (http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/6/7/e/highres_390262142.jpeg) for junction/stop numbers in following details):
  • (P) Upper Mangatawhiri Campground car park: follow side loop road, through gate, then up road.
  • (1) At top of dam, continue straight on Waterline Road.
  • (2) Shortly after road heads west away from reservoir, turn right on narrow Ernie's Track (sign can be easy to miss).
  • (3) Cross Mangatawhiri River (normally shin deep).
  • (4) Bamboo and hut ruin stop just before big hill climb.
  • (5) Stop for lunch at grassy clearing on summit.
  • (6) (Upper Mangatawhiri Track to left) Continue straight-right to stay on Ernies Track.
  • (7) Another peak on Ernies Track with grassy clearing before steep downhill.
  • (8) (Rata Ridge Track to left) Continue straight on Ernies Track about 50m up to end at Piggots campground. Then continue on Lilburne Road, straight past south end of Rata Ridge Track and Goss Track (these tracks are easy to miss on left).
  • (9) (Pukapuka Track on left) Continue straight on Lilburne Road, mainly downhill from here.
  • (10) Spillway at east end of Mangatawhiri dam. Walk across top of dam, then left at (1) back to car park (P).

Bring:

  • lunch and drink
  • footwear suitable for tramping tracks which may be muddy
  • clothing suitable for cold winter
  • rain protection
  • map of hike route (http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/5/6/7/e/highres_390262142.jpeg)
  • plastic bags for dirty footwear
  • additional clean clothing & footwear to change into after hike
  • first-aid items
  • cash ($10 if carpool passenger; plus optional extra for refreshments)

More Information & Links:

Additional Notes:

  • We have previously hiked Mangatawhiri Reservoir loop clockwise on 8 Jun 2013 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/122640142/) and anticlockwise on 16 Oct 2012 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/37315872/).
  • 9:30am is the latest time to arrive at New World, and 10:30am is latest time to arrive at Upper Mangatawhiri car park if driving straight there. We aim to leave New World and start hike exactly on time and 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 all blue numbered junctions on map for group to regather. However there's no guarantee this will happen so prepare for this hike as best you can (study maps, etc) in case you become separated from group.
  • We will walk at a bit faster than medium pace that is comfortable for experienced hikers.
  • There are toilets at Upper Mangatawhiri car park and Piggots Campground.

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 sure 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) Upper Mangatawhiri car park; (C) prefer B but could meet at New World if needed (which 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 6:30pm but we may end up being later than this. Do you need or prefer to return by a certain time?
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Preparation:
Before we meet it will help if you:

  • 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 to be able to complete hike on your own if necessary.
  • Prepare everything you need to bring including protection from winter rain and cold (if you need anything from supermarket then arrive early).
  • If you might be driving, have car fuelled and ready to go.
  • If you are bringing guests, you are responsible to ensure they are well informed and prepared too :-)

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 (especially if hiked in Waitakere Ranges recently; 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:
If you are interested to attend it will help if you:

  • Read the full details of this description carefully;
  • RSVP online soon; 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 :-)

(More details may be added later ...)

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