Skip to content

Hunua Ranges: Mangatawhiri Reservoir Loop

Photo of Stephen
Hosted By
Stephen
Hunua Ranges: Mangatawhiri Reservoir Loop

Details

(RSVPs closed 7:15pm Saturday. We already have more than enough people. If you are not on Going list you are asked not to attend.) ...

On Sunday, we are going to Hunua Ranges for a loop hike around Mangatawhiri Reservoir via Waterline Road, Ernies Track, and Lilburne Road. Highlights include dam, reservoir, some great views from high points, rugged tramping track, and a variety of native forest.

After the hike we can optionally go to Hunua shops for refreshments (each car can decide).

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

Duration: about 6 hours hike (including stops).

Distance: about 16km.

Speed: Medium pace (no slower than medium)

  • There can be option for some to hike up to summit of Ernies Track at faster pace.

Difficulty: 3½ on our 1-5 scale (a bit harder than average).

  • Main difficulty is Ernies Track, a rough tramping which can be muddy in places, especially low lying area to the west, and includes a very steep hill climb which gains around 330m to summit.
  • Mangatawhiri River crossing is normally close to knee deep and may be deeper, depending on weather. Some smaller stream crossings may also require getting feet wet.
  • Gravel Watercare roads are physically easy, mostly flat or downhill, but may be psychologically difficult for some.

Important Notes & Updates:

  • UPDATE: carpool money for each New World passenger to give to driver has been increased to $15.
  • This meetup is for experienced hikers with high levels of fitness and agility. Not suitable for beginners.
  • You need to be prepared to get feet wet and muddy.
  • Hiking boots are recommended.
  • See our Winter Hiking Guide (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/pages/19436282/Winter_Hiking_Guide).
  • You are responsible for your own safety & preparation.
  • Large Group Warning: Extra care is needed to keep up with middle of group, not cause any delays, and not lose patience if there are delays :-)

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 2 RSVP Questions specified below when you RSVP, including "Y" to question 1 and a valid answer to question 2.
    -- Complete hike with group at medium pace 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).)
  • Upper Mangatawhiri car park (https://goo.gl/maps/nuc4rawUheQ2), near south end of Waterline Road, is where we meet for start of hike. Car park is on right in bushy area just before locked gate to dam. (There is another parking in open area on right shortly before this, We'll gather inside the gate to the campground, between the information board and toilets.
  • Hunua shops (https://goo.gl/maps/zuKpmednT6R2), 2316 Hunua Road, 6.3km north of Moumoukai Road, is where can optionally go for refreshments after hike.

Google Map Driving Directions:

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.
  • 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.
  • This trip is a bit longer than usual and includes about 5km of gravel roads. Each carpool passenger from New World needs to give $15 to driver. Bring exact change.

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 Upper Mangatawhiri- 10:20 - Good time to arrive at Upper Mangatawhiri Road car parkEveryone:
  • 10:35 - All at Upper Mangatawhiri car park by now
  • 10:45 - Introductions
  • 10:55 - Start hike
  • 17:00 - Approx end of hike
  • 18:30 - Approx return to city

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

Maps:

Hike Details:

  • Basically, we'll follow red trail on hike route map. We walk up to top of dam, loop clockwise via Waterline Road, Ernies Track, and Lilburne Road, then back down to car park.
  • (P) Starting from car park, we go pass locked gate and up road veering left to dam.
  • (1) West side of Mangatawhiri Dam: Continue straight-left on Waterline Road.
  • (2) Right on Ernies Track.
  • (3) Cross Mangatawhiri River to stay on Ernies Track, then up big steep hill.
  • (4) Lunch stop on summit (497m elevation).
  • (5) Upper Mangatawhiri Track on left: continue straight-right to stay on Ernies Track
  • (6) Rata Ridge Track on left: continue straight-right short distance up to Piggotts Hut & Campground, then continue on Lilburne Road.
  • (7) Pukapuka Track on left: continue straight-right down Lilburne Road.
  • (8) East end of Mangatawhiri Dam: walk across top of dam to complete loop.
  • (1) West end of dam: left back same way down to car park (P).

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

Bring:

  • lunch and drink + additional snack food
  • footwear suitable for tramping tracks
  • clothing suitable for late 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 ($15 if carpool passenger (bring exact change); optional extra for refreshments)

Additional Notes:

  • 9:30am is the latest time to arrive at New World and 10:30am is latest time for direct people to arrive at Upper Mangatawhiri 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 flush toilets at Upper Mangatawhiri car park and there is a compost toilet at Piggotts Campground (east end of Ernies Track).
  • We have previously hiked this loop several times, most recently on 27 July 2014 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/196731882/).

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

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.

Clean Footwear:
Everyone is asked to clean footwear 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 on hike)
  • To avoid dirtying someone else's car (use plastic bags for muddy footwear after hike too).

Weather Forecast Links:

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

RSVP Questions:

  • When you RSVP, you need to answer the following multi-choice questions ...
    (1) Have you read the full description carefully; do you understand this hike includes a big very steep hill climb, rough and muddy track, a river crossing, and several stream crossings; do you accept you are responsible for your own safety and preparation; are you willing to get wet feet and muddy footwear; are you sure you are fit and experienced enough to complete this hike with group at medium pace okay; and will you make every effort to keep up with middle of group if you start to fall behind?
    -- (Y) Yes to whole question (this is the only acceptable answer)
    -- Any other answer will not be accepted.
    (2) 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 Upper Mangatawhiri car park.

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

RSVP Guide:

  • If you are interested to attend then follow these steps in the correct order :-)
    (1) Read the full details of this description carefully first.
    -- You need to do this and be sure this meetup is suitable for you before you continue.
    (2) Prepare your answers to the 2 RSVP questions specified above.
    (3) RSVP Yes online; before RSVPs close 7:15pm Friday;
    (4) Answer the 2 RSVP questions as required when you RSVP;
    -- You will normally be prompted to answer the questions when you RSVP.
    -- The prompt provides a single space to enter both your answers and doesn't include the questions so step 2 above is essential.
    -- Enter single letter answers for each question, separated by a space, and you can answer in more detail after this if you like.
    (5) If you are not prompted to answer the questions when you RSVP (or you didn't answer) then ...
    -- Try to "change" your RSVP (without changing from Yes to No). This will normally cause prompt to appear.
    -- 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 Stephen (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/members/7405475/).
    (6) If you don't answer the questions as required, your RSVP will be changed to No soon after this is noticed.
    -- If this happens to you, you can change your RSVP back to Yes if you answer the questions as required.
    (7) If you decide later not to attend, change your RSVP to No, thanks :-)
  • Note: if you skip step 1 or try to follow steps 1-3 in different order then this can complicate things immensely!
  • Stephen
Events in Auckland, NZ
Photo of Auckland Hiking Group (Est.2006) group
Auckland Hiking Group (Est.2006)
See more events
Auckland Hiking Group (Est.2006)
Photo of Auckland Hiking Group (Est.2006) group
Victoria Park New World
Scotland Street, Freemans Bay · Auckland
Photo of Auckland Hiking Group (Est.2006) group
Auckland Hiking Group (Est.2006)
public group