Skip to content

Details

We are going to Anawhata Road in Waitakere Ranges to begin a loop day hike on Chateau Mosquito, Simla, and RGB tracks, including an optional short exploration of Anawhata Stream that will involve some swimming. Highlights include waterfalls, stream adventure, swimming holes, and a variety of native forest.

Duration: 4-5 hours, including stops.
Distance: 6.5km for hike loop + 1.5km optional stream walk return.
Difficulty: Loop hike is average (3 on 1-5 difficulty scale for day hikes we do) on tramping tracks that may be rough and muddy in places with several steep uphill and downhill sections. The climb up Chateau Mosquito Track from stream gains over 200m altitude in distance of about 800m. Downhill sections look a bit steeper (see topo map (http://www.nztopomaps.com/-36.917235,174.503489,14,Map,100) contours). There are 3 shallow stream crossings on loop that may be ankle deep or can step on stones without getting wet feet. The optional stream walk is more technically difficult, walking on rocky stream bed and wading through water that is often more than waist deep and occasionally over head high, requiring swimming in places, although it's not very difficult for anyone who is comfortable walking and swimming in streams. Normally any stream walk requiring swimming is rated a 5, however, this is an optional return walk so anyone who is interested can give it a try and stop and wait for us to return or go back to lunch spot if don't want to go any further.

Weather Update (4:30pm Sat): Metservice forecast (http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/auckland) for Sunday: "Cloudy periods with showers, late rain. Easterlies. (shower symbol)".

Meeting Places:

Carpooling:

  • Carpooling will be arranged for everyone meeting at New World after we arrive there. If you want a ride from there just mention this in your RSVP - no need arrange ride in advance.
  • If you want a ride or can offer a ride from another location you can mention this in your public RSVP comment or Post a comment, then contact each other to arrange.
  • Option to drive straight to Centennial carpark is only intended if New World is significantly out of your (eg, if live out west).
  • Chateau Mosquito carpark is very small so we need to optmise carpooling at larger Centennial carpark before driving there.
  • Carpool passengers from New World are expected 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
  • 10:15 - Arrive at Centennial carpark if driving straight there
  • 10:30 - All at Centennial carpark, optimise carpool
  • 10:35 - Leave for Chateau Mosquito carpark
  • 10:45 - Introductions and start hike
  • 15:30 - Approx finish hike, go to Elevation Cafe
  • 17:30 - Approx return Auckland

Maps:

Hike Description:
At this stage, the plan is to loop anticlockwise. See topo map (http://www.nztopomaps.com/-36.917235,174.503489,14,Map,100) to help visualise.

  • From carpark, start Chateau Mosquito Track.
  • Turn right onto RGB Track, steep downhill, cross Anawhata Stream, then steep uphill becoming more gradual.
  • Continue straight-left on RGB Track at Ridge Road Track junction gradually uphill.
  • At Simla junction (high point, 323m), turn left on Simla Track. Gradual downhill becomes increasingly steeper as approach Smyth Stream.
  • At stream crossing, top of waterfall is short distance downstream on left.
  • Cross stream and continue short distance up to junction.
  • Turn left on Chateau Mosquito Track down to Anawhata Stream.
  • Optional walk/swim downstream as far as Trinity Stream waterfall and back.
  • Continue on Chateau Mosquito Track steeply up from south side of stream to ridge.
  • At RGB junction, Chateau Mosquito Track continues straight-right on flat ridge back to carpark.

Anawhata Stream Explore:
Between Chateau Mosquito Track crossing and Trinity Stream waterfall, Anawhata Stream passes through a rocky chasm with steep banks and deep rock pools that can't be avoided. If some people are waiting at lunch spot then may be able to leave gear with them. If carrying gear then care will be needed to waterproof anything you don't want to get wet.

  • From Chateau Mosquito crossing, it is about 10 minutes walk downstream to a dribbly waterfall on the left.
  • A short distance after this is the first deep rock pool.
  • A few more more rock pools require wading in water more than waist deep.
  • At least 3 rock pools are over head high and require a brief swim (no more than 10m).
  • Shortly after the last swimming rock pool, Trinity Stream waterfall is on right.
  • Then head back up stream same way.

Kauri Dieback Awareness:

  • Auckland Council have provided a document about how to help stop the spread kauri dieback disease. You can read here (http://files.meetup.com/230066/Kauri%20Dieback%20-%20Auckland%20Council.doc). The main point is take care to ensure that our footwear is clean of any soil before we start to hike in forest. Best to do this at home before we meet.
  • We will also take care to use any footwear cleaning stations provided by the council we encounter on tracks during our hike.

Bring:

  • lunch and drink
  • clothing suitable for late summer and stream swimming
  • footwear suitable for tramping tracks and stream walking
  • sun and rain protection
  • dry bag or waterproof containers for stream adventure.
  • towel
  • change of clothes and footwear
  • plastic bags for muddy/wet boots
  • money ($10 if carpool passenger, plus optional extra for cafe)

Notes:
(1) 9:30am is the latest time to arrive at New World. 10:30am is the latest time to arrive at Centennial carpark if driving straight there. We'll aim to leave New World, leave Centennial Track, and start hike exactly on time. Arriving early is good :-)
(2) We'll aim to hike together as a group and wait at all track junctions, but there's no guarantee this will happen so prepare for this hike as best you can (study map, description, etc).
(3) We'll walk at our usual casual moderate pace with stops at places of interest along the way.
(4) We will probably stop for lunch at picturesque spot near where Chateau Mosquito Track crosses Anawhata Stream. Anyone who doesn't want to stream walk can have extended lunch break. We may have an eating stop at Simla high point too.
(5) We walked the whole mid section of Anawhata Stream and Chateau Mosquito Track on 27 March 2010 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/12976446/) (see photos here (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/photos/870352/)). This time we are just exploring the most adventurous deep rock pool section of mid Anawhata that requires swimming. This will be the first time we hike Simla and RGB track.
(6) Due to carpool requirements, it will not be suitable to leave hike early. This hike is mainly for people interested to do the stream walk. This may take 1½ hours, possibly longer. If you don't want to do this, you'll need to wait at lunch spot for group to return and be prepared for hike to end as late as 4pm (but we'll aim to finish earlier).
(7) After the hike we can optionally go to Elevation Cafe.

RSVP:

  • If you are interested to attend it will help if you RSVP soon and change your RSVP later if your plans change.
  • Any important e-mail updates will be sent to those who RSVP Yes.
  • There are several RSVP questions about certainty of attending, transport, meeting places, and options. Answering these will help with planning, thanks :-)
  • See our RSVP Guide (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/pages/RSVP_Guide) for more details.

See you there :-)

Related topics

Events in Auckland, NZ

You may also like