Cascade Kauri: Robinson Ridge & Waitakere Dam Loop

We are going to Cascade Kauri in northern Waitakere Ranges for a loop hike including "Auckland City Walk", Upper Kauri, Cascade, Robinson Ridge, and Fence Line tracks, and Waitakere Dam. This is our last opportunity to hike Robinson Ridge Track before it closes the following day. Highlights include Waitakere Reservoir and Dam with 95m Falls that are likely to be flowing well at this time of year, mature kauri forest with giant kauri specimens, and some tracks offering genuine NZ tramping experience.

Duration: About 4½ hours hike, including stops.
Distance: About 9km.
Difficulty: Average, or a bit above average at this time of year (3½ on 1-5 scale of difficulty for day hikes we do). Track quality of majority of loop (the Montana Heritage Trail section) is generally good, but Robinson Ridge and parts of Cascade are rough tramping tracks which are likely to be muddy and slippery in places. There is a moderate amount of climbing (elevation range: 50-300m). Uphill sections are not very steep but will require some fitness. Steepest section is downhill at end of Fence Line Track. There are at least 2 shallow stream crossings that can normally be crossed without getting feet wet.

Weather Update (Fri 9am): Metservice forecast for Waitakere (http://www.metservice.com/towns-cities/auckland/waitakere) on Saturday: "Fine, chance morning frost. Light winds. (sun symbol)". We'll do this hike rain or or shine.

Meeting Places:

• Initially we'll meet at Victoria Park New World and arrange carpooling from there. 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).
• Then we'll drive to Cascade carpark at end of Falls Road (off Te Henga Road).
• See Google Map directions from New World to Cascade carpark (https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Scotland+St&daddr=-36.8529038,174.7557209+to:Falls+Rd&hl=en&sll=-36.880719,174.520826&sspn=0.017164,0.027423&geocode=FWS8zf0d7HtqCg%3BFVmrzf0diI9qCinh7vFa7EcNbTEgw_0GYe8AEw%3BFeQozf0dDPZmCg&t=h&mra=mift&mrsp=2&sz=15&via=1&z=15).
• Cascade carpark has a toilet, drinking water, and room for plenty of cars, but is quite popular so may need to park on side of Falls Road.
• We'll gather somewhere visible in carpark or on grassy area near the giant picture frame.

Carpooling:

• Carpooling will be arranged for everyone meeting at New World after we meet there.
• If you want a ride from New World, there's no need to arrange a ride in advance, just indicate you need a ride when you RSVP.
• If you want a ride or can offer a ride from another location, you can mention this in your RSVP comment or Post a comment, then contact each other to arrange.
• Best if most people meet at New World first. Option to drive straight to Cascade carpark is mainly for people driving from west, or north via Upper Harbour (if New World is too far out of your way).
• 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
• 10:00 - Arrive at Cascade carpark if driving straight there
• 10:15 - All at Cascade carpark by now, introductions
• 10:30 - Start hike
• 15:00 - Approx finish hike
• 16:00 - Approx return to city

Map:

• Map of hike route (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/photos/327672/132856052/)
• NZ Topo map of Cascade Kauri area (http://www.nztopomaps.com/-36.894586,174.523487,14,Map,100)

Hike Description:
(see hike map (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/photos/327672/132856052/) for stop numbers at junctions and stream crossings)
(P) Anticlockwise loop starts from Cascade carpark on "Auckland City Walk".
(1) At junction with carved statue, turn right up Upper Kauri Track.
(2) Turn left down Cascade Track (on wooden steps to begin with).
(3) Cross Cascade Stream and continue up Cascade Track.
(4) Turn right down Robinson Track.
(5) Cross Robinson Stream and continue up Robinson Ridge.
(6) Turn left on Fence Line Track, gradual downhill.
(7) At dam, turn right to cross dam.
(8) Explore dam then return to Fence Line Track.
(9) Turn right and continue along Fence Line.
(10) At junction with Cascade Track, continue straight steeply down Fence Line.
(11) Turn right on Auckland City Walk then continue straight-left past Anderson Track on right.
(12) Turn left on Falls Road to carpark, end of hike.

Bring:

• lunch and drink
• clothing suitable for winter
• footwear suitable for rough and muddy tramping tracks
• rain protection
• extra clothing and footwear to leave in cars for after hike
• plastic bags for muddy boots, etc
• hike map (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/photos/327672/132856052/) (print or hand draw rough copy) and description
• first-aid items
• money ($10 if carpool passenger)

Kauri Dieback and Track Closures:

• Robinson Ridge Track and 14 other tracks in Waitakere Ranges will be closed on Sunday, 1 July, for at least a year, to help stop the spread of Kauri Dieback (http://www.kauridieback.co.nz/) into areas that are presently healthy.
• You can read more about these 1 July Waitakere Track Closures here (http://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/EN/OurAuckland/News/Pages/aitakererangestrackclosures.aspx).
• Auckland Council have advised us (http://files.meetup.com/230066/Kauri%20Dieback%20-%20Auckland%20Council.doc) to clean our footwear (and other hiking equipment) so that they are free of soil before we enter kauri forest, and clean again after we leave. We can do this at home before we meet in addition to using any cleaning stations they have provided. They also advise to stay on formed tracks and stay away from kauri roots.

Notes:
(1) 9:30am is the latest time to arrive at New World, and 10:15am is the latest time to arrive at Cascade carpark if driving straight there. We'll aim to leave New World and start hike exactly on time. Arriving early is good :-)
(2) We'll aim to hike together as a group with stops at all track junctions and stream crossings along the way, but there's no guarantee this will happen so prepare as best you can in case you become separated from the group (study map and description, etc).
(3) We'll walk at a casual moderate pace with stops at places of interest along the way.
(4) We'll stop for lunch at Waitakere Dam, and have an earlier food stop, probably at Robinson Stream crossing.
(5) We have hiked parts of this route several times before, most recently on: 4 September 2011 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/31136232/), 15 August 2010 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/14338028/), and 17 May 2009 (https://www.meetup.com/auckland-hiking/events/10317278/). This is the first (and possibly last) time we will hike Robinson Ridge Track.

RSVP:

• If you are interested to attend it will help if you: Read all these details carefully; RSVP online soon; and update your RSVP later if you are no longer able to attend or plans you specified have changed.
• There are a few RSVP questions about certainty of attending, transport, and meeting places. Answering these will help us with planning, thanks :-)

See you there :-)