Auckland Trailblazers Hiking Group - Jump in Feet First

Hi there

Update on Weather - Conditions for Saturday are looking much better. Long fine periods.
Bring a torch for Sea Caves in the Afternoon as Low Tide is at 3pm .

Some other people are coming along from my Facebook Walking Group, Outdoors with Stephen.
.
Sea Caves are only accessible at Low Tide, not many people know about these even at busy places like Piha, there's still secret places to go and see here . They go in 30m.

Hike Details for Saturday

Auckland Trailblazers Hiking Group

When September 20th 2025

Meet and Greet is 10.30am.

Join me at Piha with our new friends and reconnect with others on Saturday.

The route today will take us to this black sand beach first...walking North ...before heading inland to visit some hidden Lily Ponds, and get a glimpse of how people live here , by walking past their beach houses...we then walk past the Piha Shop, grab refreshments on the go...or Use the Toilets..before we head
into the wilderness area of Piha to , into the bush, following a stream alongside a mixture of boardwalks and trails, passing by many large trees, including Kauri and Rimu, and hopefully a few flowering trees as we celebrate walking in spring today.

Our lunch is either at the base of the beautiful layered 40m high Piha Waterfall called Kitekite Falls, or for extra fun and a bit of huffing and puffing, to the lookout at the top of the Falls to sit , eat lunch and enjoy the splendid views , or their is a few deeper pools to cool down in for the brave.

After relaxing, our route continues, back to the beach houses and streets of south Piha, by now, the tide today will be low enough to walk along the black sand beach to The Gap, and our main reason why we are visiting Piha Beach, the opportunity to see hidden Sea Caves alongside the Tasman Sea, after we walk through the Blow Hole, these Sea Caves are the biggest and longest of any found along the area here . Especially splendid views , this is the location of the extreme end of South Piha. Returning back same way, we have the opportunity to visit Lion Rock and the northern end of Piha.

Duration - About 4 hours of leisurely walking plus extra time for breaks.

Distance - 8km approx.

Difficulty - Mostly Easy to Medium.
Some steeper 20 minutes to reach top Kitekite Falls .
Speed - My casual pace. Not suitable for fast-paced walkers.

Please - No smoking, animals, children or Guests.

What to Bring - Day Pack - Lunch and Snacks and Drink - Clothes suitable for the season. Wool layers to keep yourself warm and happy - Rain jacket- Wear strong walking shoes or boots -

A hiking pole is optional, and recommended - First Aid Band Aids - Headlight or Handheld torch for the Sea Caves.

Time Schedule-

Send me a Text if you Require a Ride..

10.30 am.. All Arrive here at North Piha Beach Domain Carpark on Seaview Rd.

Look out for Signs saying Piha Bowling Club. Use Google Link on Map Link here. 12 Seaview Rd. Piha.

Do Introduction Circle. Gold Coin Collection.

11am - Start Hike

1pm - Lunch at Kitekite Falls. Opportunities to Swim.

2pm - Arrive at South Piha Beach.
Visit The Sea Caves here for those interested. Shoes will Get Wet . Bring along spare to wear home .

4pm . Approx end of South Piha visit to Sea Caves. Time to visit Lion Rock .

4.30- Approx Return to Cars. Refreshments at Nearby Piha Store. Seats are on left here under cover .

Return to Auckland.

🥾 What’s in Store

This is a slower-paced, social walk – plenty of time for photos, rest stops, and soaking up the stories of the land and forest.

📍 Meeting Details

Time: Meet & Greet at 10:30am.

Place: North Piha Domain Carpark (12 Seaview Rd, in front of Lion Rock).

Alternative GPS : Piha Bowling Club Carpark (use Google Maps).

Look for me in an orange shirt on Seaview Rd opposite beach houses on right.

Hiking poles optional (great for knees & balance).

🚗 Transport

– Organise a Ride:

Post your area + mobile number in the comments to connect.

Option 2 – Drive Yourself:

Head directly to Piha Domain Carpark, Seaview Rd Arrive by 10.30 am ready to Walk.

Toilets available opposite the shop & campground.

💵 Event Cost

$2–$5 Koha (based on your income) to help support the group website.

🚫 Please Note

No dogs, no smoking, no extra guests. No Children under 18.

RSVP and update if your plans change.

✨ Final Word

This hike is about quality time, nature, and shared adventure. The caves are rare, the falls are spectacular, and the company will make it even better.

See you at Piha, on Saturday for our Guided smaller group Feet First Auckland Hiking Club Take Two.

Stephen F
Organiser / Leader
📱 027 477 94 95

Note - Mobile Cover is Limited At Piha Beach Domain Carpark.

Write these Details Down. Allow Extra travel time to Piha if you haven't been here before. Head to North Piha.

Our Carpark is on the left past the Campground .

Updated GPS- 12 Seaview Rd, Piha Beach.

Hey all .

Today's easy going hike starts from the carpark at Bethells Beach.

Ideally suited for all ages, and levels of fitness and abilities.

We will walk south along this black sand beach alongside the Tasman Sea, to check out the large Big Cave.

Then following a few beach tracks leaving the beach going slightly uphill , nothing strenuous, we will then walk to Lake Wainamu and explore the Large Sand Dunes here , before we reach the edge of this fabulous inland fresh water lake. Swimming opportunities for anyone brave, or we will have our lunch.

Returning over the Sand Dunes, back to the cars ...as the around the lake track loop is still damaged from cyclone Gabrielle and permanently closed ..Since then we only have access to the left side of Lake Wainamu .

Duration is about 4 hours of leisurely walking plus extra time for breaks and lunch or swimming opportunities if weather conditions are favorable.

Distance - About 8 to 10km .

Difficulty - Nothing hard about today, more flat beach walking with a few short bursts of energy required to walk up sand dunes.

Wear strong walking shoes or boots. Carry everything you Need for warm layers to keep yourself happy and comfortable when we stop. Bethells Beach has exposed areas to the wind .

Carry everything in a small day backpack, lunch, snacks and water ( at least 2l is recommended). Togs and Towel for swimming . A hiking or trekking pole helps with the soft sand today, we mainly walk on, and some roads.

No Dogs, No Smoking or Children or Guests.

Meeting Point - End of Te Henga Rd. Main Bethells Beach Carpark.
Lets gather in the area around the Bethells Caravan Cafe alongside the Carpark.

Carpooling Method- Option

If you need a ride or have space for another please add a Note below with your Mobile number and Area where you live.

Depending on the interest level of those coming that need a ride, by answering the RSVP questions, we may possibly organize a Centralized meeting place for Cars and Passengers at Victoria Park New World on Scotland Street. We will keep you posted.

Optional Coffee and Hot Food and Cold Drinks at Beach Cafe here after or before.

Any questions please contact me directly.

See you on Saturday - September 27th - 2025 .

Kind regards Stephen French.

Feet First Auckland Hiking Club- Take Two
Mob 0274 779495

Have you ever wanted to see our Native Kiwi Birds in person, while walking around a Auckland Regional Park at night with a red light Torch or Headlight?

Would you like to stay overnight in a tent, or motor home, or perhaps sleep in your car or van within the safety of a gated entrance ?

This Saturday Event on the 11th of October 2025...when we are in Daylight Savings...is all about doing something different together, outdoors, as we will be visiting Tawharunui Regional Park located about 30 minutes beyond the well known region of Matakana, and its famous Farmers Market.

Tawharunui Regional Park sits at the end of a long peninsula, amidst rolling pastureland and beaches, holiday homes and white sand beaches.

Arriving at Tawharunui Regional Park, we drive through the electric gates, into this Bird Sanctuary and Predator Proof Fenced Off area of Marine and Coastal Bush Walking areas, as well as other outdoor activities, to enjoy including swimming and surfing, and a Campground .

Also at Tawharunui Regional Park is an abundance of native birds, and seabirds, cattle and sheep, and spring lambs...And the North Island Brown Kiwi..Our main reason why we are visiting here to find .

Kiwi were introduced to Tawharunui in 2006. With years of concentrated pest control management and rejuvenation of new bush planted by hundreds of volunteers, Kiwi and other birds here at Tawharunui have thrived and introduced many people like you and me, to the opportunity to see in the dark, on our night walking event.

If you carry a red light Torch or Headlight specifically pre-purchased quite cheaply from Overseas websites like Temu , there's an even better guarantee for you to spot these Kiwi Birds tonight.

Alternatively if you carry a torch covered in red Cellophane, your chances are very limited to see the Kiwi here as they go about their hunting for food, scratching around in the forest floor here amongst the regenerating manuka and low forest . If you're very, very quiet, we may be lucky , and have better choices of spotting these North Island Brown Kiwi, by having a handheld Red Light Torch or Headlight ..these make seeing through the bush easier...as they provide an actual beam of red light ahead..to spot the Kiwi...without disturbing those nocturnal native birds...Kiwi are particularly sensitive to White Light Torches..there glare sends them panicking quickly to hide in their burrows.

So tonight's Adventure Night Walk has a Total Ban on using a White Light Torch other than around the Campground after it gets Dark..

Pre Bookings for staying overnight are made easily via the Auckland Council Website or by phone call. Adults are $18 .

No Children or Smokers or Guests tonight please.

Stealth And Quiet walking is essential if we want to guarantee seeing Kiwi tonight.

Your participation with these rules , are easy to enjoy, especially if you are already interested..

I will add the links to follow for you to pre-purchase Red Light Torches or Headlights in the important RSVP Questions section.

From our previous Night Walking Kiwi Spotting Events with other groups...At best Red Cellophane only blocks the White Light , and its difficult to see your feet in front of your face. Get Committed to having a proper Red Light Torch or Headlight instead from Temu or AliExpress, these cost less than $10, and the better ones, as a Headlight are around $20 delivered within 7 days mostly. Spin the wheel on Temu, and you may even get your purchase for Free..

All the rest of the Important Details are Coming Up soon.

Numbers are needed to make this Saturday October 11th Trip go ahead .

Join us for this small group tour on this evening Night Walk for Spotting Kiwi .

We will split into quiet groups, so be sure you bring a Red Light Torch please.

Updates closer to this Event .

Please RSVP to show interest.

There will also be a Sunday Nature Discovery Loop Walk happening here, advertised on
a separate Event. Useful if you are interested in Camping overnight. More details coming up soon.

Any questions please contact me directly yourself by text or call me Mob 0274 779495.

Until later, kind regards Stephen French.
Feet First Auckland Tramping Club Organiser.