📌Okahukura Peninsula (2 nights)

On the 27th-29th of March, we will visit Okahukura peninsula for three days to hike some of the coastline and Atiu regional park, just north of Auckland. Okahukura peninsula is within the Kaipara harbour which is the largest in the southern hemisphere. Our base with be at Courtyard house located in the centre of Atiu regional park, where we will stay for two nights.
We could be joined by day hikers for the three different hikes we have planned over the weekend, and as well as after hike drinks etc at Courtyard house on Friday and Saturday.

As with all overnight weekend hikes, if it is your plan to skip Sunday's hike then please change your RSVP to "Not Going". On future hikes, you will also be unlikely to join the Going list.

🚩 Summary of details:
📌Duration: 2 nights or option to join us for a day
📌Friday distance: 9.8km (optional)
📌Saturday distance: 17.2km
📌Sunday distance: 10.3km
📌Map of Friday hike: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ph8tr (optional)
📌Map of Saturday hike: https://tinyurl.com/2bd2zrnk
📌Map of Sunday hike: https://tinyurl.com/4b6jdyb9
📌Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 2.5-3.5 (overall)

📌 Friday :
Manukapua island: We plan to hike around the northern half of Manukapua sand island. Day hikers may join us at the start beginning 10:00 on 555 Okahukura Road, Tapora. This hike is optional, otherwise please go direct to Courtyard House. You can arrive at any time on Friday after 14:00 at Courtyard house. Please try not to arrive after 21:00

🚩Saturday hike:
Oruawharo heads to Manukapua island
We commence at Journeys End Road where we cross private forestry land (permission granted) to reach the high point of Oruawharo heads at 155m high. This area has been recently milled however it is still worth crossing through this area. After about 45 minutes we get to the coastline where we follow it until cross an estuary near Birds Beach. It should be mainly a sand under foot rather than mud. The tide will not be at lowest point at this time so be prepared to have some of your legs wet. It is extremely unlikely we will be swimming. After we cross this estuary, we reach a sand island that take us to Manukapua island and the access road back to the finish. We will likely be joined by day hikers for this route.
(Estimated time 6 to 6.5 hours including breaks)

🚩Sunday hike
Atiu Regional Park
We start at the top of the hill where there is and access road and car park. Everyone who stays at the Courtyard house will need to walk just over a kilometre to this place uphill to meet the day hiking group. Those who stay at the Courtyard house finish at this place, the reminder continue to the car park.
The walk has rolling pastures, wetlands, native forest, plentiful birdlife, and beautiful views of the Kaipara Harbour. The car park, where we start has public toilets. The land was purchased by young British-born Pierre Chatelanat in 1951. An extensive programme of land clearance, fencing, roading, tree planting and building was carried out by Pierre, and then by his staff. The property was gifted in 2006 to Auckland Council.

🚩 These are the 4 important stopping points to note.:

👉 1) Courtyard House, 414 Run Road, Tapora
(Where we stay for 2 nights, & initially meet)
https://tinyurl.com/epyjv9v4

👉 2) 251 Journeys End, Tapora
Where we start the Saturday hike (along the coast to Manukapua island)
https://tinyurl.com/2pjss3th

👉 3) 555 Okahukura Road, Tapora
Where we finish the Saturday hike
https://tinyurl.com/3je49ckb

👉 4) Main entrance, Atiu Regional park, Run road
(Start and finish of Sunday hike at Atiu Regional park)
https://tinyurl.com/2993sz93

📌Accommodation: We stay 2 nights at Courtyard House, which is at 414 Run Road, Tapora. Turn right at the Ātiu Creek Regional Park sign into the Bach entrance driveway. You will need an access code to get through the locked gate. Follow this road for a further 1.7km and Courtyard House is on the top of the hill. Please park your car in the courtyard

The house can cater for groups of up to 12 people You will need to bring your own bedding, i.e. bottom sheet, sleeping bag/duvet, and pillow as well as a towel. Please also bring a sleeping mat as several beds are queen sized or doubles - unless you would like to share!
Bedrooms:

• Master bedroom: queen bed
• Bedroom one: two single beds
• Bedroom two: queen bed
• Bedroom three: four single beds
• Annex: queen bed

The kitchen:
Utensils, cutlery and crockery, and dish washing detergent provided in the kitchens of the main house and annex.
Main house: large open plan with fridge and upright freezer, microwave, walk-in pantry and two dining tables that seat 14 people
Annex: small open plan with fridge/freezer, electric stove, and small round table that seats four.
Bathrooms: Three bathrooms two in the main house and one in the annex. There is one toilet in each bathroom.

There is a rubbish bin inside each building. Use the rubbish bags provided, and place tied bags in the wheelie bin outside the main entrance.
It is not possible to camp outside or sleep in vehicles.
The cost is $36 per night, which is a total of $72

Time line (guide only)
📌 Friday:
10:15 Start optional hike to Manukapua island (with possible day hikers)
13:40 Finish hike - day hikers depart back to Auckland or
14:00 Courtyard house for drinks before departing
14:00 Earliest time to check in
18:00 Snacks and drinks for those who have arrived
19:22 Sunset

📌Saturday:
07:32 Sunrise
09:30 Meet for briefing
09:35 Drive to Journeys End
10:00 All arrive at Start of hike
10:10 Introductions and briefing
10:15 Start hike
14:32 Low tide
16:45 Finish hike
17:05 Over night people arrive back at Courtyard House
18:00 Day hikers approx back in Auckland
18:45 Group dinner at Courtyard house (Time TBC on the day)
19:23 Sunset

📌Sunday:
07:33 Sunrise
09:15 House cleaned and packed up
09:20 Depart House and walk to start but leave cars there
09:40 Everybody at Te Atiu access road car park at top of hill
09:50 Introductions and briefing
09:55 Start hike
13:00 Finish hike
13:15 Depart to Auckland
14:00 After hike drinks and snacks at Wellsford Inn - optional (TBC)
16:15 Approx arrive back in Auckland
19:30 Sunset

🚩 Check list of items to bring: https://tinyurl.com/ye8r6mr9
🚩 Metvuw rain forecast : https://goo.gl/9zpzs9

🍔🍗🍷 Saturday night Dinner:
On Saturday night we will have a shared dinner at Courtyard house, please bring a plate of prepared food to share with everyone - thank you.

🚩 Costs:
$25 to your driver - if passenger (based on 10c/km with 2 passengers)
$72 for 2 nights accommodation
$77 Total (More for extras such as food and drinks)

🚩 Payment: You will need make payment of $72 by 9th March for the accommodation. Payment can be made into ANZ Bank "Hiking Aotearoa" A/C number: 06-0145-0782760-00. Please write as a reference "Te Atiu" and your name that is the same as your Meetup name, so I can identify you. Please do NOT leave payment until the last minute.

RSVP Questions: https://tinyurl.com/bd2tuver
Thanks 😊
Russell

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