📌Mahia Coast (3 nights)

On the 18th-21st December, we will embark on a four day visit to the Mahia area to explore portions of the coastline and traverse an abandoned railway. If you are an adventure enthusiast, then this hike is almost undoubtedly the pinnacle of hiking experiences, potentially ranking among your best hikes ever. While there are some challenging sections to navigate that may stretch your limits, the breathtaking landscapes and man made features we will encounter are truly remarkable.

Furthermore, on Day 3, we will embark on a hike along the coastline surrounding Mahia Peninsula. Our hike will take us beneath the cliffs on a broad shelf composed of siltstone, which has been uplifted and tilted over millennia due to seismic activity. We will conclude our hike by traversing Onenui Station, where a car shuttle will transport us back to our starting point. It is improbable that your shoes or boots will become wet. We are not expected to observe any activity from Rocket Lab at Ahuriri Point, and any rocket launch scheduled for this day must not be in progress. However, should a launch occur and the area is restricted, then we have an alternative Plan B for a coastal hike further north from this location. Whatever option we choose, please bring more than enough drinking water, as there is almost no drinking source and very little shade.

If you are unfit and slow, or if you have any phobias such as a fear of heights, darkness, tunnel spaces, eels, Ongaonga, mud, getting wet, or even adventure and fresh air, then this event is NOT suitable for you. Regular participants will be given priority over those who only occasionally join our hikes. We must exercise caution regarding who is allowed to participate in this event. Should you wish to take part in this challenge, please add your name to the waiting list. We are confident that you will not be disappointed.

🚩The Railway line: In March 2012, a series of intense storms caused considerable damage to the railway line connecting Napier and Gisborne. The majority of the destruction occurred primarily between Mahia and Gisborne. These storms resulted in significant washouts, which ultimately led to the mothballing of that segment of the line.
By December 2012, the entire Napier-Gisborne section was taken out of active service, as the line had a history of high maintenance costs due to the challenging terrain, and this contributed to the decision to mothball the section. Further damage was inflicted on this rail line in 2023, by Cyclone Gabrielle.
Our plan is to hike just over 19km of this disused railway line in a northern direction, starting not far from Mahia. There are 11 tunnels to go through with the longest one (Tikiwhata Tunnel) just under 3km, all up there is a total of 6.4km of tunnels on this route. In addition there are several viaducts and bridges to cross, and parts of the railway line have been washed away. This will require some audacious and formidable detours.

📌Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 3.5 to 4.0 (overall)
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🚩Day 1: Thursday : Drive from Auckland to Mahia Beach. Short optional hike to Mahia Peninsula track loop
📌Map of Thursday hike: https://tinyurl.com/bdxtbean
📌Friday distance: 3.6km (optional)
📌Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 2.0
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📌Day 2: Friday Hike: Part of the Wairoa to Gisborne disused railway.
📌Map of hike: https://tinyurl.com/k324s9h9
📌Distance: 18.6km
📌Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 4.0
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📌Day 3: Saturday hike: Walk along some of Mahia peninsula coastline.
(First option) Map of hike: https://tinyurl.com/4wcdfrpr
📌Distance: 19.5km
📌Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 3.0 to 3.5
(Second option) Map of hike: https://tinyurl.com/44tk52ek
📌Distance: 15.2km
📌Difficulty: On our 1-5 scale, about 3.0
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📌Day 4 : Sunday drive back to Auckland
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🚩These are the 10 important stopping points to note.:
👉 1) Mahia Beach Resort, 43 Moana Drive, Māhia Beach
(Where we stay for 3 nights, & initially meet)
https://tinyurl.com/22ajvbhv

👉 2) Kinikini Road, Māhia
(Where we start & finish our Thursday hike)
https://tinyurl.com/bdcr9bzt

👉 3) 230 Kopuawhara Road, Māhia
(Where we start the Friday hike)
https://tinyurl.com/mu42tnx4

👉 4) State highway 2 & Matenga Road
(Where we finish the Friday hike)
https://tinyurl.com/mr4d9ycw

👉 5) 171 Wainuiorangi Road, Māhia
(Start of Saturday hike for Option 1 Mahia peninsula coastal)
(Finish of Saturday hike for Option 2 Mahia peninsula coastal)
https://tinyurl.com/bdh5bsy4

👉 6) Onenui station, 3141 Mahia East Coast Road, Māhia
(Finish of Saturday Option 1 hike for Mahia peninsula coastal)
https://tinyurl.com/2k7akh4h

👉 7) Mahia East Coast Road, Māhia
(Start of Saturday Option 2 hike for Mahia peninsula coastal)
https://tinyurl.com/554edyfw

👉 8) Sunset Point Tavern, 2 Ratau Street, Mahia Beach
(Where we have dinner together on Saturday night)
https://tinyurl.com/3czsmcbd

👉 9) Blucks Pit Road, Nūhaka
(Rocket launch viewing area)
https://tinyurl.com/k3v9yf8n

👉 10) Mahia Beach Store, 142 Newcastle Street, Māhia
(The only General store in Mahia)
https://tinyurl.com/bdf2vpyw

🚩Transport: According to Google maps it is expected to take 6 hours 45 minutes, but with breaks it will likely be 7 hours and a half. Depending on conditions. Google maps suggest either via Taupo or sometimes via Whakatane. It is approximately the same time taken going either way.

If you are a driver, for your own safety take enough breaks on the way down and back up to Auckland. If you are a passenger and there are 2 passengers per car then you will need to give $70 to your driver. If you are the only passenger, then give $110 to your driver.

On Friday's disused railway hike we will need some drivers to drive their car an extra one and half hours return, on State highway 2, for the car shuttle. Everyone will need to contribute a set amount as a compensation to these drivers.

🚩Accommodation: We stay 3 nights at Mahia Beach Resort at Mahia Beach, in cabins, and these have one double bed and set of bunks, so 3 people per cabin. Each cabin has a fridge/freezer, and the usual kitchen gear. However there are no kitchen sinks, so you will need to use the sinks in the communal kitchen, which is in the same block as the cabins, and adjacent to some of them. Additionally you will need to use the shared bathroom situated about 10-15 metres from the cabins. All the cabin beds have bedding and one towel per bed provided. (two for the double bed)
The cost is $28.33 per night, which is a total of $85. This includes the 15% group discount which they have given us. Check in time is 14:00.

There is also a small cafe (Tides Cafe) at the Resort where you can buy coffee or Ice Cream etc.

Make sure you bring enough food and drinks for this event as there is only one small expensive General Store (Mahia Beach Store) about a 10 minute walk from the Resort.

🚩Time line (guide only)
📌 Thursday:
08:00 Suggested time to leave Auckland
11:30 Low tide
15:30 Suggested time to arrive & check in at Mahia Beach
16:30 Optional short hike for those who have arrived
17:30 High tide
17:45 Finish hike
18:30 Snacks and drinks - probably in the TV room
20:33 Sunset

📌 Friday:
5:38 Sunrise
07:45 Car shuttle drivers go to finish on SH2 & leave some cars
09:05 All drive to start on Kopuawhara Road
09:15 All arrive at start
09:20 Briefing
09:25 Start hike of disused Railway
16:45 Approximately finish hike
17:30 Approximately back in Mahia
20:33 Sunset

📌Saturday:
05:38 Sunrise
07:45 Car shuttle drivers to finish at Onenui Station & leave some cars
09:15 Remainder drive to start
09:30 Arrive at start at Wainuiorangi Road
09:35 Briefing and group photo
10:00 Start Hike
13:01 Low tide
16:45 Approximately finish hike at Onenui Station
18:30 Optional group dinner at Sunset Point Tavern
20:32 Sunset

📌Sunday:
05:39 Sunrise
08:30 Depart Mahia Beach
12:30 Stop for lunch at Taupo (optional)
16:30 Approx arrive back in Auckland
20:40 Sunset

🚩 Check list of items to bring: https://tinyurl.com/mwh6pu8b
🚩 Metvuw rain forecast : https://goo.gl/9zpzs9

🍔🍗🍷 Saturday night Dinner:
On Saturday night we will have optional dinner at Sunset Point Tavern. This place is only one minute drive or 10 minutes walking, from the Beach Resort.

🚩 Rocket launches:
December is a busy month, and there are 11 scheduled rocket launches. Specific dates have not yet been provided, and the likelihood of witnessing a launch is relatively low. When there is a rocket launch, there is a 5km radius exclusion zone on land, sea, and air. However, if our timing is fortunate, then the optimal location for viewing the launch is at Nuhaka, which is a 20 minute drive away. For further information regarding their schedule and additional details, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/y4e6rm6k

🚩 Costs:
Passengers need to give to their driver:
$110 - if one passenger (based on 10c/km)
$70 each if 2 passengers (based on 10c/km)
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$20 Contribution to car shuttle drivers for extra 1.5 hours driving
$85 for 3 nights accommodation
$175 - $215 Total (More for extras such as food and drinks)

🚩 Payment: You will need make payment of $105 by 12th November for the accommodation and shuttle drivers. Payment can be made into ANZ Bank "Hiking Aotearoa" A/C number: 06-0145-0782760-00. Please write as a reference "Mahia" 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/dpad5rur
Thanks 😊
Russell