Taraire Track
Waitakere Ranges Regional Park
- 1 hr loop track
- Easy/medium
A short loop walk at Karekare.
Walking time
|
1 hr |
---|---|
Distance
|
2.2km |
Type
|
Loop track
|
Grade
|
Easy/medium
Narrow track over rough ground with poor marking. Grades explained
|
Bookings
|
No bookings — open access
No — open access
|
Starts
|
Lone Kauri Road, above Karekare car park. |
---|---|
Ends
|
Karekare Road just north of Karekare car park. |
Maps
|
NZTopo50-BB30
|
Altitude
|
2m
–
156m
Altitude change 154m
|
The Taraire Track explores the forested valleys in behind Karekare, providing a good contrast to the blacksand beach walks. The track can be hard to follow due to variable marking standards and a heavy coating of taraire leaves obliterating the path.
Karekare is accessed by turning off Piha Road onto Karekare Road or Lone Kauri Road. A large car park by the beach fills up quickly at weekends (accessible toilets here). From the Karekare car park, head south along the road until it climbs for a few minutes. Watch for the "La Trobe Track" signpost at the view of Karekare Falls.
Take the track over a bridge and down to the bottom of the falls. There is a picnic area here under pohutukawa trees.
The Taraire Track leads uphill. The narrow track climbs through wind-sculpted pohutukawa and kanuka, into a forest of karaka, taraire, and young kauri. After 30 minutes the track eases off and drops across Company Stream, the small stream that leads over the falls. A vague track leads down the valley. A few marker pegs lead uphill and over a second easy ridge to the La Trobe Track junction. This track is currently closed.
An easy stroll through manuka and tree ferns leads to another small stream: cross Murdoch Stream and follow it most of the way down the hillside to the road.