Parau Track, Waitakere Ranges
Waitakere Ranges Regional Park
- 3 hr 50 min – 5 hr loop track
- Easy
This is a neat walk that offers lots of loop options and views from the ridge to the sea. It takes you through young kauri forest, to dams, and over some lovely streams. This describes one option for a 4 hour Sunday walk.
|
Walking time
|
0 – 1 day
3 hr 50 min – 5 hr
|
|---|---|
|
Distance
|
10.0km |
|
Type
|
Loop track
|
|
Grade
|
Easy |
|
Bookings
|
No bookings — open access
No — open access
|
|
Starts
|
Parau. Go through Titirangi village, take left at roundabout. Just after you go through Laingholm and scoop underneath the Nihotupu Dam at Big Muddy Creek, you'll see a big parking area on the right. If you get to Cornwallis signs you've gone too far. |
|---|---|
|
Maps
|
NZTopo50-BB31
|
|
Altitude
|
Sea level
–
360m
Altitude change 360m
|
NOTE: THIS LOOP CAN NO LONGER BE WALKED DUE TO THE CLOSURE OF NIHOTUPU RIDGE TRACK
Head up the Parau Track (look out for Californian Quail, orchids and mini manuka (20cm) with flowers already!) till you come to the Nihotupu track junction and take a right.
When you reach the "Summit track" sign, keep going straight (follow red tin markers), unless you want to make your trip longer and head up to Hamilton Saddle, down to the Huia Dam and back up the Parau track from that end (adds an extra 7 km).
There's a clear junction to lead you back on the Parau track to your car (turn left).
The clay is slippery, there have been pigs on the ridges making a mess, and the start of the track has HEAPS of bastardy climbing asparagus. If anyone wants a project , like get a group of people together to sort this out before it spreads further in), let me know and I can find some toxins to help.
For more info and directions: http://www.arc.govt.nz/arc/auckland-regional-parks/western-parks/huia.cfm
| This track needs a photograph. |