Te Araroa 22/10/25

Day 28, Takanini to Pokeno (706)

It poured with rain last night and was still raining hard in the morning when I started.

The streets of Takanini in the rain

I walked in the rain through the suburbs of Takanini taking several wrong turnings. It's not really fair to say the suburbs of Takanini as it is really all suburbia being an offshoot of Papakura.

Papakura 

When I eventually found Papakura I treated myself to some breakfast before continuing on the busy road in variable amounts of rain.

View towards the hills, except you can't see them

Trail marker on a traffic free track through a huge industrial estate 

The rain eased to drizzle and as the temperature had increased I was forced to remove my waterproofs and walked for the rest of the day in tee shirt and shorts again.

Large industrial estate 

The rain never completely stopped and I'm sure I walked along with a little cloud of steam behind me from my continually wetting and drying clothes.

A quiet road that someone has misjudged 

I left the main roads and continued on very quiet ones until reaching Pokeno. I took a short cut by not climbing over Mt William as I couldn't even see the electricity pylons in the mist, let alone the hill. No chance of a view and it saved about 10k.

New housing approaching Pokeno 

The trail distance given in the heading today is misleading as it looks as though I walked about 40k but you have to take off the 10 from the shortcut, so 30k walked but I am at 706 on the Trail.

Nice old house by the road 

Te Araroa 21/10/25

Day 27, Mangere to Takanini (667)

A cloudy, windy day for a change but the sun did appear occasionally.

A nice bit around Ihumatao to start with.

Today's walk round the Airport and onwards was nearly all beside major roads with a lot of traffic.

The main road going under the motorway 

I must admit that, in a different way, I quite enjoy this sort of walking. There is always something different to look at and if all else fails I can count the wheels on the passing trucks.

At least there are pedestrian crossings at the junctions 

There was a nice little interlude as I walked through the Auckland Botanical Gardens.

Botanic gardens 

Unfortunately it wasn't quite the right time of year, too early for the roses and too late for camelias and magnolias.

Not many roses in the rose garden 

There were some very colourful sections however, notably the rock garden and the African plant section.

The rock garden

Back to the main roads again, past innumerable used car lots to Takanini where I had a very nice pie before heading for my b&b.

Level crossing at Takanini

There is a place I could have camped but it is 10k further on and when I was thinking about it last night I decided not to commit myself to a 40k day although, with hindsight, it might have been ok.

Entrance arch to the Botanical gardens 

Te Araroa 20/10/25

 Day 26, Auckland to Mangere (637)

Another bright day that was a little too warm for walking at times but I didn't have a long day planned.

Over the motorway 

I walked up through the city heading for Newmarket where I wanted to buy some liquid soap that was very good until I left it behind somewhere.

Newmarket 

I spent rather too long in Bivouac Outdoors and came away with lots of useful information as well as a new pair of trousers!

On then to Mangawhai / Mount Eden with great views over the city. This was the site of a large, fortified Maori settlement strategically placed in this well connected fertile place.

Auckland central from Mount Eden 

The hills here are all the remains of small volcanos and are significant Maori sites.

Looking towards One Tree Hill from Mount Eden

On then to the One Tree Hill area of Auckland where my aunt was active in local politics for many years and was, in 1999, awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to the community.

Epsom Croquet Club 

At last after many detours I reached the West Coast at Onehunga completing the Auckland Coast to Coast walk.

Footbridge over Manaku Harbour 

An impressive footbridge connects the ends of the old, broken, road bridge but it is spoilt by the motorway bridge nearby.

Motorway behind what's left of the old bridge

Around the peninsula to Ambury where I had initially planned to camp but I decided it was too early and I found a surprisingly cheap hotel near the airport and headed for that.

Ambury 

A nice walk round Ambury Regional Park despite the notice that said beware of swooping magpies.

Beware of the magpies 

A walk round a huge sewage processing plant brought me to the busy roads around Mangere but it wasn't too far to the hotel.

Huge modern sewage works, no smell!

Te Araroa 19/10/25

Day 25, Torbay to Aukland(614)

Another bright, warm and beautiful day as I set off down the road.

Leaving Torbay

I didn't expect today to be very memorable along the holiday coast north of Aukland but it turned out to be great.

First cafe stop 

It was a great day to be at the beach and everyone seemed to agree and families were out early enjoying every minute.

Beach morning 

I walked the road to Browns Bay and then along the beach as much as possible after that until Takapuna.

Youngsters sailing

And more getting organised 

I decided to walk through the centre of Takapuna partly because it was nearly lunchtime and also because I was interested to see what it was like.

Takapuna Sunday market 

I had a fantastic green smoothie and cheese scone for lunch and wandered round the Sunday market which seemed to be mostly selling jewellery.

Not many people on the rocky bits

Back to the beach then and at Narrow Neck  I met Ray Steele, a local trail angel who took me to the beach café for a pie and a chat before showing me round the sailing club which had a picture commemorating his son, Chris, winning the Optimist World Championship in 2007.

The Sailing Club

This area was where the Americas Cup races were held in 2021 and judging by the number of young sailors out on the water there is a new generation on its way to conquer the world.

Guarding Auckland Harbour 

I stayed on the beach, then rocks, around Takepuna head to reach Cheltenham beach and then up to Maungauika or North Head where there are some old gun emplacements to defend Auckland Harbour.

Aukland from North Head 

Down to Devonport then, ferry to Auckland and an hotel for the night. Very decadent.

A long way to go yet!

Te Araroa 18/10/25

Day 18, Orewa to Torbay (591)

A dividing of the ways today as the famous five have all gone in different directions, SJ and Di were staying elsewhere but Ruby and Charlie stayed at the Campsite and we went for a Pizza last night to celebrate before we split up this morning.

Leaving the campsite 

I had an early start to the day as I wanted to make sure I crossed the Okura estuary at low tide.

Sun starting to appear over Orewa

It was dark with a clear sky when I left the campsite at 06.00 and for once my tent was dry when I picked it up. Campsite kitchens are very useful for breakfasting and getting everything packed early.

Road out of Orewa

A nice walk around the Orewa River Path except for one bit that was closed for repairs but I was able to squeeze past the security fence.

Beautiful scenery around Stillwater

Road walking then to Stillwater but with some lovely countryside views although the last bit was quite narrow and bendy.

Heading for the estuary 

The estuary path then, firstly through grassy and marshy areas. Then onto the beach.

River estuary 

The beach here is very flat and consists of slippery stone and muddy sand but it is all nice and hard to walk on.

Waiting for the tide to go out

I got round to Dacre Point where the TA heads out into the estuary about an hour early so I was just 'sitting on the rock of the bay watching the tide rolling away' for a while contemplating life the universe and everything.

In the middle of the estuary 

The crossing was good, it feels like a long way from land but the footing is good, the water hardly moving and I just about avoided salting my nuts.

Safely across 

The costal path after the crossing was very busy with lots of people enjoying the Saturday sun and I couldn't blame them, it was a beautiful day.

The costal path

Long Bay Regional Park was heaving with people barbequing there lunches and it was nice to get onto the beach to escape the insanity. 

Long Bay beach

Up the hill at the end of the beach to Torbay then. I had intended to go on to Browns Bay campsite before I discovered it is closed but it then I found a cheap B&B in Torbay so decided to stay there.

Torbay