The Sport Waitakere “Walk it Series” is hosted each month by a different walking group. For more information visit www.sportwaitakere.co.nz
Sunday the 19th February 2012 at 8am is the start of the 2012 Sport Waitakere “Walk It Series“.
Walks in Auckland has contributed 5 walks to this series –
6pm Thursday 1st March from ANZ Henderson
6pm Wednesday 28th March from National Bank Blockhouse Bay
6pm Tuesday 1st May from National Bank New Lynn
6pm Tuesday 29th May from National Bank Glen Eden
6pm Tuesday 26th June from ANZ Westgate
Join in and discover walks in your own back yard! It is FREE! See below for more details.
It has been a challenge to find an interesting walk from Westgate Shopping Centre that meets our criteria – this one is not one of the best, but it does have a small amount of bush and a few ponds (where there are ducks that would be happy to be fed) to break up the monotony of new residential and the big box shopping area. Dogs on-leash.
It is great that a bridge has been built for pedestrians/cyclists to cross the Northwestern Motorway, to and from the West Harbour side. A walk to Moire Park is now achievable, and the residents of Massey and West Harbour have easy access to the shopping area.
This short loop walk begins from the cafe (Robert Harris and Sierra) area, and leads down to the newly formed ponds. We followed our noses and were surprised to find that we had walked as far as Royal Reserve.
One gem on this walk is the view towards the city skyline – an unexpected bonus.
Description: A mix of mostly level paths and slightly steep paths. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather.
To see: Native trees and fauna, new housing developments, City view.
Time: approx. 45 minutes. (about 3.4 kms)
Start: Westgate Shopping Centre MAP
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map, download this walk for FREE here and from our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our book “Best of the West“).
The Avondale Whau River walkway from New Lynn, was a new discovery yesterday. The Whau River is almost full of mangroves but it does have a boardwalk going across thanks to Dawn Persson’s commitment to the Avondale Community.
This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash exercise area and is a mostly flat walk – just one gentle rise after the boardwalk. The walking route is also suitable for prams/buggies.
You may like to pack a picnic or take advantage of the nearby New Lynn Cafes.
Description: A mix of mainly level paths and one slightly steep path. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather.
To see: Water birds, Mangroves, river views, boardwalk
Time: approx. 50 minutes. (about 6 kms)
Parking: Lynn Mall Shopping Centre Carpark
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map (AW-030 Whau River Loop) over at our Walks Store and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Dog Friendly Walks part 2” and “Best of the West“).
The Henderson Opanuku Stream walk comes under Project Twin Streams. A great deal of progress has been made. It is a very pleasant short bush walk among the native trees – two giant kauris and many macrocarpas, and the sound of birds.
This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash area. And a mostly flat walk.
More work needs to be done on making sign posting clear to encourage more people to get out and discover what a beautiful area it is. The area would also benefit from BBQ areas and children’s playgrounds to encourage more families to enjoy the outdoors.
The walking route is also suitable for prams/buggies and dog walkers (on leash only).
This is another walk that you can get to by rail and make it a day outing as Henderson Railway Station is close by. You may like to pack a picnic or take advantage of the Henderson Cafes.
Description: Mostly level paths. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather.
To see: Trees and fauna, stream, parks.
Time: approx. 75 minutes. (about 5.2 kms)
Start: Opanuku Reserve off Henderson Valley Road MAP
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map (AW-029 Henderson Opanuku Stream Circuit) over at our Walks Store and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Urban Bush” and “Best of the West“).
When I first came to live in New Zealand, I lived in Glen Eden. I had never visited Waikumete Cemetery until today. What an amazingly beautiful and fascinating place.
The Waikumete Cemetery takes up a huge area between Great North and West Coast Roads, with beautiful landscaping and fabulous trees. And there is so much history here – from the 1918 flu epidemic and the Gallipoli soldiers to the mausoleums of the wine magnates of Corbans and Nobilo. It is really worth visiting.
Part of this loop is a short bush walk where you may be lucky to hear the sounds of native birds, and even spot a rabbit dashing for cover.
The walking route is also suitable for prams/buggies and dog walkers (must be kept on leash within the cemetery grounds).
Description: A mix of level paths and steep paths/steps. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility (with good knees). May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather.
To see: Auckland City views, Waitakere Hills, trees and fauna, historical graves.
Time: approx. 60 minutes. (about 5 kms)
Start: Waikumete Road MAP
You may decide to arrive by train to Glen Eden railway station and make this a day outing.
The ‘Pumped Cafe’ at the station has good coffee and food or there is a new Columbus cafe on the corner of Oates Road/West Coast Road.
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map (AW-028 Glen Eden and Waikumete Cemetery) over at our Walks Store and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our book “Best of the West“).
Have you ever wondered what a “Block House” is? Well, today I found out.
The last Saturday of the month is Market Day in Blockhouse Bay’s main street. At the street stalls you can buy fresh fruit and veggies, fish, delicious breads, plants, sweets, dog food and more.
On Market Days (and each Tuesday) the Blockhouse Bay Historical Society opens the doors of Armanasco House (on the Village Green next to the library). Today I met Keith who explained to me that the old block house was a military building that was built so that it could withstand (or ‘block’) musket ball penetration. There were several block houses that were built in Auckland to protect the city from invasion during the Maori Wars.
The block house of Blockhouse Bay no longer exists, but the Society has a collection of photos and memorabilia, plus members have many fascinating stories.
This Blockhouse Bay circuit walk begins at the National Bank, winds through the newly renamed Gittos Domain (it was called Avondale South Domain) to Flounder Bay. It is an undulating short bush walk with steep paths and steps to test our fitness levels. There are many bench seats along the way. It is very peaceful with just the sound of birds. Many of the native trees have been sign-posted. At low-tide it is possible to walk along the edge of the Bays.
This is a dog friendly walk with an off-leash exercise area.
Description: A mix of level paths and steep paths/steps. Suitable for users of average fitness and mobility. May require boots in wet weather, running shoes suitable in dry weather. Caution: Muddy and slippery when wet.
To see: Native bush, Manukau Harbour views
Time: approx. 45 minutes.
Start: Blockhouse Bay Road
Suggested Cafes: The Block, The Bay Cafe and Icoco Cafe.
Stay on track…get your detailed guide and map over at our Walks Store (AC-027 Blockhouse Bay and Gittos Domain) and our Book Store (one of 12 walks featured in our books “Urban Bush” and “Coastal part 1”).
