The southern Waitakere Ranges are close to Auckland City but are not much visited. On a sunny afternoon in mid-December I went by ferry to Auckland then by bus to Titirangi village in western Auckland. From there I hitch-hiked to Huia on the north side of the Manukau harbor.

After a pleasant overnight camp at Karamatura Farm at the entrance to the rugged Karamatura valley, I tramped up Fletcher track to a major ridge, then west along the ridge on the Donald McLean and Pururi tracks to have lunch at the start of the Omanawanui track on the road to Whatipu. This track is along a steep ridge close to the north side of the Manukau Harbor heads, so the views are magnificent. Because the tracks are along ridges there is no drinking water available.

After exploring the beaches at the north harbor entrance, I camped near the Whatipu caves on a sand dune between the wide beach and the coastal cliffs.

Next morning, after walking for only a minute along the road, I was given a ride into New Lynn, from where it was a quick bus ride to downtown Auckland, onto the Waiheke Island ferry, and home.

The pictures show highlights along the way. (For captions put the cursor over the pictures.)

In February 2004 I made a similar trip, but went by bus as far as the intersection of Victory Road in Laingholm with Huia Road, thus avoiding winding roads and busy traffic near Titirangi. I stayed the first night in the barn at Karamatura Farm, then walked on the road from Huia to Whatipu the next day because it was rainy and the tracks were already very wet from several days of rain. After an overnight stay at Whatipu Lodge camping ground, I tramped up the beach as far as Karekare, walked up Lone Kauri Road to the junction with the Odlin Timber track, then tramped over to the Karamatura valley and down to Huia Road. This time I had a ride immediately to the Waiheke Island ferry.