abtcnorthcotetakapuna

SMITH’S SMUGGLE

Northcote - Takapuna Sun 28 March

This outing focussed on three of Auckland’s volcanic craters plus a remnant of Auckland’s
original native bush. Eighteen trampers had an interesting time looking at the native plants
and trees and the legacy of extensive volcanic activity so many many years ago.

Our start point was the carpark at Onepoto Domain, whose playing fields occupy the
reclaimed bottom of the first of these large broad craters. Most people think of Auckland’s
volcanoes as only being the “mountains” such as Mt Eden, One Tree Hill and Rangitoto
Island, but there are just as many less obvious places such as Albert Park and Auckland
Domain and broad craters like Orakei Basin, Panmure Basin and the three on this trip.

We climbed out to Sylvan Ave. and roadbashed into Exmouth Rd. to the reserve at the
bottom near the motorway. A track runs from there into and along the edge of our second
volcanic crater, Tuff Crater or Tank Farm. Unlike Onepoto, the base is a broad flat of
mangroves covered by water at high tide. We had a rest stop at a lookout at the end of
this track before our second roadbash. A woman who had come to the lookout to enjoy
the sun and relax had her solitude interrupted for several minutes.

Our next port of call was Smiths Bush, a remnant of the original native bush. Russell
handed out some photocopied leaflets explaining the features of a marked nature trail, and
we had a very interesting time just dawdling and studying the native flora. The most
impressive part of the bush was Cathedral Grove, a “clearing” in the bush surrounded by
large majestic puriris.

Our longest roadbash, along Northcote and Taharoto Roads (both very busy main roads)
brought us to the last and largest of the three craters, Lake Pupuke, and the historic
Pumphouse. Heaps of geese, seagulls and ducks were enjoying scraps thrown out by
picnickers. There were some boys swimming off the jetty enjoying the last of the summer
weather. Lovely choral music was wafting out from a concert taking place in the
Pumphouse theatre. But our tummies had to wait - the cafe we were to go to at tramp’s
end was closed.

We found a cafe five minutes further on, in the Takapuna shops, where we gave our
wallets some exercise while waiting for the drivers to be taken to their cars and bring them
back.

COST: $2