Twelve super-fit trampers took on the inaugural Govan Wilson to Dome walk, along the newly formed Te
Araroa Walkway track and Department of Conservation track near Warkworth. Starting from Bracken Ave at
7am meant getting heads off wentilillos before daybreak for some but we were all assembled at the start
of the track by 8.30am and ready to start. We had arranged for our cars to be parked at a neighbouring
property, as the car park area of the side of the road by the track start is abysmally inadequate - room
for only two cars and these would not be fully off the road.
The walk is very varied, following
forestry roads, through bush tracks across some open space and through DOC kauri reserve land. Some good
views down across Matakana and Warkworth and across to the coast. The walk would normally take over six
hours, closer to seven for a group, but our intrepid trampers made the journey in six hours, including
breaks. The weather was fine fortunately as some parts of the track would be quite difficult (clay inclines)
if wet. The one stream crossing is impossible after heavy rain.
We stopped for lunch at 1pm after
some solid work up a very long moderate incline. At our lunch stop, those who hadn't had a go with the
radios were shown how to work them by Peter Osborne. A little further on Peter led devotions in the kauri
Grove, three quarters of the way
through the tramp.
We climbed to about 360 metres at several
points, the second of which was a trig just above the Dome tearooms, where the track finishes. A tired
but happy group exited the track at the Dome tearooms for a coffee or milkshake and a pleasant wait while
drivers were taken to pick up their cars. A very good workout for those looking to do the summer or other
demanding tramps.
Special thanks to Nigel who offered his parking for our cars at the start of
the track and to Alex, who ferried two club members who left their cars at the end of the track.
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