A group of 15 drove to Tanekaha Forest at 300 King Rd off Cove Rd, near Mangawhai, approx 90 mins drive(118km) from central Auckland. Volunteer work by the Mangawhai Tracks Charitable Trust had constructed the Tanekaha Falls Track and Tanekaha Forest Track which connect with the Brynderwyn Ridge Track(part of Te Araroa Trail), thereby creating a triangular circuit through this forest park. Also of interest, is the thriving kiwi population, released in the last few years into the Marunui property next to Tanekaha Forest. Consequently, volunteers have also ringed the forest area with predator traps to protect the growing population. The traps are dotted all along the track route. For more about the Marunui Kiwi conservation click the link below:- http://www.naturespace.org.nz/groups/marunui-conservation From the carpark, a few minutes walk takes you over a stile, across private property and a swing bridge to reach the track. We started up the Tanekaha Falls Track, a very pretty route through bush that crosses the stream several times and then climbs up beside a series of waterfalls on the true left. There were some signs from logging days including the remains of a kauri dam and a less obvious rutted track section formed by a bullock team. After about two hours and some steep sections of climbing we joined the Brynderwyn Ridge track. After 30 mins easy walk along the ridge we stopped for lunch in an open grassed area with views to Waipu Cove and the Whangarei Heads in the north, and Hen(Taranga) and Chicken Islands eastward. For more on these islands click below: http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/7887/the-hen-and-chickens-islands After lunch it was just another 10 mins on to the trig point above Mangawhai settlement, the view long since obstructed by growing scrub. You had to climb the trig to glimpse a view. The track then re-entered the forest for the downhill return to our start point, and completion of the triangular circuit. We started at 10 am and returned to the cars just after 2pm, a good time for a group of 15.