A group of 25 enjoyed a nice sunny calm winter afternoon doing a circuit of some of the tracks in West Harbour. Beginning at Moire Park we set out at 1:55pm after one of the Chinese people gave the prayer in Chinese instead of the usual English. We followed the track through the strip of bush extending through Manutewhau Reserve to come out at Oriel Ave near the Westgate shopping centre. From there we climbed up through St Margaret’s Reserve to the summit of Flaunty Reserve for extensive views across the Waitemata Harbour to central Auckland.

We returned via Rena Place and West Harbour Esplanade to finish back at Moire Park about 3:20pm. When we reached the summit, one lady discovered she had lost her cellphone. She and one of the others returned the way we came hoping to find it, and reached the start point without success. We tried to ring her phone to see if an honest person had picked it up, but only her voicemail. She got into her car ready to go home - and there it was!

COST: travel from The Bracken $3 DISTANCE:  5.5km AVERAGE SPEED: 4.5 km/h MAXIMUM SPEED:  6km/h