Picture this—you put your phone on airplane mode, grab your shoes and backpack and head out to the wild to explore the lush ranges. Is there a better way to escape the hustle-bustle of city life and take your mind off daily case numbers? With the Waitakere ranges being less than an hour away from the big smoke, you’re going to want to check out this verdant track which reopened last year after three years (and a hell of an upgrade). As always when out and about at Alert Level 3, remember to keep distanced from other groups and mask up.
The Ōmanawanui Track along with Puriri Ridge Track is a six-kilometre upgrade to the Te Ara Tūhura / Hillary Trail, so named because it’s the hills and beaches the legendary Edmund Hillary walked to prepare for his expeditions.
Make a day of it and take the new scenic route from Huia and Whatipu. Load up on sandwiches and sunscreen as this track is 12 kilometres long which will take you five and a half hours each way.
The track previously closed to protect the Kauri trees has now reopened and lays out beautiful views of the wild west coastline all the way to Mt Taranaki. With multiple upgrades, including thousands of box steps, hundreds of metres of boardwalk, and a new lookout on the highest point to take in the 360-degree view, this new trail should go straight to the top of your must-do list.
Trampers can now hike again from the Karamatura Valley through to Anawhata, following the recently built tracks connecting Huia and Whatipu.
To summit up (see what we did there), it’s time to pack your bags and conquer one of Auckland’s great tracks. For more details about the track, click here.
The Details
What: Te Ara Tūhura / Hillary Trail
Where: Waitakere ranges, Auckland
Fancy a shorter walk? Check out our list of 19 stunning walks in Auckland.
Image credit: Auckland Council.