Cascade Kauri V2

IMPORTANT: Please ensure you use all of the Council provided Kauri Dieback shoe wash stations you come across on the trail. Scrub then spray.
Please clean your shoes before running and after you are finished. We are all responsible for helping minimize the spread of this nasty disease.

Start beside the information board at the car park. Follow the gravel path downhill a short distance and cross the stream on the small swing bridge. Follow Auckland City Walk track for about 1.2km past a couple of side tracks and over a small bridge until you reach Anderson Track.

Turn right onto Anderson Track and after a short distance you will come to a stream crossing. You could try rock hopping but you may as well wade through because you'll be getting wet and muddy later anyway :-). The track then ascends steeply up a series of steps that will get you puffing nicely. Towards the top of the climb you enter a beautiful grove of young kauri trees and at about 2.5km reach a junction where you turn right, following the signpost to 'Waitakere Tramline Walk'.

A short, gnarly downhill (watch out for slippery boulders) spits you out on the Waitakere Tramline Walk. If you look left you will see a gated tunnel that heads under Scenic Drive and eventually reaches Swanson. You, however, will turn right and follow the tramlines that serviced the Waitakere Dam back in the day. There is one short tunnel further along where you will need to mind your head. A torch is not necessary unless you are a little nervous. Stop halfway through, wait for your eyes to adjust, and you might be rewarded with a small glow worm display.

Soon after after exiting the tunnel you will see a magnificent waterfall across the valley. The water comes from the Waitakere Dam and can be quite spectacular in times of high rainfall. A little further along the tramline is a unique water feature. I'll let you discover that for yourself rather than spoil the surprise :-).

A short distance on is a fence across the track where a slip has made it impassable. You are forced to leave the tramline and climb a series of concrete steps to reach a paved Watercare service road. There is a toilet here but no drinking water. Go across the dam and at the far end head straight ahead to follow Fence Line Track into the bush rather than turning left beside the lake.

Follow Fence Line Track mostly downhill for about 1km. Turn left onto Cascade Track. This is a more technical trail and has a sign stating "This track is suitable for experienced trampers only". The first part is steepish downhill and trail shoes with good grip would be helpful. Cascade Track is about 1.5km long with some large and healthy kauri on display.

Turn left onto Upper Kauri Track and follow this to Long Road Track. Head straight ahead and bear right a short distance later and keep on Long Road Track. Follow Long Road Track downhill for 3km and then turn right onto Whatitiri Track.

Whatitiri Track crosses some farmland where there is a frisbee golf course (more properly known as "Disc Golf"). The track re-enters some bush and follows the stream back to the starting point with a couple of stream crossings to help clean your shoes.