North Shore Tramping Club
Orokawa - Homunga Bay, Day 2 Waihi & Wentworth Valley Whangamata.
Mini weekend, Saturday 5th April to 6th April
Medium options and medium fit. Daylight saving ends this weekend!
Tents will be required but not carried if you are not intending to sleep on the bus!
Saturday: Leaving Como Street 8.00 am. Our destination will be the northern end of Waihi beach to begin the Orokawa and Homunga Bay tracks Enjoying views of the Pacific Ocean and Waihi Beach and view bays with mature pōhutukawa trees, the track then leads on and winds around the headlands north of Orokawa Bay, leading to the popular fishing location of Homunga Bay and meeting the bus at Ngatitangata Road. For those wanting an extra side trip will divert from the Orokawa track and head up to the William Wright Falls track and then return to the Orokawa track.
NOTE Orokawa Bay beach is not considered safe for swimming due to the steep gradient of the seafloor.
This is classed as an advanced tramping track, expect some steep hill climbs and about 5 hours tramping to do all 3 tracks.
From Ngatitangata Roadwe will drive to the Wentworth Valley in Whangamata and camp the night at the Wentworth Valley campground, which will give you the option of tenting or sleeping on the bus.
Sunday: We will head up the Wentworth Valley visiting the popular Wentworth Falls and onto the Whangamata track (Note some of this track about 1.5 Kl is a 4-wheel drive track so you can expect a deeply rutted clay track at times and possibly vehicles) It’s from here we will pick up the famous Wires Track named after the telephone line which used to run through the Maratoto area, remnants of these old telephone poles can be seen along the track. This line was the last to be completed in the Auckland to Wellington telegraph route and the last link in the national telegraph network, before construction in 1872 messages came by couriers across the rangers. The track is well marked and gives lovely views across the Maratoto area, once you have completed the Wires Track you will have traversed the Coromandel range to the waiting bus to return you to Takapuna.
This also is classed as an advanced tramping track about 5-6 hours.
Cost: $110.00
Organiser: Chris Peard 021 277 0270
Driver: Chris Peard
