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Part
Two
The forest park is in the centre of the island, the highest
and most rugged part of the landscape. Being a small island,
the highest point is only 621 metres above sea level, much
of the walk is in bush, and for the most part the tracks are
reasonably well marked. The map I used was drawn on a piece
of paper but I have recreated the route here on a map I have
adapted.
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Map
of the forest park area ~ red lines are the roads,
dotted lines are the tracks I took. |
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I began my walk after being dropped off on the road at the park
entrance on the high eastern point of Whangawahia, which
allows you to enter the park via Windy Canyon and is quite an
easy walk from there to Mt Hobson (Hirakimata).
From here, the track branches down to Port Fitzroy where
yachts moor, on their travels around the Hauraki Gulf. The track
down there is the steepest I encountered, but well worth it
because this side of the park is where the old kauri loggers
built their driving dams, and the landscape is very interesting.
A relatively short way down this track and you reach the dams.
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After clambering down the tracks to the dams, I retraced my
steps, climbing back up to the tops and from there I walked
down the long ridge towards the hot pools and southern swamp
area at Kaitoke, as the stars came out.
I paused to photograph the moon rising from the sea over Awana
Bay, and walked home to the place I was staying on the island,
in the moonlight. A great
day, in a wonderful place.
Photos
are on the following pages..
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