PARIHAKA

We are trying to get back to having weekly walks up Parihaka.  Yesterday we walked up our favourite track - it is what I call the goat track as opposed to the others that are well formed and have numerous steps.  We had a walk along the river to start with and all up it was an hour's walk not to the top but still good exercise.  There are a few hazards in the form of fallen trees along the way.

NEW Mt. PARIHAKA LOOKOUT

A fortnight ago we walked up the Ross Track to the summit of Parihaka and discovered several people waiting for a helicopter which was going to fly a Kohato (rock) onto the new viewing platform.  We had known that it was about to happen but not which day and so we waited with Council staff, reporters, cameramen and other walkers.  It was quite a tricky operation as there is a War Memorial on the summit as well as several trees.

As we didn't know we would be seeing this I didn't have my camera with me (note to self - it may be time to upgrade my cell phone).

Last Saturday was the unveiling.  As usual we went to the Growers' Market and then walked Sophie on "The Loop" at the Town Basin.

There was a celebration for the opening of a new portion of the track.

After going to Doug's  to leave Sophie and have a coffee we walked up the Ross Track again to see the official unveiling of the Kohatu..

There were so many people there that it was hard to get photos so yesterday we went up by walking from Whaeora Road and up the Ponga and Dobbie tracks - a much longer walk and more of an effort in the heat of the day.

It was a better day for photos.

If anyone wants to read about it I found this link to the Council website. 

http://foreignaffairs.co.nz/2016/02/23/parihaka-lookout-opening-ceremony/

Another year older and Mt. Parihaka

Another year older today and I celebrated by starting the day (before it got too hot) by walking up Mt. Parihaka to see the new Lookout that has just been installed.

MT. PARIHAKA

Last time we walked up Mt. Parihaka I suggested that we do a loop walk.  This would have been a couple of months ago and we hadn't got around to it for various reasons.  (Some of them the same reasons that I haven't posted since February).

 Anyway, yesterday morning, Doug suggested that, after walking Sophie, we do this walk.  For those that know the area we parked at the Aquatic Centre and walked along Riverside Drive to Dundas Road - photo below looking towards the Town Basin.

We walked up Dundas Road to the start of the Ross Track (No photos as we were too busy chatting).

This is my favourite track up Parihaka - it starts off as a nice gentle incline.

with a small stream running alongside.

This is the entranceway to an abandoned Gold Mine dating back to 1909.  This is the first time I have seen inside it as, without the flash, it is very dark.

Next is the staircase alongside a delightful waterfall.  This is the staircase that Doug helped three firemen carry a walker down on a stretcher on one of the Parkinson walks.

Looking back down the staircase from the top.

One of the many kauri trees in the park

As one gets higher the vegetation changes.

The view from the summit.   (I read recently that the lookout is going to be replaced in the not too distant future)

Rather a lot of photos so the descent will be posted tomorrow (hopefully)

We didn't hurry and, as you can see, I stopped to take photos.  I see it took about an hour to the summit.