DATE: Sunday 25th January 2026 (Auckland Anniversary Weekend)
×× Final Registrations by 12pm Saturday please.
PLEASE ENSURE ALL YOUR GEAR IS CLEAN!!
Organiser: Imogen
Phone: 0272898440
(All non-financial members please phone before 9pm to register, no texts - calls before 9pm thank you)
Driver: Issy
Meet at: 8am, 7 The Strand, Takapuna
(Financial members please register online).
Massey Uni: 8.10am @ 50 metres into University Ave by entrance to Student parking.
Silverdale Bus Station: 8.20am (on the bus stops on the road, not inside the station).
** If you live on our way to Kaipara (ie Helensville, Parakai), please phone the organiser for special pick-up location.
Cost: Financial members $20, non-members $25, Massey University Albany Tramping Club & (Not MUATC) Adult Students $10, Junior under 18 $5.
PLEASE BRING THE CORRECT CASH.
(Bring money/card if you'd like a drink, coffee or Ice cream on the way back).
We'll have different groups speeds today to accommodate different fitness levels.
If you enjoyed the during tramping swims at Karangahake Gorge two weeks ago, then this tramp will switch it up at Lake Ototoa on the South Kaipara Peninsula, Kaipara Harbour.and part of the Te Rau Puriri Regional Park, one of the more recent parks in the Auckland Council park network. The club hasn't visited Lake Ototoa for a long time. Let's make the most of this stunning park.
(This lake is also known as Lake Rotoroa, the omitance of the "R", was an error, that stuck for a while).
We will first walk the "tramping grade", unmaintained track, so there's a bit of tree fall, no gravel and maybe slippery in places. There's no major ups and downs for this track that follows along one side of the 1.3km long lake. This lake has formed over a very long time from sand blown inland creating a dam and a lovely clear lake. This is swim number one for those keen.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Rototoa
The second part of the tramp, we will move our Big Yellow club bus, a couple of kilometres up the road to the main part of Te Rau Puriri Regional Park. The view from the carpark up high, says it all, amazing views over the Kaipara Harbour. Kaipara Harbour is the largest naturally formed harbour in the Southern Hemisphere.
If you can tear yourself away from the views, we will walk down to sea level and surround tracks and explore the coastline, for as much as the tide will allow and a salt water sea swim this time on the incoming tide (low tide around 9.36am).
Approximate boot time is between 4-5 hours.
https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/en/parks-recreation/find-park-beach/park-detail/232.html
https://www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/content/dam/ac/docs/parks-recreation/map-te-rau-puriri-regional-park.pdf
https://safeswim.org.nz/locations/lake-ototoa
* There are Kauri at both parts of this park, so please ensure all your gear is clean. So we're not transferering any Kauri Die Back diseas and also keeping our bus clean. Please bring a change of clean footwear & bag for the bus trip back.
* A change of clothes for the bus trip back for those swimming might be a good idea.
YOU will also require plenty of drinking water!!!
Gear List: NSTC Gear List.pdf
Day trip policy: Minimum number of participants for trip to proceed is 10 for trips less than $20 and 12 for trip more than $20.
