Saturday, June 2, 2012

Mt Parihaka

Today dawned bright and cheerful.  I had arranged to meet the two ladies that pre-walk our Monday walks and walk up Mt Parihaka.

 Mt Parihaka is a volcanic dome rising 241 m to the northeast of Whangarei city centre.  It is about 20 Million years old and part of the harbour Fault which also includes Parakiore near Kamo.


Although it was bright and sunny it was quite cool in the shade but perfect for walking.  It was a nice gentle track to start with until we came to the waterfall where steps had been constructed.  After that it eased off again.  The sign says it is a 40 minute walk and the other ladies had done it in slightly less than that but I timed us at 45 minutes when we still had another couple or so to go to the top.  


I hadn't been to the top even though you can drive to it and the view was magnificient.  My camera didn't do it justice.


                                           A small waterfall on the first part of the track


                                           Three photos of small plants at the side of the track



                                         The view from the top
 The War Memorial.  I understand that at 9 p.m. the floodlights go off and the  red cross is lit.
                                            The track going back down

 In the above photo if you look carefully you can see the stairs going up alongside the waterfall.

I am very pleased with myself.  I did get a bit out of breath but I always do when going uphill but thoroughly enjoyed it.  On the way home I did a large supermarket shop and not much else.

16 comments:

  1. A lovely walk and great photos, the greenery is all NZ. Well done Susan. Cheers from Jean

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  2. NO DOGS (last pic); I shall keep my two away from seeing THAT!

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    1. We passed a couple of dogs on the way and there were another couple at the lookout - all on leads though.

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  3. wow such blue skies! It's our jubilee weekend here in England as I'm sure you know and in true tradition, it is cloudy with rain forecast!

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    1. And I thought you were having good weather. What a shame.

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  4. Sue, that walk looks really beautiful. The weather looks good too.

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  5. Fine again today for the Monday walk which will be shorter and flatter. Did you see the Maori waka on the Thames?

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    1. No - I must have missed that one, what a shame. I watched the flotilla - it was spectacular. What caught my eye were the little boats they'd used at Dunkirk. They were just amazing.

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    2. On our news it said that some of the crew got hypothermia - not surprising as they were on the river over 7 hours and wearing very little. There were other boats from N.Z. apart from the waka.

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  6. That view looks wonderful, how fit you must be to climb like that, I would need an ambulance and that's if I ever got to the top. lol
    Briony
    x

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  7. Briony - I can still feel those muscles - ages since I did anything other than a flat walk!

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  8. Glad you liked the selection of books.
    I don't like reading the same type of book all the time so try to get a variety.
    Just thought others might be interested in them.

    I don't think I'd have the puff to climb anything more than the stairs these days. lol
    Briony
    x

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    1. I must note the books down. The walking ended up a bit much for me on the Monday walk as it was cold in the shade and I ended up having to go to the G.P. for a new asthma puffer. I only get it mildly in the cold.

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  9. Hello...nice to 'meet'you ... blogging is such a wonderful thing...it always amazes me how it can bring together likeminded people ... bring new friends into our lives.

    It all looks very exotic over there... so different than dampold Wales....keep the potos comming...look forward to reading more.

    Vicky x

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  10. Hi Susan, thanks for following us.

    You live in a beautiful part of the world!

    Look forward to reading more.

    Kay :)

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