Mt William Walkway Return

Greetings Everyone - On Sunday we are going south of Auckland to hike Mt William Walkway both ways. This walkway includes two summits (Mt William (373m) and Puketutu (379m)) with expansive views of the surrounding countryside, rolling green hills with farm animals, and Mt William Scenic Reserve with a variety of native forest.

Duration: About 4.5h hours hike including stops.
Distance: approx. 10km.
Total ascent: approx. 320m
Difficulty: 2.75 on our 1-5 scale for day hikes.
Speed: medium
Toilets: Yes

● Cost: - $15 for car poolers

● Hike description:

• Main difficulty is big hill climbing.
• Climb up Mt William gains about 310m elevation quite steeply. Climb up to Puketutu trig from Puketutu Road gains about 100m elevation, and there is some additional moderately steep up and down on grassy ridge between the two summits (elevation range about 65m).
• Walkway is mainly on farmland which can be soft and boggy in places during winter or after rain. Tramping track through the scenic reserve can be rough and quite muddy in places.

● Important Notes:
YOUR HIKING BOOTS MUST BE CLEAN! We need to protect the Kauri trees.
Some of the tracks/rocks can be slippery, care must be taken. Good clean walking shoes/boots should be worn.

● First Timers & Regulars:
Welcome First Timers to Hiking Aotearoa, we look forward to meeting you. We ask Everyone to bring a gold coin donation to help pay for the website and more safety equipment for the group.

For those wishing to donate directly this is the bank account:
06-0145-0782760-00 - Many thanks

● PLEASE: No smoking, animals, children or guests.

● Health and Safety Information:
Each person who participates accepts responsibility for making their own determinations and for their own safety, conduct and well being; recognising that there are hazards in attending group and outdoor activities and agrees to participate solely at their own risk.

● Preparation is the key to having a good day:

• Check the weather - do you have the correct clothing and shoes?.
• Do you know where the meeting places are?
• Prepare everything you need to bring.

● Meeting Places and maps:
Mc Millan Rd. : https://bit.ly/3CpAaRU
After at the Good Home: https://bit.ly/3CpjmKP

● Carpooling:

• Carpooling will be arranged for everyone meeting at New World.
  Just ANSWER the RSVP question. Do not mention in the comments section.

● Time Guideline: All Times are Approx.

08:15 - Good time to arrive New World
08:30 - Car pooling arranged
09:15 - All at Mc Millan Rd.
09:20 - Inductions/start hike
13:00 - approx. finish of hike
13:30 - after at the Good Home Takanini (optional)
14:30 - leave for Auckland

● Bring:

• Day pack
• Lunch and drink, (1-3L Water)
• clothing suitable for the season
• sun and emergency rain protection
• first-aid items.

● Biosecurity Information:

• To help prevent the spread of Kauri Dieback disease all shoes must be free of soil and seeds. (we'll also use any footwear cleaning stations provided along the way);
• To help avoid dirtying someone else's car (if you are a carpool passenger; please bring a plastic bag and extra footwear for after the hike).
  All food should be packed in sealed rodent proof containers.

● RSVP:
If you are unable to come please change your RSVP status otherwise you be marked as a no-show. A no-show will get you barred from attending some hikes, so best to avoid that!

See you on Sunday - Karl