2007 Waitakere Ranges - Wheeler Stream

We wanted to repeat a Waitakeres off-track trip of long ago when we went in search of Kauri dams but found giant paretaniwha plants instead. So some detective work was in order. We managed to isolate the date of the previous trip (15-5-1994) but the trip description only said "with Skiddy off-track in search of kauri dam relics". After challenging our secretary's record keeping skills, I was amazed to receive full details including date, tracks and those present! Very impressive. Meanwhile, Skiddy had located the inspiration for the original 1994 trip - a schedule in the back of the old Waitakere District Scheme, so the trip looked like a starter.

We set off across the A.R.C. access on Anawhata Rd and headed north along the Kuataika track. After a pleasant morning tea by a stream, we were stopped in our tracks by a small creature, 50 odd metres away, fast approaching us down the track. This stoat was on the hilarious mission of impersonating the "road runner" cartoon character. We watched it for ages and it was headed straight for us. The startled look of surprise on its face when it found 6 legs right in its path was priceless (sheer frozen quivering panic!). It exited stage right before we could deal to it with our sticks and leki pole. Leaving the main track, we dropped into the Wheeler stream and after about twenty minutes or so we found the remains of a small old kauri dam complete with beams, rafters and steel rope strewn about. A dark and damp place for sure, and cameras needed flash. Continuing downstream through the Paritaniwha which was armpit high in places, we negotiated several cascades and falls, but failed to find the giant fat trunked Paritaniwha of 1994. But we were very happy to have seen the old dam, which was never found on the original trip. Back onto the main track system and then down over the Anawhata Stream meant we had a big climb back to the cars at Chateaux Mosquito. 6.5 hours and 13.5 km.