Opanuku Pipeline Track

Minutes by car from downtown Henderson, suburbia gives way to bush that is the Cascade Kauri Regional park, where the magic of the bushclad Waitakeres comes to life.

The Opanuku Pipeline track is one of a network of tracks throughout the park and can be accessed from Mountain road or Christian road. Though the basic walk is listed as 1.4km, 45 minutes, it links with other tracks so trampers or trail runners can make it as long as they like. Finding the Mountain Road entrance might be challenging, if you have been there, please let us know at NZPlaces so we can post advice.

Council advises: "The Opanuku Pipeline Track is a gravel driveway following the pipeline from Mountain Road to the Opanuku Stream picnic area (10 minutes). The track then climbs steeply along a clay track, and through a short tunnel just before Christian Road near the Waitakere Filter Station."

A clearing in the bush works as the Pipeline Track campground, book beforehand with the Council.

A fantastic walk by day, this route takes on a special life at nighttime, as the only place on our planet one can see Bioluminescent Limpets.

The Opanuku Stream also hosts freshwater crayfish, and longfinned eels, sometimes quite massive.