19 October 2007

Panto Track

page 4

That view I promised you...

We're right up high now and below us to the right a little is the sharp edge of a vertical drop off. We'll follow this for a while, and here and there we find small side tracks leading out to a vantage point.

Onwards.

Another view out. It's an absolutely marvellous day out there, and cool and fresh and slightly earth and leaf mould smelling in here.

I mentioned the generally vigorous growth along here, and this young hangehange demonstrates it in spades

As we crest a small ridge, the bush becomes less tall, more open and a little scrubbier.

then we're back into it again.

There are myriad ways that bush can frame a track. One of the beauties of the Waitakeres is that this frame changes almost constantly.

Here's a rata heading at speed up the trunk of, I think, a rewarewa.

and here again is that fine mix of pine trees and natives.

We head across to the edge of the drop-off for another dose of scenery,

then back into the pines and natives again. To anyone accustomed to the austere Woodhill Forest floor, this is like a holiday in a greenhouse or conservatory.

Here's a lacebark (Houhere). They're all along here but not obtrusive or dominant as they can be along the Piha Valley Track, when whole sections of track can be carpeted with flowers at times.