Waiuku Forest / Waikato Heads Rover Ramble

It promised to be a nice day for a ramble, so we set out with a picnic to explore Waiuku Forest. The 4 wheel drive tracks through the trees were shut off. (They are used by 4 wheel drive clubs by arrangement) There were other tracks though (rough and corrugated enough for me) that eventually ended up down near either the river or the ocean beach.

We had read about this open-cast mine that supplies the iron sands for Glenbrook Steel Mill
We were keen to have a quick look so had to engage 'low gear' to get in!


It was quite impressive. The forest trees (pine) appear to be growing in sand dunes.

Here are the views from a couple of different carparks. You can see the sea in the distance.




We found a nice picnic spot for lunch. We were kept entertained watching a family unloading their horses then setting out for a trek.