Photograph Shows the Frank Holman Memorial Track Rout 2. Route 2. LOOP TRACK FROM THE QUARRY ARTS CENTER TO KAUIKA ROAD WEST OR VISA VERSA. Frank Holman Track Via Pa Site 1.
This is the longest and toughest of our three routes. For the purposes of this section of the portfolio we will enter the Coronation Reserve at the Kauika Road West entrance, turning left to take the upgraded stepped Frank Holman Memorial track which runs the length of the reserve across the top of the hills and exits at Russell Road. However, on this shorter route we will follow the track to the intersection of the old track in route 1, a clearing with a large Rimu tree at the far end where we turn left and follow the old track through pa site 1 until we come to the down track to the Quarry Arts Centre and lookout track. You can either take the lookout track or continue on down to the Arts Centre. The photographs will show you the entrance and exit. N.B. If you follow the lookout track you will have to retrace your steps back to the central track.
The following two photographs form a panorama of the centre area of the Coronation Reserve - Photographs taken from Fifth Avenue.
Looking out onto Kauika Road West from the small bridge over the creek inside the entance.
The intersection of the Kauika Road West entrance track and the Kirikiri Road entrance track. Photograph taken above the Kirikiri track looking towards the Kauika entrance. Note the metaled clay of the upgraded lower track.
The creek covered by Parataniwha, Silver Fern, and seedling Kohekohe and Nikau Palm.
Part of the upgraded track, staircases now make access easier for some, although there are a large number of steps until you reach the old track.
A common grass throughout the reserve, shoeing its flower head, Christmas Eve early morning, 2013.
A comparatively small clump of this grass. Some are very thick and tall.
This sign shows you when the track gets tough and the tough get going.
A mature Kohekohe trunk (Dysoxylum spectabile) surrounded by seedling Nikau Palms (Rhopalostylis sapida).
Young Nikau are prolific.
An undergrowth of Nikau and Silver Fern (Cyathea dealbata).
A Filmy Fern (Hymenophyllum), growing at the side of the track above the steps.
Anothersmall fern growing beside the track. Not sure if this is a filmy fern or not.
Photograph taken Christmas Eve, early morning before sunride, by flashlight.
Another clump of possibly the same fern. I find ferns very difficult to identify.
Totara make up a large portion of the mature trees, and there are lots of Kohekohe saplings.
I just couldn't resit photographing this wonderful reserve.
TWO LARGE KAURI (Agathis australis) there are two large kauri on this portion of the track. Please stay on the track when viewing these iconic trees. The Alwyn Owen Kauri and the Coronation Kauri.
The first of two large kauri on this section of the track, I will call the Coronation Kauri to save confusion.
The trunk of the Coronation Kauri (Agathis australis). note the climbing plant which is unusual for a Kauri because the shed their bark.
The Coronation Kauri is further along, but when viewing these trees please stay on the track.
The Alwyn Owen Kauri from a distance.
INTERSECTION OF OLD TRACK AND UPGRADED TRACK CLEARING. As mentioned in the introduction you will come to a clearing which is signposted (see photograph). There is a large Rimu on the top of the partially concealed section of the Frank Holman Memorial Track to the rest of Route 2. Turn left down this track and continue with caution, because although the track is mostly very good, in places it is very difficult and narrow.
Turn left at this large Rimu (Dacrydium cupressinum) at the back of the clearing.
The track goes down for a stretch, before flattenning out and upwards again as you near the difficult section.
This dog-leg is sharp and steep.
Other parts are simply magnificent.
Parts of the track are very difficult to negotiate.
Steep, beautiful and guarded by Tane's sentinals.
What looks like a fungal disease is affecting a large number of Tanekaha in the Coronation Reserve.
The difficult section. Care must be taken when negotiating this section of the Frank Holman Memorial Track as in parts it is very narrow, with a steep bank on the up side and a drop down a steep bank on the other side. Some parts are merely tree roots for steps, others are loose leaf vegitation on clay. It is not recommended that this section be attempted during the wet season.
To the right is a steep drop.
There are some magnificent views out over the reserve. Note how small the Nikau Palm centre screen looks.
Another view through the bush.
A lot of young Nikau Palms in this part also.
Just roots and clay. The track gets more difficult.
Parataniwha signals a dark damp area, but some parataniwha is very dry..
The effect of the drought on the parataniwha in some areas. February 16th 2013.
This centre of Route 2 is very dry in February 2013, bur in the wet season it is tricky.
The Selaginella is dying also.
The small ferns seem to be holding up okay.
A large tree came down across the track, during a winter storm, 2013, but council soon had it cleared again.
The track winds through a dense part of the bush, in the central area.
The accompanying slip with the fallen tree, opened up the centre of the bush somewhat.
Down in the valley. The bush is quite dense in parts.
A young Bush Lawyer (Rubus cissoids) begins its climb.
The narrow track curves around the bank with a steep drop down the other side.
Some of the natural steps have turned to dust. Will be a mess when the rain comes.
The climb up the root steps towards the ridge.
A totum pole of epiphytes.
When you reach the top of the ridge, the track flattens out to follow the grass access road on private land, for a few hundred metres, then plunges back down to an undulating portion of the track.
'Upon The Ridge' not the 'Drifters' but the conquerers look up to the canopy and daylight.
A canopy of Kohekohe (Dysoxylum spectabile), Taraire (Beilshmiedia taraire) & Tanekaha (Phyllocladus trichomanoides).
For a while the bush on top of the ridge is dence rainforest, but it soon turns to fern and sedge plants.
Tane's sentinels still gurd the track.
The bush thins out as totara (Podocarpus totara) and tree ferns (Cyathea sp.) take a dominant role.
Cordyline pumilio, the Pygmy Cabbage Tree, Ti Rauriki or Ti Koraha, found growing on the side of the track. When not in flower it can be mistaken for a grass or sedge.
The sedge grass almost covers the track.
Looking north from the top of the ridge across the private access road.
The access road has somewhat overgrown since winter.
The track through the fern is still difficult for a while.
Another dog-leg. Care must be taken if comming from the Arts Centre to the South as you can miss this turn and walk off the track. look for the orange waymarkers at all times.
The track winds between Kohekohe & silver fern.
Two totara on guard duty.
Totara forrest (Podocarpus totara). Almost at the intersection to the down track. Note the orange waymarker.
Kohekohe and fern on the track side..
From the bush floor to a metalled track. This metal track goes right through to Russell Road, but we turn right at the intersection.
This gap in the mettaled track might have something to do with rain water during winter. There are a couple of these wooded-off areas.
The intersection of the Frank Holman Memorial Track and the stepped track down to the Quarry Arts Centre. You will know when you are approaching the stepped track down to the Quarry Arts Centre as you pass over a very narrow part of the track that has a steep drop down the right and a steep bank to the left. It then travels uphill until you are parallel to to a grass access road on private land, the down track is a little further on to the right. The private land is not fences, but was a now harvested pine plantation. The lookout track is about halfway down the stepped track off to the left, about a ten minute walk there and back.
You can stop and resr for a while. These forms are dotted around the reserve. There is one at the intersection, although this particular one is at the bottom near the creak.
You travel down trough fern.
This large totara is on the right as you go down, only about 50 metres from the intersection.
You pass through groves of tree ferns.
The stepped track through the fern.
A levelledp portion of the track winds through the fern.
More steps.
Silver fern - Cyathea dealbata.
The lookout at pa site 1. The following photographs of Whangarei City from the lookout were taken in July 2012, late morning. the early morning mist has cleared and the sun has moved around to the left of the lookout. The camera was a Canon Power Shot A 480. You will note that there are a number of invasive plants like gorse and wild ginger, moving into the exposed areas of the reserve, a problem that is occuring in most northern reserves where the climate suits some oerseas introduced species.
The sign at pa site 1.
There are stepps from the pa site sign to the lookout.
The tree fern is Cyathea medullaris - The Black Tree Fern or Mamaku.
The short track to the lookout is undulating but very good.
Back to the main track down to the Arts Centre.
Cyathea dealbata (silver fern).
The mighty have fallen. This large Kohekohe is still growing even though it has fallen.
More tree fern.
Nearing the bottom now. You soon meet up with Parataniwha and the creek banks.
The track levels out towards the bottom. A clear section before the Parataniwha.
The steps swing around the corner to a rest area above the Parataniwha.
The upper footbridge over the creek.
Looking down the creekbed from the upper footbridge to the lower footbridge.
The guard-rail from which the above photograph was taken.
We come to a trickle stream. The banks are covered in Parataniwha (Elatostema rugodum).
Through the Parataniwha banks. A breathtaking sight.
At the end off the track we surprise a group of California Quail. Not the Raupo sedgein the swamp to the left
The lower bush.
The exit or entrance, whichever way you choose to go.
This sign indicates a Kiwi Zone. Dogs not allowed. Unfortunately dogs cannot read. I see dogs in this reserve, moreso at the Kauika Road end, on almost every trip. I dought there are any Kiwi left.
The Quary Arts Centre. Stop and look around.
Quarry Arts Centre. Note the visitor's parking is off to the right.
The Coronation Reserve behind the Quarry Arts Centre. The lookout is further to the left of the photograph.
The Reserve from the Arts Centre.
The shop.
THE END - I hope you have enjoyed our walk and love Route two as much as I do. It is rugged and even dangerous at times, but so much more interesting because of it, and it has so much history.