After a relaxing weekend in the forest we decided it was time to hit the trail and do a little adventuring. Gav and Daz acted as tour guides for the trip as we headed for the Waitekere Ranges. We walked the Zion Hill and Buck Taylor tracks then hiked up the Pararaha Valley. We were well equipped with tents, sleeping bags, water proofs, curry, beers and chocolate. Feeling generous we drove by the information centre and splashed out five bucks for a camping permit and took our touristy pictures. The tracks, with our loaded backpacks, proved relatively hard going… or perhaps it was our lack of fitness and poor sense of direction that was hindering us.

Eventually we made it into the valley, hid our bags in a bush and walked up stream towards the water falls. There was a little climbing and boulder jumping required but we managed to make it to the fall before sun down. We were hot, sweaty and without bathing suits; it didn’t take Gav long to persuade us to get naked and cannon bomb into the fall. The water was too cold to get in and check for rocks, so it was up to me to be the guinie pig. I leaped from the highest rcok and aimed for the white water. I did hit rock, but not very hard, and it was smooth enough to avoid any damage.

The invigoratoing experience was cut short due to the fading light and freezing water temperature. We arrived back at camp with enough light to pitch tents and cook our curry. There wasn’t much to do in the bush, so we beded down for an early night. I insulated and cushioned the floor of my single layer tent with dry grass, but was still insanely cold and no more comfortable than normal. I had a full layer of clothes on, wooly hat, fleece blanket and slleping bag, but was cold untill the sun rose.