Mt Manaia Track #2: Tribal Man(Whangarei Heads) Traditional Cache
Riser5: Reassessment needed.
Mt Manaia Track #2: Tribal Man(Whangarei Heads)
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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While heading up this hill, I happened across a little man, He was a lot smaller than your usual person as he was only about 25cm tall at most. He disappeared up the Punga and while I was trying to see where he went, dropped onto my bag reached in and grabbed a small micro geocache. Before I could stop him, he was gone... I saved the Approximate coordinates, I hope you can find him and it and maybe get out safely.
Time:It is suggested that it will take 1.5 hr to summit, however I managed to get to the Manaia Mania cache in about 25 minutes from the start of the path, this was not including looking for the caches, from here it wasn't too long to get to the lookout.
Approx 2.5 - 3 hr return to carpark, so remember if you are heading up in the later part of the day, take a light.
About:
Mount Manaia is one of a cluster of jagged, bush-covered hills that make the area one of the most dramatic harbour entrances in New Zealand.
The track leads you through regenerating native bush to the summit of Mount Manaia, 403 metres above sea level.
Your walk starts with a steady climb, and as the gradient gets steeper, the views get more spectacular with the Bluff lookout offering great views of Bream Head and the Hen and Chicken Islands.
About half-way to the top the track leads you past an impressive stand of large tree ferns; their shed fonds are creating interesting displays in the forest understory.
A climb right to the very top is only for those with a strong head for heights; but once there and even on the upper slopes, the view is as good as being in an aeroplane.
You must return the same way. The alternative return track is currently closed until further notice.
The Maori Legend:
"On top of Mt Manaia stood the pa of Manaia, paramount chief of Whangarei. Opposite, on what is now called Marsden Point, lived the chief Hautatu, married to Pito, the most beautiful girl in the district.
The jealous Manaia sent Hautatu to lead a war party to the Bay of Plenty and while he was gone built a causeway right across the harbour to Marsden Point. By night Manaia led a war party over the causeway to slaughter those left in Hautatu's pa and to carry the lovely Pito back to his mountain home.
In a rage Hautatu returned to successfully attack Manaia's pa. Manaia, his two children and Pito fled along the mountain top, chased by Hautatu, who was about to strike Pito down when all five were hit by lightning and turned into stone.
The figures still seem to run an eerie race across the mountain top, and regardless of the beautiful hiking trails to the summit, and the tiny communities at the foot, the fisherman said that to this day no Māori will live in the shadow of Manaia."
Here are a few links about Mount Manaia rather than posting too much to the page:
Independant Blog (Plenty of images)
Whangarei District Council
Whangarei: Love it here!
Department of Conservation
Wikipedia
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Jub lbh frrx vf oruvaq gur Chatn gerr
Treasures
You'll collect a digital Treasure from one of these collections when you find and log this geocache:
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