A Lava Flow Forest
Welcome to Roy Clements Treeway. Established about 30 years ago under the leadership of Roy Clements and with the world of over 2,000 local area students. The treeway is on the North end of Kerr Taylor Park. There are several entrances to the Treeway. The walk is mostly flat on a nice boardwalk following a creek.
Warning:
1) The water of the creek is considered highly polluted. Under no circumstance should you enter or approach the creek.
2) During heavy continuous rains, this area can be subject to intense flooding, occasionally putting parts of the boardwalk under water. Check conditions before coming to the site.
Earthcache logistics:
Parking can be found near the park entrances, but can be a bit tricky. I recommend taking your bike or walking to the Treeway. Bikes can be ridden on the boardwalk, just pay attention for others.
If you walk, this cache should take you under an hour and you will walked between 3 and 3.5km. I recommend going in order, but you can start at any position in the park and answer the questions as you walk.
This Earthcache should not be done at night, as you won't really be able to see to answer the questions.
This cache can be fun for all ages, but make sure you pay attention to kids so that they don't enter the creek.
At no point for this Earthcache should you NEED to leave the boardwalk and leaving the boardwalk is not encourage. Although you may elect to leave the boardwalk at Waypoint 4.
Mostly, HAVE FUN!!!
---So, let's get to the GEOLOGY.---
As you walk along the boardwalk you'll see remnants of the longest lava flow in the Auckland volcanic field. The lava flow originated at Mount Saint John (Titikopuke) and reached the sea at Meola Reef (Te Tokaroa). The edges of this lava flow now define the course of Meola Creek (Waititiko).
Much of the creek is now unnoticed due to the sprawl of the city, however a unique forest has established itself on this basalt rock. Lava rock forests have no soil, trees must anchor themselves into the rocks as soil builds slowly. Normal lava forests are drought prone, however the impervious layer of igneous rock beneath the surface here keeps the area wet. This area was once considered a "Cabbage Tree Swamp".
A huge reservoir of water sits beneath you. This area is a natural aquifer, the area between Mount Roskill (Puketapapa), Mount Eden (Maungawhau) & Big King (Te Tatua-a-Riukiuta) all contribute water to this aquifer. This is the largest aquifer in Auckland covering 25 sq km and up to 50 meters deep.
An aquifer is a natural underground reservoir of water, held in the space of the rock (or sands or gravel).
The below aquifer is made up of a huge network of underground cracks and tunnels that were formed in the lava as it cooled after a series of eruptions spanning the last 30,000 years.
Much of the water in this aquifer, naturally flows up from the spring in front of you at the posted coordinates. This water is naturally filtered by the rock and is often surprisingly clear.
The spring here feeds Meola creek, which is primarily above the water level below. The creek bed has an impermeable rock bottom, thus preventing the ground from reabsorbing the water and the water flows down the creek.
Please enjoy your walk along this boardwalk. There are numerous birds, trees and other animals to be seen here.
How to log this Earthcache:
(Answered to be sent to my geocaching account, photos can be posted with the log.)
A) At the posted coordinates you are looking at a spring from the aquifer.
Q1) Please describe the water level and the water clarity of the spring at the moment. (Note: if there is no water, simply state this.)
Q2) Please take a photo of yourself, your GPS, a personal item or a paper with your caching name with the spring in the background. (Photo required for logging, so I know you saw it yourself). (See example photo in photos)
Update - 14 Feb. 2023: The photo is absoluetly REQUIRED to be attached to the log, no exceptions. Do not send the photo to the CO, post it in the log. This photo only need to be proof you visited. It can be as simple as your caching name on a piece of paper. Thank you!
B) Around the area of WP2, look at the larger tree roots.
Q3) Do the roots penetrate the ground? Why or why not?
C) At WP3, you'll be on a small bridge over the creek (please do not move past the gate). Look down at the creek water.
Q4) What is the water level and water clarity like here?
Q5) How does the water clarity here compare to the water around the spring (at the posted coordinates)? Why do you think this is? (If there was no water around the spring, simply state this and skip this question).
D) Above WP4, you'll see a hill clearing, the view from the top is a nice view of the forest. At WP3, closer to the path, you'll see a strange formation on the ground.
Q6) (Optional) Do you have any idea what this formation could be?
E) Around the area of WP5, you'll see some larger rocks. From the bridge you will also get a nice view of the rocks.
Q7) Describe the the color and texture of these rocks.
Q8) What type of rock is this?
Need help?
Are you confused on a question? Don't stress! I'm looking for answers that showed me you went to the site and tried.
If there are any problems I will contact you.
If you have any further questions, please feel free to send me a message, read the information boards along the boardwalk or look at the following references.
Logging:
Feel free to log this Earthcache immediately.
However, after 10 days, any log that is not accompanied by a message with the answers and a photo will be unceremoniously deleted.
Update - 14 Feb. 2023: The photo is absoluetly REQUIRED to be attached to the log, no exceptions. Do not send the photo to the CO, post it in the log. This photo only need to be proof you visited. It can be as simple as your caching name on a piece of paper. Thank you!
References:
Auckland Council. “Details about Auckland Walkways, Paths, Trails and Tracks.” Auckland Council, www.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/parks-recreation/get-outdoors/aklpaths/Pages/path-detail.aspx?ItemId=74.
“Meola Creek.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 16 Dec. 2019, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meola_Creek.
The information boards in Roy Clements Treeway provided by the Albert-Eden Local Board and the Auckland Council.
