Peninsula Season - Hereweka

Hopefully sea lions don't attend this run after last week's Peninsula fun! There is the possibility of showers this Thursday evening with a light sou-westerly change, however, not enough to deter us from another Peninsula outing. There is a combination of single track, farmland, unsealed road and tarmac on this route. This week we'll meet in Portobello (see location - parking near Penguin Cafe on Highcliff Road). The route commences with a run up Hereweka Street to Hereweka Track (or Leith Walk on some maps). The track ascends through farmland and can be slippery when wet, before reaching a low saddle and running down through bush to a unsealed road leading to Hoopers Inlet. Picking up Hoopers Inlet Road we run along to the start of Nyhon Track. However, this week we only briefly stay on this track before turning off onto the Smith-Larnach Track. Initially flat, there is an uphill scramble through scrub before emerging onto farmland trails leading to the summit of Hereweka (Harbour Cone). The descent off Hereweka is a little rocky and rapid down Bacon Track and Bacon Street to Broad Bay. We join the newly constructed cycle path on Portobello Road before a short stretch over a promontory by climbing up and then down Beaconsfield Road back to Portobello. Estimated distance of 10.5 km and approximately 500 m of total ascent. Come prepared as always, as there is little to no shelter on route.