Promenade from Portobello

Sorry for the later than usual posting…hectic week at work and I’ve been watching the forecast. It looks as though the weather will clear Thursday afternoon and remain dry, so an outing on the Peninsula seems reasonable. Now that I’ve typed that, just watch the forecast change! Meet outside the Cove Cafe (see location) in Portobello. This circuit is approximately 11 km long and covers both single track, farmland, unsealed and sealed roads. The total ascent is approx. 400 metres, but there is one particularly interesting uphill on the Smith-Larnach Track as we approach Coffee Rock. Starting from Portobello we’ll head up Hereweka Street and continue onto the track that ascends a low saddle before dropping down to Hoopers Inlet. A short run around the edge of the inlet, we then turn across farmland and onto the Smith-Larnach Track. After climbing to Coffee Rock, we’ll descend towards Highcliff Road and cross over to join Bacon Track. Descending beside Smiths Creek we eventually cross the creek and join Bacon Street out to Portobello Road. All that remains is a jog around the Harbourside, before a short climb up Beaconsfield Road and down into Portobello. Come prepared with a headlamp and outer layers, as there is little to no shelter on route. Hope to see you there!