#Mercer Bay Loop Track

[ardn716oliviagardner]

WEEK 12: DOC SITES

With feedback from my critical friend Fern, she suggested that I add a section of the top doc sites in the north island - just incase people need inspiration for places nearest to them because I couldnt photograph them all.

With over 1541 sites across Aotearoa and 680 of those DOC sites in the North Island alone, I decided to filter tracks that were 1-4 hours long, and 'easiest to easy' level on the DOC website, making them accessible and achievable for most fitness levels.

My list is here! I couldn't narrow it down to 12 - I grew attached to all the photos of them haha so I thought the more the merrier!

1. Urupukapuka Island, Northland

2. Mangawhai Heads Walkway, Northland

3. Mount Manaia Track, Whangarei

4. Goat Island Walkway, Auckland 

5. Mercer Bay Loop, Auckland

6. Cathedral Cove, Coromandel

7. Anaura Bay Walkway, Gisbourne

8. Tarawera Outlet to Falls, Rotorua

9. Silica Rapids Track, Tongariro

10. Taranaki Falls Track, Tongariro

11. Deliverance Cove Track, Manawatu

12. Kapiti Island Tracks, Kapiti

https://www.newzealand.com/nz/feature/top-day-walks-in-the-north-island/

[ksparchomchuk]

Mercer Bay Loop Track

New Zealand

[tumblekai]

There is is this hiking track on Auckland’s west coast right on the edge of some cliffs dropping off 200m to the Tasman Sea. 

No better place to watch sky and sea.

[danrush777]

Mercer Bay Loop Track // West Auckland NZ

[chrancecriber]

1.FM - Chillout Lounge Radio (February 03, 2023)

23:58 Alex Cortiz - Phusion 23:53 Mark Gorbulew's Manhattan Groove - Dreamsville 23:47 Future Loop Foundation - Monika's Summer 23:40 Alpha X - Nocturnal Trip 23:35 Coronado (Pianofly Mix) - Bay Area 23:31 Va - Majorca 23:24 Madonna - Frozen 23:20 The Avener & Mazzy Star - Fade Into You (The Avener Rework) 23:16 Mel. T Waters - Glass Reflections 23:10 Banderas - This Is Your Life (Easy Life Mix) 23:05 Polished Chrome - Beautiful 22:59 Exit Mars - Gliding (Comfort Version) 22:54 Cafe Easy - Summerbreeze 22:48 Sin Plomo & Torsten Stenzel - Sweet Suffering 22:43 Noel - Chalito (Ibiza Chillhouse Lounge Mix) 22:38 Boozoo Bajou Feat. Wayne Martin - Every Hour 22:31 Hirudo - Spy From Cairo (Classic Instrumental Mix) 22:26 Peter Pearson - It's In The Stars (Original Mix) 22:20 San Martino - Es Cavalett (Piano Dream Mix) 22:15 Gary B - Set Me Free 22:10 Mercer - Scandal 22:05 Cats Love Dogs - Sunpearls (Paradise Lounge) 21:59 Kitty The Bill - Cabriolet Tour 21:53 Coastline - Adriatic Sea - Lounge Cafe Chillout Del Mar Mix 21:48 Bop - Enjoy The Moment (Unquote Remix) 21:44 No Logo - Matter Of Time 21:38 Schwarz & Funk - Remando Al Viento 21:32 4tunes - In The Middle 21:26 Phillip Ashmore - Luxury Living 21:21 Afterlife & Kid Stone - Sleazebag 21:16 Lange - Frozen Beach 21:10 Puff Dragon - Lava 21:01 Va - Soar Angelic 20:55 Frank Borell - Somber Moods 20:51 Flume Feat. Andrew Wyatt - Some Minds 20:46 Gelka Feat. Phoenix Pearle - Being You 20:43 Sued - Feel Me 20:36 Chicane - Saltwater (The Thrillseekers Remix) 20:31 Cafe Americaine - Kashmir Wanderer (Nylons Cut) 20:26 Pete Tong & Chris Cox - Ku Da Ta 20:20 Lullaby Lounge - Chill Del La Mer (Blank Cafe Relax Mix) 20:14 Blank & Jones With Jason Caesar - Hideaway 20:09 Shakrag - From Singapore To Ibiza (Tribute To Cafe Del Mar Mix) 20:05 Ben Leela - Dreaming A Dream 20:00 Sofa Surfers - Sofa Rockers (Richard Dorfmeis 19:53 Jean Martin - In My Dreams (Extended Remix) 19:48 Various - The Cure (Sunshine Mix) 19:42 Purplastic - Nathalia (Ambient Mix) 19:37 Peter Pearson - With All My Love (Bliss) 19:30 Roger Sanchez - Lost (Ibizarees The Unforgotten Mix) 19:25 Sine - Flying (Original Mix) 19:18 Verda - Es Vedra 19:14 Vibrasphere - Tierra Azul (Omnimotion Feat. Krister Linder Remix) 19:08 T Mo - La Ritournelle 19:04 Alex Cortiz - Fingerprints 18:57 Phil Mison - Lula 18:52 Citrus Jam - Pacific Snow 18:48 Morcheeba - Under The Ice 18:45 Isan - No. 1 (Lent Et Douloureux) 18:39 Fenomenon - Pacific Memories 18:33 Scott Simmons - Children (Mediterr-asian Chill Mix) 18:28 Fluff - Silent Life 18:23 E-love - Cause I Love You No More (Alster Lounge Chill Out Vocal Mix) 18:14 Aural Float - Dreamer's Dream 18:09 Farbor Resande Mac - Stockholmsnatt 18:04 Miraflores - Waves Of Love 17:56 Deep-dive-corp. - Relaxer 17:51 Heso - Never Ending Time 17:46 Mahoroba - Faire On Tour (Jazzmatic Lounge Mix) 17:42 A$ap Rocky - L$d 17:35 Alex Paterson - Flex-e-fun 17:31 Synthetic Substance - Eternity 17:26 Melibea - Fusion 17:22 York Ft Asheni - Iceflowers 17:14 Chilloutlounge - Track 3 17:09 Moorcheeba - Moog Island 17:03 Lounge Worship - Above All (Instrumental) 16:58 Manoa - Repeat It In Slow Motion (Trippin Clouds Mix) 16:54 Claes Rosen & Natalie Peris - Stay 16:46 Deep-dive-corp. - Bassic (Flow Mix) 16:41 Sunsea - Light The Fire 16:37 Jjos - Breathe 16:33 Mario & Vidis Feat. Jazzu - I'll Be Gone (Extended Original) 16:26 Rediophonic - Desert Wind 16:19 Language Lab - Burning Disaster (Groove Armada Bedtime Story Mix) 16:13 Lemonjazz - Gypsy Woman (Erotic Bedroom Affairs Lounge Chill Mix) 16:10 Gabriel Le Mar - Seaside (Original Vrsion) 16:07 Starlive Cafe - Playa Del Mar (Chillout Mix) 16:01 James Bright - Be 15:56 Ziller - Pearl & Dean 15:51 Sofa Sweeper - Voice Of Core 15:44 Freemasons - Love On My Mind 15:38 Night Traffic - Rain 15:31 Royspop - Summer Nights (Luxury Deluxe Del Mar Mix) 15:24 Lux - So La Ra Dsa 15:19 Wonderphazz - Memories (Chill Guide Mix) 15:14 Alex Cortiz - Glamourgirl 15:10 Adrien Aubrun - My Last Poem 15:04 Esteban Garcia Vs. Subworks - Runnin (Jazzy Dub Mix) 15:00 Va - For Want Of Her 14:56 The River Gods - Acadia House 14:48 Detson Engeneering - Wonderland 14:43 Hirudo - Waiting For The Sun To Rise (Out Of Style Mix) 14:38 Mastermind - Empty Road 14:32 Blue Metheny - I'm Calling Out 14:24 Joey Fehrenbach - Grandfather 14:18 Remote - Postcard 14:14 Jjos - Back To Me 14:09 Maricopa - Sun Scope 14:00 Tactful - No Fear 13:55 Guss - Milesing 13:51 Ku You - 40 Degrees 13:46 Sleepingroom Armada - Hope (Feat Inocencia Comas) (Easy Erotic Groove Lounge Mix) 13:40 Va - Red Muladhara 13:35 Fragile State - Every Day A Story 13:30 Vanegas - Te Voy A Querer 13:26 Mahoroba - Faire On Tour (Jazzmatic Lounge Mix) 13:20 Timewarp Inc - Epic Tones Feat Rxn (Sundayman 13:14 Jjos - Foolish Game (Feat. Deary's) (Evolution Vocal Mix) 13:07 Chicane - Low Sun 12:55 Aaron Bass - On The Beach 12:51 Moon Tribe - Moon Tribe 12:47 Roberto Sol - Miles Beyond 12:41 Kaxamalka - True Vibe 12:35 Pusteblume - Cold As Ice (Beautiful Chillout Mix) 12:29 Ralph Hildenbeutel - Hommage A Noir 12:26 Energy 52 - Cafe Del Mar 12:21 Shivana Faction - Talking In Whispers 12:14 Jjos & Fede Garcia - Foolish Game (Feat Deary's) 12:11 Air - Lost Message 12:05 Orange Music - Islandlover (Monotonic Trip Mix) 11:59 Steven Solveig - Boa Noite 11:53 Nautic - Freedom Of The Floor (Open Space Remix) 11:48 Gxr And Kathie Talbot - 5 A.m. 11:44 Shakes Seven - Best Friends 11:39 Blank & Jones Feat. Cathy Battistessa - Miracle Man (Beached Mix) 11:35 The Angelica Project - Another Skin 11:31 Chris Malinchak - So Good To Me 11:27 Cold Blue - Underwater Love 11:23 Chilling Crew - Frozen Time 11:18 Night Loungers - A Little Lazy Morning In Paris - French Kiss Del Mar Instrumental 11:13 07 - Paradise Circus 11:08 Bay Area - Santa Monica Blvd (No 17 Mix) 11:03 Dj Pippi - A Touch 10:59 Vanilla - Dreamcatcher 10:53 Va - Serpentine 10:47 Simon Bareilles - The Sound Of Silence (Feat. Sara Keys) 10:41 Blue Chakra - Free From You (Half Tempo Long Chill Mix) 10:37 Saigenji - No Meio Da Chuva 10:33 Mystique - Essences (Rico Van Basten Chill Mix) 10:29 Faith Hill - Love Ain't Like That 10:24 Sleepingroom Armada - Hope - Easy Erotic Groove Lounge Mix 10:17 Chilloutlounge - Allstars 10:11 Cafe Del Mar - Leftfield - Fanfare Of Life 10:07 Tranquillo - Elaborated Compassion 10:00 Man In The Moon Feat.debora Vilchez - Fragil 09:56 Monique Bon - La Musique 09:51 Ac - Meditarrean Sundance 09:45 Sangar - My Breeze 09:40 Avalona - Empty Streets 09:33 Matenda - Orphean Layback Remix 09:26 Milews - Miami Beach View - Sunset Del Mar Cafe Lounge Mix 09:22 Jupiter Jack - Blank Space 09:17 Air - La Femme D'argent 09:12 Ringo Orenji - Mikan 09:07 Pensees - She 09:00 Ibiza - Ibiza Blues Swing 08:57 Oh Wonder - Technicolour Beat 08:52 Collective Sound Members - Journey To A Dream (Original) 08:48 Noise Boyz - With My Own Eyes (Keys Of Da Sea Mix) 08:43 Conjure One - Make A Wish 08:39 Vibraphile - Waiting For You (Instrumental) 08:34 Sinan - 99 Reasonsfeat. Omenzeter 08:29 Un Homme Et Une Femme - Une Rose Pour Emily (Cafe Hotel French Del Mar Mix) 08:23 Synthetic Substance - Unreal 08:16 Fenomenon - Pacific Memories 08:12 Lemon Sol - Beautiful Morning (Piano Cafe Chillout To Ibiza Del Mar) 08:05 Magic Waves Feat. Mirjam - Tonight 08:01 Emapea - Laka 07:52 Mysticage - The Lips Of The Sun (Original) 07:47 Jeff Woodal - Silver Birch 07:42 Nujazzy - On A Sunday Morning (Facebook Affair Mix) 07:36 Jjos - One More Night 07:31 Skysurfer Feat Lovay - Circling Elements (Down By The 07:25 Dab - Pure Joy 07:20 Moon De Lounge - La Mer Se Calme ( Mounier Oriental Sunset Dub Mix) 07:16 3 Liquid Hz - Metropolitan 07:10 Machomovers - Smooth Operator 07:03 Jerome Isma-ae - Underwater Love 06:57 Alex Cortiz - Ibiza Trumpet Thing 06:53 Out Of Sight - Comfort (Afterlife Mix) 06:47 Steen Thottrup - El Alba 06:43 Marc C. Griso - Sex, The First Time 06:38 Gary B - Love Rain Down 06:32 Manoa - Walk This Way 06:28 Coastline - Adriatic Sea (Dj Lounge Del Mar Vs. Milews Ambience Mix) 06:23 Andras & Oscar - (I Know) What You Want 06:17 Massive Gold - Follow Me (Feat Jaywee) (Chillout Del Mar Cafe Instrumental) 06:12 Ling Ludd - Waterfront Dub 06:07 Dreamscape - Electric Emotion 06:00 Sweet Velvet - Recalling The Rising Sun 05:54 Sly - Like Love (Original Mix) 05:49 Jeff Woodal - Your Love (The Dark) 05:43 Dj Lounge Del Mar - Sentosa Beach Cafe - Tribute To Cafe Del Mar Guitar Mix 05:37 Rollercone - Daydreaming 05:31 Vargo - The Moment 05:25 Réve De Cabaret - Trust Me 05:20 Flamingo - My Friend (Mercer & Gissal Chilled Version) 05:15 Jo Manji - Lazy Loungin 05:10 Peter Pearson - Bossalove 05:05 Amethystium - Isabliss - Strangely Beautiful 04:58 Balearic Lounge Boyz - Leaving Home (Feat. Guitaragi) 04:50 Dr Drummer - Galactica Soul 04:44 Tosca - Mango Di Bango 04:38 Cesar Martinez Ensemble - Contigo Para Siempre 04:35 Erotic Lounge Deluxe - Gimme The Night 04:29 Peter Linski Experience - Everything Flows 04:25 Autopilot - Seen It All 04:19 Gary B - Set Me Free 04:15 Flume Feat. Andrew Wyatt - Some Minds 04:09 4tunes - Where Are You Now (Feat. Hed) 04:03 Victor G. De La Fuente Feat. S - Tu Despertar (Original Chill M 03:59 Liedschatten - Seaside (Original Mix 2006) 03:50 Toka Kakabadze - Urban 03:47 Dragon Lounge - Saigon Sundown (Asia Cut) 03:40 Chicane - Saltwater 03:34 Silent Poets - Moment Scale 03:29 Dj Milews - Children (Ambient Del Mar Winter Cafe Mix) 03:21 Groove Armada - Inside My Mind 03:15 Good Chillaz - No Motion (Jazz Relax Mix) 03:09 Jazz L'amour - Summer Dreams - See The Light Mix 03:03 Schwarz & Funk - Night Over Bangkok 02:57 De Clive-lowe, Mark - Day By Day 02:53 Lemon Sol - Beautiful Morning (Piano Cafe Chillout To Ibiza Del Mar) 02:48 Mamani - Glowing Desert (Aloe Trumpet Mix) 02:40 Chillsurfer Armada - Relax Your Mind (Cafe Buddha Del Mar Luxury Lounge) 02:36 Jjos - Know Me 02:27 Saint Etienne - Only Love Can Break Your Heart- Andrew Weatherall Mix 02:21 Manoa - Jumaira Drive 02:16 Omnimotion - Cozy Life 02:09 Mobymusic - Whispering Wind 02:05 Chillwave - Massage Del Mar (Beach Cafe Mix) 02:01 Vio Beach - Piano Chillout (Ambient Dream Mix) 01:55 Aloha From Hawai - Sunset Cocktail Lounge (Cafe Bar Chillout Del Mar Cafe Mix) 01:50 Pep Llado Feat. Antonio Martin - Vai Vedere 01:43 Yagya - The Phantom Of Us 01:37 4tunes - Where Are You Now (Feat Hed) (Kandi Hotel Enigma Mix) 01:32 Blue Six - Love Yourself 01:28 A$ap Rocky - L$d 01:22 Bright And Beautiful - Night Rains - Sound Of Ibiza Mix 01:17 Atb - Remember That Day 01:14 K Vassiliadis Ft Marien - Den Efiges Lepto (Dub Mix) 01:08 Rae & Christian - Still Here 01:04 Ultraviolet - Ready Or Not (Chilled Out Mix) 00:58 Schwarz & Funk - The Dawn 00:53 Visit Venus - Home 00:47 Pacator - Tränen (Marcielo Ambient Mix Instrumental) 00:41 Sine - Morning 00:36 Listening Deluxe - Guitar Dreams (Short Aqua) 00:31 Pathetique - Dis Moi - Instrumental Cafe Costes Del Mar Sunset Hotel Chillout Mix 00:27 Amethystium - Calantha 00:21 Aurosonic, Denis Karpinskiy & Kate Louise Smith - They Wait For Us (Chill Out Mix) 00:15 Bright And Beautiful - Night Rains (Sound Of Ibiza Mix) 00:09 Kosta Rodriguez - Purple Sky 00:04 Sofa Sweeper - The Sad Side Of The Street (Mellow Guitar Mix)

[rentcampervan]

Top Hikes Around Auckland

Whether you are planning a single day hike around Auckland or a multi-day hike, it is a good idea to opt for a campervan rental Auckland. It gives more wings to your trip and allows you to camp and set up space for the night. It also allows you to enjoy smaller trails without getting too tired. Here are a few hikes around Auckland that you cannot miss while planning your next trip. 1.    Mercer Bay Loop Track: Whether you are a beginner hiker or someone more experienced, this trail has something for all skill levels. You can also take your dog on this trail. It offers brilliant experiences as it is encompassed by a forest setting. 2.    Coman’s Track: If you are already planning the Mercer Bay track, try and start the trail from Coman’s track and walk via the Watchman’s Road. It is a 72km trail but, offers an incredible experience to the hiker. 3.    Rangitoto Summit Track: On your next visit to Auckland, do make sure to get this experience of walking along the Ragitoto Summit Track. You can opt for motorhome hire Auckland for the day or multiple days, and cover the tracks next to it. The idea is to enjoy the track and have fun during the trail. There is a dormant volcano along the coastal region. You can cover that as well during your hike. When you reach the top of the summit brilliant views are waiting for you. 4.    Massey Cossey Loop: It is located within the Hunua Ranges National Park, and is one of the finest walks around Auckland. You will find lots of birds waiting for you along this trail along with plants and bushes making it musical and enriching for everyone. It also houses a lake. This route is not only good for people who want to hike but also proven to be excellent for those who want to run. 5.    KiteKite Falls Path: This is a 2.7km stretch around Auckland that you cannot miss if you starting out as a hiker. It is a good idea to go with campervan rental Auckland, as it will allow to move in and out of campsites. This 2.7km also hosts a waterfall that makes the entire experience fulfilling. The best part about this hike is that it is accessible through the year. 6.   Duder Regional Park Loop: This is basically a farmland that hosts a beautiful hike too. It opens to beautiful views of the Hauraki Gulf. If you want to get a taste of adventure, then this is the trail you ought to take. However, this part falls right into the sun’s domain. So, make sure you carry a sunscreen or other protective cream. 7.   Puhinui Stream Forest Trail: This connects the Totara Park to the Botanical Gardens in Manukau.  You are exposed to more than 155 plant species while taking this trail. It is a popular picnic spot around Auckland. If you want to make the most of your trail and trip, you should opt for a motorhome hire Auckland.

[shes-wayward]

Bucket list or almost kicking the bucket?

I did the Mercer Bay Loop!! and it was beautiful!! I cannot believe I’d never done it before! its pretty steep, one side of the track is full of cliff-edge views, and the other is grasslands and bush.

Me and Chels set off at about 11.30, compensating for the time it took for me to get us lost, decide where to park, and navigate the construction crew- we got to the start (well one of two starting points) of the loop at about 12.30. It was very downhill and all I could think was “we’re going to have to walk back up this..”. There were a few stopping points, I walked into a few trees and low hanging branches, but the real challenge: was the mud.

Just after the first ledge, comes a very downhill path, which was straight slip and slide material. I ask a local who passed me if it was slippery further down and he said “oh yea mate, but its worth it”... Chels and I gripping trees and each other, managed to get half way down the path before it was evident we were probably going to fall over. I managed to crab walk down one side of the path, and land on a tree, and spent an hour talking Chelsea into turning around and going back because i’d rather see the view of the car than break my leg, but she was open to continuing walking, and managed to get herself down the track to where i was and then keep going. At this point we were in mild hysterics, laughing about the fact we had no snacks, and paranoid the rest of the track would be just as difficult, we suddenly became concerned about night fall? i said about seven times “an hour my ass”, in regards to the track only supposed to take an hour, but it took us nearly three- but to be honest without the mud it probably would have taken a lot less time. 

The view was worth it though, a couple passed us, obviously doing the track in the reverse order to us, and i heard one of them slip. 

After all of the adrenalin, nothing else that day seemed to touch on my fear at all- not even the height bothered me at that point. 

the very farthest viewing point is quite literally on a cliff edge, and its amazing, you can see the entire west coast- i dare say, it might be the most accessible, western most point in Auckland.

The loop track back is vertical, and gravel, but my god did it not bother me one bit compared to the slip and slide mud, when Chelsea suggested we go back the way we came my eye almost fell out. I forced our return to the car up that gravel track, there was no way I wasn’t doing the entire thing- Bucket list instinct. 

If i was to do this track again, i’m pretty sure i’d just go up and down that side- until the mud dries at-least. 

[ardn716oliviagardner]

WEEK THREE: TEST SHOOT

I went out to the Mercer Bay loop track in Piha to trial my idea.

I was SO super silly and as soon as we got there I saw that I forgot to reinsert my SD card in my camera after I used it a few weeks ago. Nevertheless, this turned into a trial run photoshoot taken on my phone so I could decide if I wanted to pursue this idea (have been having doubts). Emil always says the best camera you have is the one on you. (I had to keep repeating this in my head lol...)

The photos are below! My model was my boyfriend Alex.