Browns Bay - Mairangi Bay

What a glorious day on Sunday and we had a good turn out too. North Shore Nordic Walkers met at Valley Road Car Park in Browns Bay, the sun was shining, the beach was very busy with dog walkers and the tide was on its way out. We poled across the sand to the steps at the Southern end of the beach to Beechwood Road and into Dan Jones Bluff.

Some of the North Shore Nordic Walkers at Browns Bay Beach

I noticed that the empty section at the top of the stairs had been cleared, it’s been neglected for years and it looks like someone is about to build a new home which would have spectacular views overlooking the sea and Browns Bay beach.

Steps to Beechwood Road - Section to the Right

We tramped in single file along the coastal pathway toward Rothesay Bay, where we picked up another Nordic Walker along the way.

The view from the Coastal Track at Murrays Bay

I love this walk. It’s mainly flat although once in Rothesay Bay there is a steep incline up the Rothesay Bay Road before turning left into Churchill Road and taking the Gum Diggers Trail onto Murrays Bay. The coastline is on the left with outstanding views of Rangitoto and the track is concrete all the way down to Murrays Bay Beach. There are three ways of crossing to Mairangi Bay from this point.  You can take the Crow’s Nest Rise Walk along the cliff, take Beach Road or use the man made causeway.  The tide was as I said on it’s way out so we crossed the causeway and made our way across the sand at Mairangi Bay.

Steps to the Gum Diggers Trial at Murrays Bay

I have written about this area in a previous blog Te Ararora – The Long Pathway. The Maori named this piece of land between Mairangi and Murrays Bays Waipapa, which means “water over wood" which was a reference to the stumps and logs left behind from ancient forest that were found in the sand around this area. In 1881 the name had been changed and the bay was renamed after Joseph Murray who farmed the kauri trees on his land between Mairangi Bay and Murrays Bay.

Nordic Walking at Mairangi Bay

The name Mairangi Bay (the sheltered arm) was chosen for the area as it seemed the most appropriate, and this Bay is a small but bustling village of boutique type shops and popular cafes.

The Concrete Causeway at Mairangi Bay

I bought my husband the White’s Aviation Arial photography book a couple of years ago, there are some stunning shots of this area in the book and much of the East Coast Bays on the North Shore in the 1950’s before the Auckland Harbour bridge was built. Check the links below for more information about Leo White and White’s Aviation Company and if you get the chance buy or borrow the book, it’s a great reference book and such an inspiring way to document the history of New Zealand, you can also get more information if you visit the library at MOTAT amongst many other places.

The Steps at Browns Bay to Dan Jones Bluff

We trudged along the beach past the Surf club where we stopped briefly for everyone to catch up before making our way back to Murrays Bay.

At Murrays Bay some of the group decided to take Beach Road back to Browns Bay whilst I and the others mounted the steps back to the Gum Diggers Trail, returning to Rothesay Bay and eventually back down the steps at Beechwood Road to Browns Bay beach.

Coffee at The White Flower, Browns Bay

We usually opt for Ben Gusto for coffee, but this week we tried the White Flower Cafe on Clyde Road, we had a bit of confusion over teas but the service was good and I had a very unhealthy chocolate caramel slice, yummy but made with desicated coconut - not keen.

Information & Sources:

http://www.mairangibayvillage.co.nz/community/mairangibayhistory
http://www.mairangibayvillage.co.nz/sitemap