The Waitakere Dam Tramway is a divertingly different hiking route in the Waitakere Ranges. It follows the line of a - still well maintained - tram route and also a water pipeline. There is little gradient and the path is broad and clear and as the track hugs the steeper slopes, you get good views out across the Waitakeres over the tree tops.
 |
| Waitakere Dam from the tramway. |
There is one short tunnel on the route and a couple of (station?) platforms, one of which has a picnic area attached. The tramway runs from the Waitakere Dam - also worth a nosey - for a little under two Km.
 |
| The short tunnel. |
 |
| Siding near the Scenic Drive end. |
At the far end it enters a very long tunnel under Scenic Drive, which is barred and locked. From there you can retrace your steps back to the Dam, or climb up to Scenic Drive via the Anderson Track, although this is a much rougher track than the tramway.
 |
| One of the 'Platforms' |
2 comments:
Just a heads up on your picture captioen "One of the platforms"... The concrete plinth was once part of the foundations for asteam powered (later mechanical, I think) rock crushing plant that was used in the making of the Waitakere tramline and dam, and the subsequent raising of the dam in 1927. I have a booklet called "Dam Pioneers" that we (the Waitakere Tramline Society) sell for $5.00 which I compiled 12 years ago, which gives a history of the construction of the line/dam.
cheers. Jim
My FB page is Waitakere Tramline and NZ Regional Trains. email . jimeyre11@gmail.com
Just a heads up on your picture caption "One of the platforms"... The concrete plinth was once part of the foundations for a steam powered (later mechanical, I think) rock crushing plant that was used in the making of the Waitakere tramline and dam, and the subsequent raising of the dam in 1927. I have a booklet called "Dam Pioneers" that we (the Waitakere Tramline Society) sell for $5.00 which I compiled 12 years ago, which gives a history of the construction of the line/dam.
cheers. Jim
My FB page is Waitakere Tramline and NZ Regional Trains. email . jimeyre11@gmail.com
Post a Comment