The Hillary Trail is a a four-day (three night) 75 km trek across rugged country reaching from Titirangi to Muriwai. It is named after the famour kiwi conqueror of Mt Everest, Sir Edmund Hilllary, and was opened on the second anniversary of his death. The route takes in spectacular views of coast and bush, a number of small coastal villages, and reaches through a number of ecological areas and landscapes. The aim of the trail is to provide a challenging experience for walkers, especially young people. It is not an easy track, because of the varying terrain, the rooty sometimes muddy tracks, and long legs.
However, as its names suggests, it is meant to be a challenge, and completion is designed to provide great satisfaction of a challenge conquered for the walker.
See Hillary Trail map here
http://regionalparks.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/cmsfiles/files/Map%20of%20the%20Hillary%20Trail(1).pdf
Starting at the Arataki Visitor Centre on the Scenic Drive (or earlier from the Nihotupu Filter Station along Exhibition Drive.) the first leg takes walkers along the Manukau coast to the beautiful valley of Karamatura at Huia Bay. The second leg takes walkers out to the northern head of the Manukau Harbour along the high-up Omanawanui Track, past the historic milling settlement of Whatipu, and to the Pararaha Gorge – another old milling site. After a night there, walkers traverse the Whatipu Scientific Reserve through sand dunes and around gorgeous dune-impounded lakes teeming with wildlife, to Karekare beach. A steep climb over the Hikurangi hill takes the walkers down to the busy beach settlement of Piha, before another climb, brings the Craw Homestead campground for night three.
Day Four is not for the faint-hearted because it takes 11 hours to walk into the beautiful beach of Te Henga, before a long walk along the DOC Te Henga Walkway to Muriwai.
Alternatively, walkers can head back across the Ranges to Swanson.
The Hillary Trail can be done in one go, or in sections. It is still under development with more campgrounds and shorter legs being walked on.
If you want to know more about the Hillary Trail go here http://www.arc.govt.nz/parks/our-parks/hillary-trail/hillary-trail_home.cfm