Access

From Waiuku, follow Awhitu Road 33 km over steep farmland roads to Brooks Road. Awhitu Regional Park is signposted. Near the carpark are toilets, picnic tables, barbecues and a campground. The start of the track is signposted just below the carpark.

Track

The Farm Walk is lined with yellow banded marker posts. Red banded posts indicate the shorter Brook Homestead Walk.

A wide well-formed track descends to Kauritutahi Beach and follows a mown grass strip behind the white sand. Opposite the jetty the track climbs to the Brook Homestead.

Descend to Brooks Beach, which shelters a thriving wetland, before traversing farmland to the lookout at the top of the hill.

The loop rejoins the track behind Brooks Beach. An alternative route to the carpark follows the road on the left before Brooks Homestead.

Geology

The Awhitu Peninsula was formed 2 million years ago as a climatic epoch of south-westerly winds blew inland to form massive dunes. These have since consolidated to form the Awhitu Peninsula, a barrier which forms the Manukau Harbour.

Flora

Kauritutahi Beach and Brooks Beach, where there is an old jetty pointing to Kauritutahi Island, harbour thriving wetlands. Emergent kahikatea forests rise to rich green pastures on the hillsides.

Fauna

The excited shrill calls of South Island pied oystercatchers pierce the air. Other waders include pied stilts and, in summer, godwits. Banded rail and fernbirds inhabit the reeds and rushes of the wetlands. There is a complement of tui and kereru in the enclave of preserved coastal forest.

Polynesian History

The Awhitu Peninsula was mainly inhabited by Ngaati Te Ata Iwi. They fished the extensive tidal flats on the sheltered western side of Manukau Harbour. At high tide these flats form shallow sheltered bays, good for swimming.

European History

Brooks Homestead is perched on solid brick piles and sits in gardens filled with mature northern hemisphere trees and a massive macrocarpa. Pit sawn kauri from Orua Bay was used to clad the sturdy structure and the building still sits elegantly in its peaceful setting.

John and Sarah Brooks settled the land and farmed with their 5 children. The family continued inhabiting the land until 1971.