The long drop at the end of Manakau North Road is in beautiful condition - even included a novel!

Once you finish the Panatawaewae Ridge track, and have walked the 500m back down to the carpark, you can continue walking in the same direction (ie south) for 10 minutes or so to the river. This is a lovely spot for a picnic - or a swim!

Megan walking back to the carpark at the end of Manakau North Road. This is the departure point for the track to Mount Thompson and the short walk to the stream.

At the end of the wee track heading south from the carpark at the end of Manakau North Road there is a stream. It makes a great picnic spot after the Panatawaewae Ridge walk. It is also the spot where the alternative route down from the Panetawaewae Ridge ends.

This downstream view of Pippa and Megan lunching shows the wee Waikawa stream before it becomes river.

Left to Right: Pippa Coard and Megan McMullan

At the end of the wee track heading south from the carpark at the end of Manakau North Road there is a stream. It is a Y junction and one arm is the one you could follow down from Panatawaewae Ridge (we didn't do this route). So for future reference, this is the view standing at the join of the Y intersection looking across the main, downward flowing arm. The 2 contributiong streams join and flow downstream to Waikawa Reserve, Waikawa River etc.

At the end of the wee track heading south from the carpark at the end of Manakau North Road there is a stream. It is a Y junction and one arm is the one you could follow down from Panatawaewae Ridge (we didn't do this route). So for future reference, this is the view standing at the join of the Y intersection looking upstram at the right hand stream. The 2 contributiong streams join and flow downstream to Waikawa Reserve, Waikawa River etc.

At the end of the wee track heading south from the carpark at the end of Manakau North Road there is a stream. It is a Y junction and one arm is the one you could follow down from Panatawaewae Ridge (we didn't do this route). So for future reference, this is the view standing at the join of the Y intersection looking upstram at the left hand stream. The 2 contributiong streams join and flow downstream to Waikawa Reserve, Waikawa River etc.