Head to the Carpark on Huia Rd, just after and opposite the first Turn off to Cornwallis Beach (between Pine Ave & Cornwallis Rd)
Here you will see the sign start of the Farley track which starts off fairly flatish (just a slight incline) for about 10 minutes and you then reach a junction. On the right leads to the Panto Track & veering to the left the Farley track continues. We follow the Farley track where it gradually slopes downwards through plenty of lush green bush & it also a tad rocky in places. After about half an hour we come across a delightful wee waterfall making it tempting to stop for morning tea, but it was just a tad too early , so we push on. This track seemed fairly flatish with slight inclines & declines , a couple of stream crossings & plenty of mud, moss and dense canopy. Lots of cool nikaus , ferns too amongst tonnes of other stuff. After the stream crossings the track heads upwards . We find a nice spot trackside under shelter of some ferns from the rain. About an hour from starting out we reach the junction of the Kakamatua Ridge Track on the right & the Farley Track continues straight on. We head right. The Kakamatua Ridge Track starts off at a steady incline. As you gain a bit of height you can see Huia Dam road on your left in between the trees. Possibly there may have been more stuff to see, but it was constantly raining & visibility beyond the bush was pretty limited. The great thing with tramping in the rain is that the bush really comes to life & the greenery becomes more green & the moss is also more vivid & looks so much healthier holding on to glistening rain droplets. Before we know it, this ridge track heads downwards again . After about ½ hour or so from starting this track it ends at the junction of the T junction of the Parau Track going both left & right. We head right. About 3 minutes later we approach the junction for the Nihotupu Ridge Track on our left, but we container straight ahead on the fairly flatish Parau Track . Here the bush is less dense and the track is not always clearly defined , so keep an eye out for the markers. After this bit there are 2 down & up bits due to streams & they are both at a reasonably steepish gradient to get the breathing a tad deeper & the legs a good workout. After reaching the top of the 2nd climb we stop on the track where we find some fallen trees to sit on to enjoy our lunch of Curry Kumara, Carrot , Pea & Bell Pepper Wraps & a nice hot cuppa. Refuelled & about 5 minutes further along the track we pass the Junction on the left of the other end of the Nihotupu Ridge track, we continue straight on the Parau Track. Another 5 minutes later (making out total time on this track roughly 1 ¼ hours) we reach the junction of the Panto Track on our right & the Parau Track continues straight onwards. We turn right on the Panto Track. This is an easy going track which starts off fairly flat through pine trees (& view of Parau & Big Muddy Creek on the left below) before if gradually slopes downwards amongst plenty kanuka & ponga trees. After about 40 minutes we reach the junction where this track ends & the Farley Track is to our left & straight on. We head straight on & back track and arrive at the carpark about 5 minutes later.