Cate Foster follows Oakley Creek's winding paths.
The kind of walk our Sunday group never tires of always contains the following elements: greenery, water, views, a hill and a dose of caffeine at the end. Leafy Mt Albert is known for its handsome gardens and parks, but less well-known by those not from the neighbourhood are the delights of Oakley Creek Walkway.
On the Sunday we choose, the sun is shining and we set off in fine fettle from Ian and Chris' house opposite Unitec. Moving quickly, we march down the main road to the rear of the campus and skirt the grounds until we're beside the puppy-training area.
We find the path down to the walkway a little way along from where it starts at the edge of Great North Rd.
The continued efforts of residents and enthusiasts in planting and weeding are beginning to show results and the walkway is looking more established. Ducks and moorhens do their thing in the little creek that runs beside the path, the last of the monarch butterflies feed on a swan plant and once again the magic of the place casts its spell on all of us. The waterfall halfway along is a delightful surprise.
