After 31 trampers fronted up to do this three part tramp in March 2010 it remained to be seen how many would turn up for a repeat performance nine months later. I initially thought it must have been my dashing good looks and natural charm that induced twenty- seven participants, however, everyone else seemed to think that the nice weather was much more the influencing factor!

First up was Jackie Peak on land privately owned by the Turner's of Turner's and Growers. A climb of 148 metres being rewarded by great views both up and down the Manukau Harbour and South Head. This peak apparently was named after John Wade who with his Maori wife Marama farmed the area in the mid 1800's. Up and back took around one hour before we embarked on the second part up an unofficial track of sorts to summit The Drum at 292 metres. We past Marama Stream on the way up and with many false trails it is easy to go the wrong way unless you concentrate a lot. We reached the top and with enough room for us all to perch on the rock with a sheer drop on three sides had lunch around 12.30 pm. Views from here are even better than from Jackie Peak!

After lunch we split into two groups with Trish Jenner taking a party of eight out the back of the Drum and down Fletcher and Karamatura tracks finishing with a road bash back to the bus at Little Huia. Most of this group had been to the Maori Caves in March and Campbell Elliot was beside himself with joy in being able to take in his favourite part of tramping....a road bash!  The remaining nineteen went out the back of the Drum to intersect with Fletcher track before leaving this further down the ridge to take another unofficial track of sorts to the Maori Caves. These caves are more of a long overhanging rocky outcrop with evidence of Maori occupation in years past.

A short tramp down the hill through light bush then exited onto  farmland that also had the Project K confidence course on it. Tried to get young Stacey Timmo to give us all a demonstration of his fitness but to no avail.

Total time inclusive of lunch was spot on five hours inclusive of lunch, however, the distance travelled was a mere 6 kilometres max because of the terrain covered.

An ice-cream stop at the Huia Store on the way back was a nice way of completing what was a challenging but satisfying day's tramp.

Photos: 1 Legs dangling over the edge of the Drum; 2Inside the Maori caves; 3 and the descent

After having left Takapuna earlyish on Saturday morning we had an uneventful trip in the bus up to Oceans Beach. The weather was looking good as we got off the bus, got ourselves organised and headed off. We walked past the surf club and along the beach to begin clambering up the first sandy bank. From the top of this we began our ascent up the long hill to the first top. Part way up we stopped for a breather and investigated the remains of a WW2 emplacement. The views were amazing the entire way up until we hit the bush. 

At the top of another top, we decided it was the time and place for a lunch break. Most of us leaving our packs behind, walked along a track to a tall, rocky outcrop towering above an amazing sapphire sea. Some walked to different parts of this outcrop as climbing to the top was not for the faint hearted. Some elected to return to the junction to eat. Another choice was a short climb up to another lunch spot, not wide enough for many picnickers, with yet again awesome views.

After lunch we headed on, at varying speeds, towards Peach Cove. This is not a flat area. If you have, driving north on the southern side of Whangarei, noticed the sharp, jagged Whangarei Heads and thought “Hell. They look so steep!”. They are!! After a lot of up hill and some down hill we arrived, yet again at different times, at the top of the last hill down. To Peach Cove Ocean Beach there were a zillion steps, I kid you not! Well, yes I do. It just felt like that many. By the end of the weekend we all felt that Northland either loves steps or some one knows some one. Wink, wink.

Finally at the Peach Cove DOC hut. It looked different to the last time we were there. Particularly the two bathing beauties on the deck. It turned out one was English, one Canadian who had been in Oz for some time. They had recently begun walking, no cheating, the Te Araroa walk along the length of New Zealand. I think they were allowing 6 months. Those who had been before noticed how much the vegetation had grown. Especially around the tree. Also there was really only room for 1 or 2 tents squished in. Much less room than before. Also there was mobile reception. 

 There were 4 choices of where to stay for the night. In the hut. Tent on deck. Tent on ground outside hut. Down by the sea at the cove. All those options were used. A lovely place to stay. The sun streaming down, native foliage around and overhead and the amazing birds. Kaka and tui made a lot of noise, particularly at dusk and dawn. Some even saw a ruru. An uneventful night. An amazing spot to stay! The usual dehy meals plus some others. As often happens there was much discussion and exchange of ideas about tramping meals.

The next morning the two tourists left early. We arose, did what we always do and were ready earlier than we expected to be. In dribs and drabs we slugged our way back up the zillion steps. Heading up hill and down dale, steep ones, we tramped off towards Urquharts Bay. Lovely weather  and amazing views. The last “hill” down was very long and steep. At the bottom we lay around for a while waiting for the others. There was a cool breeze by this time so some of us opted to walk. Stacey stayed behind waiting for Neil so they could meet Lou, who would take them to the bus at Oceans Beach. 

A few ended up walking all the way around the coastal walk while 3 of us went from the centre to Urquharts Bay as we had done the othr part before but not the second part of the path. We had observed some runners going for it anti clock wise. We were glad we were walking clock wise around given some of the steeper bits. Mind you, that slope was nothing on what we had already done anyway. 

Eventually we all met at the bus which Stacey drove around to where we waited. Next stop, Mt. Manaia. After having parked in the car park we began the ascent. (Some decided to stay at the bus.) Once again a bit like Brown’s cows. A new track. This didn’t follow the old one. And once again a zillion steps!! Right up to the top we went. Fantastic weather. Awesome views. At the top there is now a viewing platform. I gather this is to deter people from climbing the huge, rock pinnacles. There was a sign requesting that we do not climb them. Certain persons, who shall remain nameless, did so. I couldn’t bring myself to watch some of the climbing whereby they were hanging by their teeth.

Time for the climb down. Four of us elected to go down the old track which was sign posted as dangerous. Yeah right, not! This track was perfectly ok and was more interesting than steps. 
On the bus we clambered and headed home, stopping at the Info Centre for a drink and bite to eat. Once again. An uneventful trip south. At least, I think it was, having been napping a little as some of us did.

A truly awesome trip. Thank you to Alan Spencer, the organiser and the drivers, Bernard and Stacy.

Ian W organised a very different trip to this area – really two trips. Prior to lunch we walked in the lovely Forest and Bird reserve – the Matuku reserve. Very nice tracks, trees and birds in this area. Forest and Bird has done a lot of trapping. They have an information hut in there, a kauri bbq table (where we had lunch on the way out) and really well maintained tracks, well bridged. The waterfall and rock area there was particularly scenic.

Information about this reserve and the web page follow.

At the bbq table Campbell wanted to be served beer by “wenches”. As there were no “wenches” in the party he didn’t get any…….the jokes continued ……. Ian G told chicken jokes and sang a chicken song when we came to a really lovely flock of hens. All in all a normal day out!!

The jokes continue about the fare collection- Ian wanted a gratuity- everyone was willing to donate if he stopped telling chicken jokes……….. After lunch we visited Goldies bush – which is much improved since the last time I was there – again well bridged, and well maintained tracks. Some of us walked to Constable road and back, while others took on the stream or other tracks.
A good turn out for this trip. It appears the weather gods had been appeased.

On the way up the hill back to the bus, at Goldies we saw the most beautiful gecko – green with yellow flecks – a testimony to the success of the management of this area. And in Goldies bush we spotted a couple having lunch near the stream watching and feeding a very large eel. We met the eel whisperers later who informed us that the eel was in fact called Neil the Eel…..

Situated in the hills behind Bethell’s beach, this forest and wetland sanctuary is Forest & Bird’s second-largest reserve (www.forestandbird.org.nz/what-we-do/reserves/matuku-reserve) occupying a total of 120 hectares. The larger part of the reserve is native forest which is best described as coastally influenced lowland broadleaf forest, with emergent tanekaha and kauri on ridges. Dense with fruiting & flowering species such as puriri, karaka, nikau, rewarewa, kowhai, pigeonwood and mahoe, the forest is a good food source for the thriving tui & kereru populations. In all, over 250 plant species have been recorded in the forest, from perching lilies and orchids to a luxuriant carpet of ferns & sedges that covers the forest floor.At the base of these slopes is the reserve’s 20 hectare wetland, part of the wider Te Henga Wetland, the largest relatively unmodified freshwater marshland in the Auckland region. 

The new fare collection system…… In spite of all the banter the new day trip payment system is working well.
- We don’t provide discounts on return to the bus if you don’t like the tramp you have just done (but full marks for trying!)
- We don’t allow preferential booking for seats – except for “you -all -know -who……………….”
 -Nor do we provide cheaper fares by booking the seats of your choice on line!
But full marks for your efforts!

Sun, midges and Munros. Or so I thought. In the event there was little sun, no midges but hundreds of Munros. There are , in fact, 284 Munros in Scotland. That is , 284 independent peaks over 3000 feet ( .914 m .The summits are named after Sir Hugh Munro who in 1891 published his "Tables of Heights over 3000 feet.) Ever since, keen walkers have been climbing the peaks "Bagging Munros". In two weeks of walking I succeeded in climbing 12 Munros near Glencoe and in the Torridon Mountains in the North West.

We had at least one shower of rain everyday, a little bit of sun, much cloud, strong winds, and on the last day, snow. With my friends Ann and Mike we drove north from Great Bookham in Surrey to Fort William for the first week and to Kinlochewe for the second.

Scottish landscape has its own very particular character, especially in the north. Few people, large moody mounds of rock rising up from the lochs to 1000 metres. An elemental landscape.

Our typical day started with checking the weather forecast. Invariably some light rain in the morning but improving in the afternoon. We would drive 5 to 10 miles to our starting point , topo maps and guide book at hand as Scotland has no track signs or markers. There is a "Right-to-Roam" anywhere in Scotland regardless of who owns the land. With the open landscape and little vegetation this provides a delightful sense of freedom that everything is possible. On a number of occasions, when Mike and Ann had had enough of the rain (being English they do not like getting wet ), I set off across the landscape and climbed a peak with no tracks , simply using the compass and topo map.

Because the Munro peaks are so popular good tracks have been established for the standard routes. We would follow the guide book instructions such as "1.6 miles south of the white cottage", find a track by the side of the road and set off. Typically it would be 2 hours to climb 1000 metres, 2 hours along the tops, and 2 hours down. The tops are delightful but because of the weather they were often in the mist, sometimes accompanied by wind and showers. However, the mist and rain tended to come and go so every now and again a brilliant view to other peaks and lochs would be revealed. Most ridges at some stage involved rock scrambling over the "Horns of Alligin" or the "Pinnacles of Liathach".  Sharp, jagged ups and downs that looked impossible from afar but proved possible on closer acquaintance. And on a couple of occasions when the mist did not lift I needed all my navigational skills to get off the mountain safely.

All in all , much fun.

 

Thirteen of us turned up for a great local walk on a lovely sunny day. Very soon we were in two groups going through the bush, an easy walk but with lots of ups and downs. It was nearly high tide when we started and the coastal views were superb. The spring growth on the natives is interesting to note at this time of the year although the hangehange (Maori privet) flowers, that and new growth is obvious on the few kauris. We did see one of the biggest kauris on the North Shore on our walk. Weheard  tuis, kingfisher and the grey warbler.

Everyone met up in Lynn Reserve for lunch and a couple of blokes had fun throwing various items through the basketball hoop. A couple of our trampers picked up rubbish as they walked and left the track in pristine condition. We ventured out occasionally into suburbia to get access to the bush, noticing folk working in their gardens. We were surprised to see where some of our trampers kayak around the coast and up to the Kaipatiki Creek. Thanks to Dora for leading a different
sort of tramp.

It was lovely to be back tramping again with the NSTC and I received such a lovely warm welcome.

Thanks. Alison  

After much chatter and banter on the bus on route to the Waikato, we draw up to Parker Road. Eagerly everyone jumps off the bus, and looks upwards to where we are headed.

Our group starts up the 1500 steps to the top. Now, 1500 steps does sound a tiny bit daunting at the outset, but the steps are surprisingly progressive, gravelled and well kempt, with the reward of an extremely healthy looking 600 year old Kauri Tree half way up the ascent.

The first viewpoint provides a hazy vista up the Waikato River past the Huntly Power station towards Lake Waikare. Not long after here we stop for a chat with the first hunter (of three groups that day) and his accompanying K9's who'd just missed out on a pig.

Lunch time rolls around and we find a dryish spot to sit and devour lunch, as it's precipitating by this stage.

Brian our driver extraodinaire for the day and John turn back after lunch to move the bus back around to Brownlee Ave, both groups end point and we girls (Lynda, Dora the Explorer, Pam, Marianne, Marilyn & I) make our way along "tree root central". Certainly keeping us on our toes, in both senses.

The summit of the Hakarimata Walkway at 374 metres, provided a good spot for afternoon tea, but devoid of any views due to tree coverage.

The last hour down to Brownlee Ave, was hilarious as Brian and John had walked up the extremely steep slope to meet us. Brian the paparazzo, practising his photographic skills, hoping for an action shot as we grab another tree root to wend our way down another level. Watch out Ian, I think Bryan is trying to win that "action" shot next year! Angelina and Lady Gaga, eat your hearts out, you've got nothing on a mud covered, inelegant tramper, posing for a photo. Mud might become the new chic in Milan. 

John (the Domino) Lamb, taking one leap and about 3 slides forward, so we moved him to the front so we don't become a line of collapsed domino's, white dots, not the pizza. Haha!

The last segment through the fern grove to the Waterworks Track was quite tranquil with an gently trickling stream alongside. With a neat defunct 750,000 litre reservoir that used to supply water for Ngaruawahia.

A trip a few more kilometres down the road, and most partake in a quick, relaxing dip at the Waingaro Hot Pools before the bus journey home.