Big Yellow departs Takapuna, loaded with a bundle of keen planters, upon arriving at Silverdale the bus suddenly becomes fairly full! Bumper crop of planters loaded on there.

As we arrive through the main entry of Shakespear Regional Park, we follow the "planters" signs to the southern end of the park at Te Haruhi Bay. Alighting our club tramping bus, we're greeted by more keen NSTC tree planters! Yay, what an awesome group! Walking up the hill to the planting site, another group of NSTC planters. We're going to get a serious number of trees planted today!

After the usual boot soaking sterigene pad, we head in for our tree planting brief and team up with spades and fertiliser pellets. This year, the trees had already been laid in suitable spots, so they don't end up over planted to ensure best future success of each tree. That was really good to see.

Remember I was saying, we're going to get serious number of trees planted today, we sure did that and in a steep gully! Flax, Puriri, Caposma, Kahikatea, Kanuka and Manuka. Due to the overall large numbers of people there enjoying the incredible sea vistas, stunning weather and relishing in that whole warm, fuzzy feeling of having planted substantially more trees that was expected for that day, in fact half of the trees that had been allocated for the following weekend also! Wow! Not to mention a lot of laughs with our awesome crew and socialising with lots of other planters.

It was a definite bonus, that there wasn't copious amounts of mud to slide around in either as we did in atrocious weather the previous year. It was actually fairly dry. Planting done, we head back up to the tents going through the sterigene station again and then hand sanitising station before enjoying a snarler or two and hot drinks. Not to mention that they brought around biscuits and fruit whilst we were planting. Very well organised as usual. Nourished and watered, we head off for a shortish tramp, the scenic way back to the bus reverse along the Tiritiri Track, down and up the hills, beautiful views in all directions, glimpsing over Pink Bay, discussions around the colouration of the bay before heading up the lookout highpoint 360 degree panoramic scenery.

For those that had read the pre-amble for this trip, knew we were going to try hunt out the week before trans-located Hihi (Stitchbird) pairs. Heading down the Heritage Trail as we move our way through Waterfall Gully, the distinctive Stitchbird song is audible! Quietly and excitedly progressing along the track, at the first feeding station, a resplendent male Hihi was making his presence known. We didn't spot any of the less distinctively coloured females.

On our way through Waterfall Gully, we make the most of the opportunity to photographically capture the lovely waterfall, before making our way along a new track. During Summer this track is alive with many native birds and during Springtime, many cute birdy babies.

Dropping back down to the beach, our brief 2 or so hour tramp is almost over, bar walking along the beach spotting Variable Oyster Catchers and Dotterall's. Absolutely amazing day out with fantastic team of trampers, all knowing we've done something extremely important for the environment and for the native bird life and creatures that all rely on these trees for homes and for sustenance during the much shortened planting season this year. Even more exciting to know that many of our group had never done any community tree planting, who are now hooked!

Big Yellow, our club bus, first outing since March! Keen trampers rolled up for the 20 odd k trot.

On the bus, we ascertained that most hadn't been around this area, or if they had, it wasn't for a long time. We watched two large Clydesdale's happily noshing away close to the bus, as we hit the tracks on a calm morning. First to the track where the Dotterall's normally are, but they seemed to be hiding. Moving along over the paddock tracks, the cool bits of volcanic scoria pepping out of the ground here and there. We stopped briefly at the bird hide to see which winged ones we could spot. Plenty of Oyster Catchers, Herons and Kingfishers foraging.

Before we know it, we're cruising along Kiwi Esplanade at a fairly hot pace, checking out copious amounts of Kingfishers, Herons and other sea birds feeding in the low tide mud flats. A brief connecting walk through the Mangere Bridge township and the vibrant Sunday markets. Believe it or not, we didn't stop and purchase lovely cakery at a very well known, yummy bakery along the way. Shock, horror. Lol! Are these really trampers?! But more comments about Ice cream. Haha! Reaching Mangere Mountain, it's only a 107 metre climb to the summit, but steep enough that a number of the group de-layer in readiness. Lovely views all directions, east towards the most narrow point of the Auckland Isthmus, north, west towards the moody Waitak's and our next port of call Puketutu Island.

Dropping slightly off the summit track to find a spot out of the cool breeze for cozy lunch sitting on Kikuyu grass, before heading down the slope to the quick half loop around the sea level crater in Ambury Farm again.

Breezing along with a couple of photographic stops to admire the exceptionally prolific bird life in the 1.5 artificial Watercare Coastal Walkway lake that the birds always seem to love. Swans, many species of Ducks, Geese, Dabchicks, Herons, Kingfishers plus many more. Arriving at Puketutu Island, we head around the right side of the island, as there isn't a loop right around yet. Backtracking we make a beeline back to the bus, and the sun popping out from the behind the clouds and the tide now at about full low, the Kingfishers with their amazing luminescent turquoise plumage glowing in the sunshine. I spotted over 30 Kingfishers, and lost count of the number of Heron's and Pied Stilts. It was always a bird spotting tramp, and those of us interested in birds certainly weren't disappointed.

Two highlights of the day, the incredible amount of sea bird life and seeing a small pod of Dolphins just as were heading up the Harbour Bridge in the morning!

Another awesome day out with the club and another 20kms smashed out and back nice and early, being only half an hour from Takapuna.

The night before the rainy forecast for our first re-start tramp after the Covid lockdown, I was a little curious despite the number of pre-registrations (for contact tracing) if everyone would rock up! But rock-up they did! An extremely calm, clear start to the day at Little Shoal Bay. Most of the group not having done this tramp before. Even those that had, we mixed things up and ran it reverse of what we often do. Partly so we'd see different views than we often do, partly because the number of track closures and partly because after a couple of months for most of us not being able to hit the tracks the way we normally would and having lost a bit of tramping fitness.

We headed uphill to the tracks across Le Roys Bush and as we popped out of the bush, we spotted a Swan Plant with impressive large Monarch Butterfly caterpillars! We headed towards Kauri Glen and the beautiful mainly ricker Kauri, but some really large Kauri tree'ed tracks that were open there, and the lovely new tree canopy lookout. Some tracks are currently closed, but you can go there and back to the new canopy lookout at the time of writing this.

From the rain overnight, everything is dewy and gorgeous. Little droplets of water dripping off the tips of everything, like little diamonds, especially off the tips of the Rimu branches as the morning sun gently made its way through the massive canopy above us.

We pop out the other side, to beeline for the Chelsea and Kauri Point tracks. This is where it started to get interesting, as there were a few extra track closures on top of what we were aware of. This required more thinking about where all the tracks pop out on road ends and cul-de-sacs, so we could connect back into the bush as quickly as possible. Making our way through the bush, the sun glistening on the damp tree bark and droplets on the lush looking ground cover mosses.

Across the road and into the tracks above Kendall Bay. We'd organised to cut across the top of the bay, and then drop down into the bay to be kind to our muscles and to make a large loop tramp. Emerging into the open area and the view over the harbour and Kendall Bay never disappoints. Today was no different, gorgeous sea vistas and clouds lit with a slight mauve haze. Extremely pretty.

And down those infamous steep steps in Kendall Bay. At the bottom of that flight of steps, you have the option to go straight out to Kendall Bay or up another flight of even steeper steps up to Kauri Point. We chose the latter. Feeling very virtuous at top, and more lovely views of town and that big spark plug thingy, The Skytower.

Pit stop at Kendall Bay to scoff down lunch with the tide ebbing in at almost full tide at our toes. Absolutely perfectly, tranquil place for lunch.

Chelsea tracks calling, we took off up the hill, with a few stunning lookouts towards town. Even this far away you can hear the gentle hum of cars on the Auckland Harbour Bridge. That didn't bother us in the slightest, we were in the zone! Immersing in our forest bathing. (Check out what forest bathing is, and it's proven calming effects).

Caffeine addicts had us making a brief stop at the Chelsea Cafe, only to find the barista was at lunch. Would the lack of caffeine slow down our long-legged ones?! No, seemingly not, we taunted them with the lure of the Himemoa Street cafés!

Back through yet another Kauri Dieback boot station into Le Roys Bush! We lost count of how many we went through, but we were good and did the right thing at each station. And yay!!! A track that was closed the previous week, had been partially re-opened, so we walked through this freshly boardwalked track, before reaching the junction, where they're still working, forcing us to head up onto the road for the last bit of the tramp, all downhill back to the cars. We didn't care it was a road bash for the last bit. We had such an awesome tramping adventure again today, as always.

5 hours 40 minutes of tramping, not counting lunch, so a solid effort for our first day back with the club!!!! Well done and we're looking forward to seeing more of you out on the tracks now things are slowly nearing some normality.

As I'm sure you'll remember, we headed through this area in early January. But as the Pukekohe Tramping Club were kind enough to invite us along to their Official 5 Summits Track Opening, late last year, we were reciprocating inviting them along to reckie our Albany tracks.

Not such a large group this month, being absolutely perfect for the altered version of this tramp, so we motored from our start point through along the paths and tracks taking in some of the history of the area and the odd nosh of fruit in the public reserves. The very old fruit trees surviving from days when there were a number of orchards in Albany. Yummo!

When we started the tramp it was slightly overcast and a bit cooler thankfully, so by the time we hit the Massey tracks, timing was absolutely perfect, extremely tall canopy above us to protect us from powerful heat being emitted by the sun, not to mention the punishing rays on skin. The shade and drop in temperature in this forest escarpment is bliss, trickling water in the stream below to help the whole forest bathing serenity.

A few quick photo stops along the way to admire some of the absolutely massive, exceptionally old Kahikatea, with impressively large epiphytes such as Widow Maker adorning their branches. Some of the very large Kahikatea through this area are approximately 800 yeas old. And we're so pleased that these and many other spectacularly large Totara, Rimu etc escaped the saw back in the 1800's from extensive logging in the area.

After lunch we completed the top loop in Tornado Alley tracks and dropped down to the stream track, to head for the track we've set, but not really cut yet. It's a bit of rough fun at the moment working our way through the undergrowth of mainly Punga and one roped area. It may have been mentioned when we popped out on the reserve side of Super Cheap Auto, that "it resembles a cave in there at the moment. 'By next time the club is through, that last bit should be fully tracked.

Completing the bottom part of the Tornado loop we motored back along the stream and spotted one of the many, cool individually painted Rocks sitting on a dead tree across the stream! Awesome!

Popping back out ready to do the other side of the stream for Massey tracks, motors running quickly along here, Kell Park and back along the last stream on the opposite side and we're back at the cars, with a smidge under 6 hours tramping time, not including lunch.

With 3 forested areas closed around Albany, if they re-open, we may end up with a potentially 9 hour day again. Good training ground, as that's where the bigger, steeper hills are.

As we dropped off the first party at Bethell's Beach by the little one way bridge, the forecast was very thankfully for cloud cover this morning! They'll need that as it's very exposed along the cliff tops of the Te Henga Walkway, but very worth it for the very dramatic vistas along the cliffs and out across the Tasman Sea.

Big Yellow set on it's way to destination number two at Goldies Bush, where the second group disembarked and headed through the first Kauri Dieback spraying and scrubbing station. Job done, we head along the track, noticing how extremely dry the bush is, even with the towering canopy above us everything is really looking almost crispy. Also noticing that many Kauri of varying sizes from Ricker (smaller) to large through here seem to be displaying ooze, one of the signs of possible Kauri Dieback.

Moving through here the very mixed group chatting a lot, time passes very quickly and we arrive at the suspension bridge, with it's rather amusing sign about permitted numbers crossing. More track to cover, we head towards Constable Road and the other end of the track and up the steps and dipping at the boot station taking in all the lovely old trees through here.

Returning back down to the suspension bridge and where we drop down the path into the Mokoroa Stream Track. If you've never done this one, it's a pearla. And probably the easiest stream bash you'll ever do, with so many pools to take a dip or swim in and the track is an easy one.

Working our way up the stream, we find a ideal shaded spot with a pool where most park and dig into lunch. Whilst a few of us take a cooling swim before nosh time! Absolutely gorgeous and what summer tramping is perfect for.

Moving along the stream track, we eventually arrive at the head of the track and the two waterfalls, one left and one right, that surprisingly still have water running over the edge for everyone's photographic enjoyment. Plus heading up to the lookout with views over the top of the waterfalls and the gradual climb back up to the boot station and Big Yellow.

We didn't have to wait very long and half of the larger party arrive who'd missed the stream track, and the second half who'd elected to enjoy the stream, all looked happy and relaxed upon returning.

Another absolutely brilliant day out with the club, and it's amazing to think that when the stream flash floods after heavy rain, the stream wouldn't be an option, but it certainly was for us today!!! Yay!!!!

The question used to be how many swims could you manage during a day trip?! With the ferry being on summer hours, the ferry left the CBD at 8.45am, and departed Rotoroa at 5.45pm, we had over 7 hours on the island!

When we left town, it was very overcast, looking somewhat ominous, but the further the ferry ventured out in the harbour, blue sky emerged much to our delight, as for many it was the first time to the island.

Arriving on Rotoroa, we had the usual bio-security briefing from the island Park Ranger and a general heads up about the gravel being like mables on some of the dry, steep tracks and then we were into Weka'sville. Why Weka'sville? They are literally everywhere! Turn around and there's bound to be a Weka. If you go 10 minutes without seeing a Weka, that's probably a rarity! They are so cute, quite bold and curious. Have you ever heard what little Tea Leaves Weka's are? Ask around the club, many have stories about a Weka trying to run off with something from a pack, or even boots and poles!

Anyway, first parched lookout complete, and we were off down our next track to the heavenly westerly facing Mai Mai Bay, with large Pohutukawa's gracefully leaning on the sand. Glistening golden sand and crystal water and water absolutely flat calm greet us in this protected bay. The water was amazing! So very quickly a fair number of the group were in for the first good swim.

Before long we're off back up the hill and onto a loop track before dropping down to the equally stunning, sheltered north facing, Cable Bay. Another blissful swim before lunch, plus a few more venturing into the tranquil waters.

After nosh time, off around another loop at Pakatoa Point spotting one of the pairs of Pakete (Brown Teal) and then up to one of the high trig points on the island, North Tower at only 76 metres above sea level, but still one very steep track up! With breath taking 360 degree views.

Saving our next swims til later in the afternoon, we made tracks to South Tower and the striking Chris Booth artwork landmark that adorns the 65 metre summit.

All starting to warm up, we dropped back down to sea level again, for cooling swim three! At the easterly facing Men's Bay this time, heaps of jokes about the bay name, and if the femme's in the group were allowed?! Lol! Nice swell rolling in here, so body surfing this time!

A short walk along the island's well graveled tracks, completing our full circuit of all of the island tracks, including all three lakes (both pairs of Pakete) and our last but not least, fourth swim at Ladies Bay, at yet another absolutely beautiful bay, with the dramatic Coromandel Ranges in the background, just about everyone partake's of the final dip! Not to mention one cheeky Weka trying to whip off with the author's cap!

Oh, and why Ladies Bay?! Back in history when the island was still a rehab centre, with much decorum back in the day, Ladies swam at one bay, Men at the other. Can you imagine that now!?!

Totally and utterly blissed out, big smiles all round, from another amazing adventure with an awesome group out with North Shore Tramping Club, we stopped by the fascinating island Museum before heading to the ferry. All still having completing over 22k footsteps, not shabby, considering how much extra exercise we had with the swims too!

What a day! Most of us would have been very happy to stay!

The team jumped on Big Yellow and off we set, with one stop at Ellerslie and one at Bombay to pick up clubbies.

Arriving at Karangahake a suitably big enough spot secured in a very busy carpark and we broke into a few distance groups. One doing the up and over Mt Karangahake and my group a new circuit with two swims and waterfalls. It doesn't matter what tramp you select around Karangahake, all are absolute winners!

With many of the group not having done any or very little around the area, they were in for a treat! Over, one and two suspension bridges right at the start and we're into the Windows Walk famed for it's windows cut out of the sheer rock face. The old handbuilt gold mining tunnels needed these windows for fresh air to decrease the chances of explosions. The view from each "window" up the Waitawheta River is so striking, big sheer faces of stone rising straight up about 100 metres and the reflections off the river! Plus we found more Glow Worms that we have the last few times.

Moving up the river, the constant babbling river beside us and the large tree native tree canopy above, so calming and relaxing that you drift into an almost rhythmic pace whilst chatting away.

Reaching a favourite swimming spot and meeting the other group, we stop for a quick chat and to admire the tunnel with water gushing through it. Ah tranquility! But surprisingly, we didn't swim here! We headed over the next few suspension bridges to the Dickey Flat Campground in mind as the ideal lunch spot. Must be a room with a view for lunch.

This is where the twist starts, on the odd occasion that we have walked through to Dickey Flat we have returned back, not today, we head up along the road, enjoying the rolling hills surrounding us and Mt Karangahake, and the top end of the stream that supplies our first goal, the beautiful cascading Owharoa Falls!

It's only 9 metres high, but really spectacular. So much so that you really want a GoPro to take into the water and film the waterfall up close! Nice swimming in the deep, warm river water too!

Very thankfully, the afternoon clouded over a bit keeping the heat down on this exposed part of the tramp by the Ohinemui River, as we head along the Karangahake Gorge Walkway, back towards the carpark. Goal two, waterfall two! This one is an old, disused quarry and the waterfall, not quite so spectacular today with the low rainfall lately, but still an impressive 20 metres straight above us in a lovely tropical atmosphere with the ferns and trees. In October when we were last there, there was much more of the liquid stuff flowing over the top of the waterfall.

When we reach the next bridge we break into two group, one to do the historic, handbuild over a 100 years ago, 1.1km Railway Tunnel, that used to be part of the main trunk line. And the other group walking back along the Ohinemuri River to make the most of river swimming before home time. Magic!

Awesome group, lots of fit newbies keen for next next adventure in the bush!

Another absolute pearla of a day yesterday! Making the most of the longer days of sunshine whilst it lasts for the next month before daylight savings switches!

Lots of trampers loaded up and off we head down to the Coromandel, target of Karaka Track and Waiotahi Tracks in Thames, Coromandel, with gold mining history dating back between 1871 to 1912. With only a handful from both groups that had done the track before, most were very inquisitive, including one long standing member, to all our surprise, hadn't done this lovely track loop before.

Big Yellow parked, we head into the track entry, with an equally big yellow boot station to greet us. Everyone scrubbed and sprayed off we head. Right at the start of the Karaka Track there is a really pretty waterfall, just to set the mood for the gentle uphill alongside the extremely pretty Karaka Stream.

The track varies a lot in width, sometimes wide, almost 4x4 and sometimes literately 1 foot width wide. That kept us all on our toes, and stopped it being a monotonous track. The track is gorgeous, sidling along side and criss crossing the babbling stream. With many worn side tracks down to what looked to be great swimming holes and many old mining tunnel entrances still evident.

As it's pretty much bone dry underfoot, the few big slips around the area, aren't an issue. Every now and again we come across tiny little patches of mud, that are really easy to negotiate. Nothing like the mud over wetter months for a bit more of a challenge. Very easy footing today!

Our medium group, everyone in the group commenting constantly on the way up Karaka Track, what a lovely track it is. Although it goes up to about 600 metres, it's not a hard climb at all, with some impressive reddy orange rocky outcrops along the way with stunning views across the valley and further to the surrounding mountains, including the very distinctive Tabletop Mountain, aptly named for it's flat top.

When we reach the track junction, the fast group, are just leaving. A restful refueling stop, and off we go. The Waiotahi Track goes gently uphill for a bit, past the 665 metre peak, then down we fly! Same again with these old gold mining tracks, varying width, some rocky, some more just clay. Lots of massive old Kauri that have been down for many, many years, gracefully rotting away.

Karaka Track had an impressive number of Rewarewa trees alongside the track, mixed with other natives, but the Rewarewa seem to tower above all else that side. When we move around to Waiotahi Track, similar again, but a lot of extremely large Kauri still standing in the valleys in varying stages of health, that had escaped the saw a hundred or so years ago maybe due to inaccessibility. There are pops of colour with Rata in flower along Waiotahi, providing photographic enjoyment.

As we swing back around the side of the ridge, we see peps of the Firth of Thames and our much missed Waharau Regional Park from more cool orangey, rocky outcrops. More dried slips along the way, once again no problem today. Although we did notice a lot of big cracks on the tracks. Which once the rains start, could potentially be more slips.

Popping out at the track end, our wonderful driver lets us know there will be an ice-cream stop on our brief walk back through the outskirts of Thames to the bus. All willing participants of a yummy treat, from the cinema no less. Cinema owner looking most cuffed with all these sales in one visit!

Slightly slower trip back nearing Mangatawhiri. Once we reached where the Ambulance was, we were wondering if the Ambo had run out of sweetcorn, and had parked, wrong way round to pick up an emergency load of corn for dinner fresh from the field. Lol!!!???

Another awesome tramping adventure, much chatter, great bunch and just as enjoyable as the last time we did this track 3-4 years ago!

We live our lives, one fantastic tramping experience at a time, but hanging out for the next time!

On our way to the heads, we pass our port of call number two, Te Rau Puriri Regional Park. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, almost wish we could have stopped, just briefly, as the light across the park and the harbour was spectacular, lit up with silvery sheen's and sea haze. They say tramping is food for the soul, and that view certainly was!!! Just gorgeous!

Arriving at Kaipara Heads the gate down to the beach was locked, so we had a really nice, unexpected 3km walk in, with the Kanuka lining the 4x4 road down to the beach. With low tide at about 8.38am, we still had ample time to enjoy the extremely picturesque Kaipara Harbour, that just happens to be the biggest harbour in the Southern Hemisphere.

With the tide out, the extensive sand bars revealed, the large numbers of sea birds, such as Oyster Catchers foraging for their brekkie! Some of the sand bars are large enough to sport a small forest of Kanuka's and others pretty sand grasses that look to be Spinifex from a distance. Wandering through the mangroves through worn 4x4 tracks, watching for the odd slightly sinky sandy bits as we work our way towards the point and a room with a view for lunch, most taking a lot of photos along the way, enjoying the flocks of birds sweeping around above the sand bars.

On the return to the bus, we dubbed one of our trampers "The Peacock", you had to be there, flapping arms and a bunch of found Peacock feathers adorning her pack! We spotted two lots of wild deer which explained some of the footprints further back along the foreshore earlier in the morning. They certainly don't hand around, gone in the blink of an eye on the 3km trek back to Big Yellow.

It's certainly a very beautiful harbour, but the view belies the treacherous waters as they eased back in through the deep turquoise channels. Onwards and arriving at Te Rau Puriri Regional Park, we have significantly less time to play with here, having done an extra 6kms at the Heads that we hadn't anticipated, so we only walked part of the way down this coastal park of dramatic rolling hills and stunning vistas. But next time, we'll spend more time here and explore the new tracks!

A brief stop at the dairy opposite Parakai Pools, for you guessed it, ice cream! And we headed back in fairly light traffic this week.

Another incredible day out of tramping adventures in our beautiful Auckland outdoors with an awesome bunch of trampers.

Everyone loaded onto Big Yellow including returning newbies, we headed up to Arataki Visitors Centre in the Waitak's. Due to Kauri Dieback track closures, one of those now fairly rare visits to the Waitakere Ranges, not the usual 50% of our time in the past.

Arriving to a perfect for this walk, slightly overcast day, premium parking for Big Yellow in the bus parking bay ..... pertinent later in the story.

We head through our first boot station and down the Beveridge Track, enjoying the scenic lookouts over the dams along the way, some of the informative signs about the different trees and what they were used for historically by the Maori and history of some of the water tunnels and we pass the now defunct Rainforest Express entrance.

Boot station number two, scrubbed and doused, at the bottom of Beveridge at Mackie Rest with another lovely view across the Lower Nihotupu Reservoir and the Manukau Harbour.

The very pleasant tree shrouded return walk along the 3.5km (one way) flat Exhibition Drive and further points of interest with the old tram tunnels making the odd appearance behind the undergrowth and the pipeline the length of the former water pipe tramway road. At the Titirangi end of Exhibition Drive, a massive Pohutukawa in it's full Xmas glory emblazoned in bright red blooms and many Tui's scurrying around the tree gorging on nectar!

Return path through Exhibition and we head down to the only semi bush type track of the day that is quite well hidden and the connector to Pipeline Road, that's actually a graveled 4x4 track, with a very large Pipeline that runs alongside part of the track.

Much like the old song, the Pipeline connects to the kneebone, haha, actually to Slip Track! Slip Track is much like another very nearby, much reputed Incline Track (currently closed), quite steep and used to be as rough as guts, super muddy & slippery in Winter, but now heavily graveled 3 lane highway. Roughly 3/4 of the way up, the track turns into a narrow graveled track, with quite a few very short flights of steps. This bit of the track is quite lovely, as you have droopy Punga, Supplejack, the odd Rewarewa lining the track, and very little exposure to the heat being radiated by the yellow thing in the sky. Much appreciated about then, as we were all pretty toasty after the grind up.

The high point on Slip, is the wicked carving planted right in the middle of the lookout across all you survey! Thick Kauri forest to the north and west and dams below!

Nearing the end of Slip, the track turns to a suspended boardwalk that seems quite reminiscent of times past.

Boot station number three and we're back at Arataki. Some taking the opportunity to purchase a Dutch Delight, or should that be Danish Delight?! Our driver having been promised a Dutch Delight, and heaps of razzing during the day. Haha!

Some with Delights still in mitt, we scoot through the road underpass, beelining to Bootstation number 4, and the very spectacular Kauri Cathedral! On the way we stop to admire a stunning Kauri with the most amazing bark and one very large Kauri that is looking very ill! Reaching the Kauri Cathedral the grove of massive Kauri towering majestically above our small lookout and how small we are in comparison to these giants of the forest. And Kauri grass covering the ground below, reliant on the trees for their symbiotic relationship and survival.

Time for the climb back up the hill to Bootstation number 4, and back to Big Yellow.

A few taking the opportunity to quickly visit the Arataki Visitors Centre. It's worth taking the time to do so.

Another absolutely brilliant day out, with much laughter and chatter and razzing.