Well great to be back for 1st Thursday walk for WOPs, to do a walk at a very popular Regional Park, see familiar faces & also new ones.  A very warm welcome to our new WOPpers.  As per the trip snip heading we were meant to do Tawharanui Lagoon Coastal walk which of course includes walking over rocks around the coast to or from Maori Bay depending on the tide. Instead, we wake up this morning to the news of a 7.7 earthquake off New Caledonia & a Tsunami warning for parts of NZ. Linda erred on the side of caution & decided not worth the risk to be walking close to the sea at any stage today, especially as the warnings advised people in coastal zones to take precautions for the rest of the day due to the ongoing risk of unexpected currents waves etc. We all agreed with Linda, a wise move just not worth the risk, we can do this walk another day. 

So, after that excitement for 21 of us, it was straight into a slog uphill on the South Coast track (see pics & looking back at lagoon). The morning started off quite drizzly & cool. After all the heat it was raincoats on & complaining of the chill in the air! This soon changed after we warmed up & the weather cleared so coats off now commenting on the humidity! 

The South Coast track is a steady climb over farmland with great views to Kawau Island & back over to Snells beach/Agies Bay etc. Initially the morning was grey & misty but gradually cleared, we enjoyed morning tea partway up the track. Then we continued with a few more hills to climb up on the way.  We stopped at Maori Bay lookout (see pics & steps which take you down to the waters edge). After that we continued on & out to Tokatu Point where we enjoyed lunch with a view, nestled amongst the prostrate manuka which this type is quite rare. Little Barrier just visible thru the mist & cloud. The track to Tokatu Point slightly wet in parts from the rain the day before but everywhere very dry with the ground on the track cracking up. 

Then it was an amble back down the North Coast track past the top end of the Ecology trail & cattle grazing peacefully & down to Anchor Bay. Looking over the water all looked very normal, a few surfers there although we did notice a few boats which seemed to be heading inland when we were at the Maori Bay lookout. After a brief stop at Anchor Bay it was decided to head straight back to the Lagoon carpark.  We covered just over 11 kms.  Many thanks Linda, a good start to the term, a chance for everyone to catch up, removes all the cobwebs & got us back into tramping mode & carrying our packs etc. 

Colleen W.

Click here for photos from Colleen