Around 23 happy smiling WOPpers met hugged and warmly ‘helloed’ each other at our meeting place opposite 280 Bethells Road.  Our walk started and finished with being surrounded by monstrous pine trees, quite a few having seen an untimely demise via the last storm to hit West Auckland. 

Reaching the Bethells sand dune is always a unique pleasure, no matter how many times many of us have been there.  These dunes are an amazing sight sitting right in the middle of seemingly nowhere giving a little taste of desert in West Auckland while being surrounded by pine forest and the wild pounding Tasman Sea rolling in to Bethells Beach nowhere to be seen. 

Morning tea was interrupted by a downpour that sent many scuttling for the tree cover, then on over the dunes to Lake Wainamu another beautiful view.  A rather wet little track led us around the lake to the Wainamu Falls where (after having done my research I can tell you this) watching over the waterfall is a carved Maori Pou Sculpture which commemorates the local tupuna (ancestor) and pa builder, Kowhatukiteuru.  

After finding a pleasant place for lunch once again viewing the sparkling water of the lake we made our way back via the swirls and rivulets of the tinkling river running alongside the outer dunes and back to our cars.  Another great day to remember!  Thank you Linda. 

Deborah G

Click here for photos from Deborah