After a quick car shuffle at Hooten's we were on our way, with a promise of a better day, looking forward to this walk, one that I hadn't done for a long time with some new territory. 

20 of us started at Goat Island with stunning views, the higher we climbed the better the view. Following the Goat Island Walkway all in high spirits. The gravel track passes behind the University to the cliff top with views over Goat Island to Pakiri with spectacular views over the Hauraki Gulf and Hauturu or Little Barrier and the Hen and Chicken Islands.  A lovely place to stop for morning tea before the rain showed, on with the coats but fortunately this didn't last long. 

On we climbed following the fence line till we reached Matheson bush rd where we all stopped once again to admire the views. From here we went downhill to join up with the Leigh Coastal walkway, a lovely walkway eventually joining up with the Leigh Harbour Walkway. A lovely track looking down into the Leigh Harbour, boat ramp and a lovely homestead along the beach, an easy walk around the foreshore at  low tide. 

On up the steep road to the Cemetery a very peaceful resting place with great views of the harbour and Little Barrier, here we saw many graves of the Matheson family and other local identities. I thought this little inscription was very true "Those we love don't walk away, they walk beside us every day". 

We continued on down to a lovely rocky beach for lunch, down a very steep set of stairs, getting a little bit of sunshine while we admired our view. Of course straight after lunch up the very steep stairs on those full tummys then on down a lovely reserve eventually to Mathesons Bay. 

From here Jeanene had found this beautiful bush walk beginning at the flat grassed reserve on the west side of the Kohuroa Stream. The track follows the stream and a series of waterfalls, native bush includes mature Kauri, Pohutukawa, Rimu, Totara and Kaihikatea trees. The track has good boardwalks and steps through the steepest parts. At a large swimming hole there is a rope from a tree to swing out from to cool off, surprisingly no-one was keen. 

This beautiful track finishes at Leigh Rd where our cars were parked. The drivers then returned to Goat Island while we huddled in the unused bus shelter as a heavy shower came through. We then drove back to Matakana where we sat at a huge big table with delicious home baking sharing our wonderful day together. Many thanks Jeanene. 

And now you guessed it that little bit of history - Matheson Bay History. 

Matheson Bay takes its name from brothers Angus and Duncan Matheson,who in 1857 arrived as part of the Waipu migration on the Spray. 

After settling at Waipu they and other family members moved the short distance to the bay that was later to bear their name, as it was a better location for their successful shipbuilding business. 

An old anchor, recovered from the bay, is displayed on the hill to the east of the beach. Heavy mooring chains from the boat building days lie across the floor of the bay and are often seen by scuba divers. 

There you go Andrea and Donna you can go and have a dive for them after telling us about doing the course in that area. 

Cheers Carol W

Click here for photos from Carol