With this walk Kay had informed us via e-news to bring your togs as we will divert to Lake Wainamu for a swim instead of continuing up high on the Te Henga track. Sounds great! However, this morning dawned rather windy, but we were all hopeful of a swim in a sheltered spot at the lake. 

25 WOPpers gathered at Bethells Road near the bridge including some new WOPpers. A very warm welcome, ladies. Kaye's plan was to take us up to O'Neills Bay perhaps have morning tea there then instead of going higher skirt back along the beach, through a short cut thru private land to join the sand dunes & Lake Wainamu. 

So off we went, enjoying the views on the way. A cool wind in the exposed areas but hot where sheltered. O'Neills Bay looking good as always with thundering sea & now pohutukawa coming out in bloom. We walked along the beach, back up some dunes then down onto Bethells Beach & came in near the end of Bethells Road. We enjoyed morning tea in the shade then crossed over private property where we have been before to do the Momori Point tramp. This time we traversed thru the pine trees on a lower track (reminded me of Waiuku Forest) & came across a grotto that had been especially built as a film set. We were not permitted to take photos but saw huge dinosaur creatures built from stone. Very impressive! Some even looked quite friendly!   

After that a short trek out of the forest to join the sand dunes. Luckily coming in at this part the dunes did not take too long to negotiate & shortly after Lake Wainamu appeared. There is a wee beach area & the plan was to have a swim here however with the wind blowing straight in no one was particularly keen! Kay decided we could continue on around the lake & lunch at the waterfall. We follow a nice track which winds in & out of bush around the lake perimeter & soon we were at the waterfall. This waterfall is at the head of the lake, just a gentle cascade of water today. 

Lunch was enjoyed by some clambouring up a bank so we could look down while others stayed closer to the water. Sitting on the bank you get a great view of the luxuriant stands of bush, nikau, cabbage trees in flower, manuka etc & I spied a lone Kauri standing sentinel on the hill. These falls are also known as Waitohi Falls & watching over the waterfall is a Maori Pou sculpture which commemorates the local tupuna & pa builder Kowhatukiteuru (see pic of back of it taken from where I was sitting).

Kay still couldn't persuade anyone to swim so after lunch we continued around the lake's northern shore. This side is much quicker. We skirted the towering sand dunes & walked down the trickling stream back to the carpark. By the time we had completed the loop walk there were a few people sunbathing by the dunes but no one was swimming so perhaps as Lake Wainamu is a freshwater lake still too cold! An interesting walk, Kay, with plenty of variety. Many thanks. 

Colleen W. 

Click here for photos from Colleen.