21 WOPpers drove through the forest to meet at the river carpark on the banks of the Waikato River under the tall, tall pines.  The forest borders the Tasman Sea and the northern shore of the Waikato River and is part of the Crown's forestry estate.  It was established by the former Public Works Department in 1932 as a protection forest to prevent the spread of sand onto adjacent farmland. 

Our track took us through forest alongside the river, the pines towering above us, swaying and rustling in the wind, and the undergrowth mainly big clumps of cutty grass alongside our sandy trail. After morning tea overlooking the river we turned inland to a point with amazing views over the immense sand mine which supplies sand to the Glenbook Steel Mill and beyond that across the mouth of the Waikato River to the long dune extending north from Port Waikato, and then to the roiling ocean. The wind was wild and so was the sea. 

We retreated inland for lunch in a slightly more sheltered spot and then followed the riverside track which led us back to our starting point. 

A very enjoyable walk in a quite different forest environment. 

Joce 

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