2 May 2010
Leader:
Mary Cooper
Dunn’s Bush is what Arthur Dunn, who
gifted the land of 96 hectares to the QE11 National
Trust in 1994, refers to as ‘real bush’ – a mixture of
regenerated and mature northland flora; in fact the
forest flora is rich – thanks to the eradication of
possums - ranging from kahikatea trees, a proliferation
of nikau palms, lancewoods, juvenile kauri, rewarewa,
totara, rimu, to minimingi and much more, as well as
groundcover vegetation, including parataniwha which we
found in wet shaded areas
Two carloads of eight people arrived at
the parking area beside 703
Ahuroa Road, Puhoi, to begin
a tramp on a perfect autumn’s day.
With our Tail End Charlie sorted, we climbed over
the first of many stiles, and encountered a lower
standard type of track with sometimes difficult
sections, first along Valley Track and later on Big Tree
Track, although the farmland part of Te Araroa we walked
on was very pleasant.
Our aim was the pursuit of the elusive Sugarloaf
– a large sandstone outcrop – which we thought we saw,
but as there were no identification signs we could not
be sure. So
we had to stop for morning tea break.
We decided, after crossing the
‘designer bridge’ to continue over open farmland to
Remiger’s Bush, part of Te Araroa national walkway;
some of us noted on the Te Araroa sign at
Regimer’s Bush that from this point, the distance to
Pakiri was 46kms while the distance to Cape Reinga was
517kms
– anyone walking
to the Cape today?
We backtracked, investigated a nearby sign by an
enormous rock, which explained interesting data about
the crimson rata sprawling over the boulder; we wondered
if this was the Sugarloaf.
We had lunch not far away in shade before
continuing on.
Would anyone write the report today?
One anonymous person explained why any “homework”
was out of the question:
many years ago at primary school the assigned
homework was not handed in, and, much to the hurt of
this person, the teacher wrote in the handbook ‘lazy’ in
Chinese; to this
day the humiliation, hurt and stress
felt on that day is ingrained deep down inside,
where the soul lives.
Oh well, it was worth a try!
Along Big Tree Track we came across
huge Kahikatea trees, one reputed to be over 900 years
old measuring 1.8 metres in diameter, which had escaped
the mill.
Very impressive.
Thanks to everybody who came along; the
views were stunning, the tuis were singing, the
wood-pigeons were flying and the trampers were laughing.
We encountered dozens of uphills, some more
easily negotiated than others, as people discovered.
The tramp took about 5 hours as we walked from
Dunn’s Bush to Remiger’s Bush adding an extra two hours
to the journey.
Those participating today:
Ann, Phyllis, King, Bonnie, Murray, Glenice and
Elmare.
Mary Cooper
