29 May 2010 (Saturday)

Russ Miller, Lynette Snook and her friend Kay Cleaver, Mary Cooper and myself, set off for the light tramp on Saturday in the Bombay Hills.   We parked in the car park on McMillan Rd, off Irish Rd, which is off SH 2 about 23km from Papakura.  

The trail zigzags up over farmland, next to a fence line.   Coming back down in this area we spotted a dead cow.   Mary and Russ had to investigate and Lynette and Kay said they would report it to the farmer on their way out!  In the attractive scenic reserve which hosts a wide variety of native trees and shrubs including kauri, hard beech and king ferns, Mary sneaked up on some feral goats and kids, to photograph, also on the way back.  

The track continues through forest and climbs steadily until nearly at the top.   Before braving the saddle, the wind and some steep ascents/descents, which were slippery due to the recent rain, we had morning tea.   Then we followed the path along the saddle of rolling farmland to the trig/summit of Mt William (373m) where 360 degree views extend from the West Coast to the Firth of Thames.   Showers over various parts produced thick bands of colour in various rainbows.  

There was a cold wind blowing so the consensus was to make our back down to the shelter of the forested area.   It was good to see the rolling hills green again after the rain!

Dianne Miller