4-7 June 2010

Leader: Jenny Wilton

We arrived in bright sunshine and spent the late afternoon sipping drinks admiring the view of the sand dunes and the still clear blue sea of the Hokianga harbour from the cabins perched high on the hill above the camping ground.

Day 1- 5 June

After realizing that having a lovely view meant a long haul down the grassy banks to the toilet/kitchen facilities and also having to carefully avoid tripping over the rope leads that tethered the goats despite the obstacles we survived the nightly ordeals.

Due to the now rapidly deteriorating weather and forecasts of heavy rain for Sunday, the scheduled tramps were reversed so it was bush walks today and the costal walks on Sunday. We spilt into 3 parties, one heading for the Mountain Road end to start the Hauturu Highpoint Track (Six foot Track – Framptons Hut) - 10km walk, 679mts. Two parties heading for Waiotemarama Gorge Road, one to start the Hauturu Track and swap car keys with the Mountain Road party and the light tramp to commence the Waiotemarama Waterfall Loop Walk.

Hautura Highpoint Track starting from Mountain Road, the weather was not the best to start, but the morning tea stop brightened the day. The track was an old bridle trail and narrow in parts with would be glimpses of the Hokianga harbor, not so today with the low cloud and mist. Some boggy patches and river lets crossing the track; on reaching the stile at the end of fence line we crossed to a four wheel drive track and a sign post to nowhere, fortunately we had the direction, next sign post does point up hill to Framptons Hut, (6 bunks) a delightful old farm house with wood burner, bath and very a cosy morning tea stop. There is a mention of wild cattle still roaming the area of the old farm site, however none sighted. Refreshed and keen to see what lies ahead we set off, the track now climbs steadily and we are exposed to some gale force winds howling through the trees. We continue climbing upwards along a ridge and part of the Waima range to the trig and as planned, met up with the second party lead by Tony. It’s only 11.30am, too early to share lunch so Tony and co head to the comfortable Frampton’s Hut and we decided after our long morning tea not to stop but press on. From this junction the track drops and is fairly level for a while before dropping steeply down to a magnificent Kauri grove. What a privilege it was to walk between the giant trees, this is truly the best part of the day; we are now on the Waiotemarama loop track and descend into the stream and the Waterfalls, the track is open and there is a staircase above the falls and a bench track to the end of the track. Just across the road is the Puzzle shop but we are hungry… so we lunch, before driving back.

Pot luck dinner and drinks merge, barbecue going, our late trampers have arrived and we have a visitor, a local historian, Lloyd Walker who turns out to be an ex geography teacher, from Papakura High School and he does remember his old pupil (a lovely young student from 1965) – yes, our very own Lesley, so as they reminisce we prepare our dinner. There is a large rustic kauri table to share a huge feast, a glass of wine and the clear evening to enjoy this outside setting, conversations soon became a bit animated.

Day 3 - 6 June

With the direction from Lloyd Walker (local historian) we were off to see the Koutu Boulders that can only be viewed at low tide. At the beach between Koutu and Kauwhare points on the south shore of the Hokianga Harbor where you will find, one of the Hokianga’s better kept secrets….. “the boulders”, these are Concretions hardened sedimentary rock and it is estimated the largest may have taken 5 million years to grow. Certainly worthy of a visit - some almost three metres in diameter, did I say anyone for bowls. Why would anyone want to go to moeraki whatsits ??

As the tide made its way in and cameras stop clicking we made our way back to the cars, and cabins with time to relax, read the Sunday papers, have lunch before heading out again.

Two parties and another key swapping for our Southern Heads walk from Omapera Signal Station Hill to Waimamaku River mouth. Starting from Waimamaku River we had a head on wind walking along a typical wild west coast beach, windy enough to rip the hairs off your legs (if you had any). The thunderous white top waves make spectacular scenery, and we soon had to leave the beach to climb over low promontories where the rocky outcrops impeded beach access. We passed a few shanty baches onto an undulating farm cliff top track where we could view the impressive seascapes, even the weather was improving. We finished the walk in sunshine with a few wise ones managing to find an easy beach route, leaving other over energetic individuals to scramble up and over a steep promontory….but just to consider the view…fabulous! A pleasant 3.5 hr coastal walk which can be done all tides.

We finished the day with an evening at the local pub/restaurant which was very pleasant and the favorite choice… yes… you guessed it, fish and chips. For those who have not been to Opononi it is a very scenic spot, still relatively unspoilt.

Thanks to those trampers who traveled all that distance on a long weekend and for making this a very enjoyable weekend… I hear on the gossip vine that one of us got a speeding ticket for doing 5km (yes 5km) over the limit…was it you…I couldn’t possibly say. Serves him right for not turning back on his ‘safety’ device.

Jenny Wilton