2 February 2025

A later than usual start 11.30, because some of us can’t swim, but we still had to wait for twenty minutes at the southern end of Waimarama beach, because some of us are didn’t fancy climbing over the rocks and some of us didn’t fancy getting wet above the knees.  So we had an early half lunch and then got wet boots anyway.

Every time we go this way it’s different and this time it was certainly different. Very little sand, a lot of rocks to hop over and only one seal (which was a little worse for wear i.e.dead). Around every corner the rocks change in character, different colors, shapes and sizes, but all a bit slippery and all difficult and slow to walk on. Just before the only decently sandy stretch at Cray Bay we struck the collection of really big spherical boulders which is such a highlight of this trip and everyone took photos. By this time you can see Red Island/Karamea and it looks deceptively close, wrong!! it’s still a fair haul and it was a relief to finally hit the little bit of sand before coming onto the tombola that connects Karamea to the mainland.  

A bit before the tombola there is a collection of volcanic rocks with lots of reds and browns and whites in their makeup, these had moved a lot further downhill towards the beach since last time I was there and were nearly in the water.  At the island there were three goats standing right on the top. We all took pictures, admired all the brightly coloured rocks that were lying everywhere, ate our second lunch and headed back to Waimarama. A great day out , the weather was pretty good, the sea and sky were really bright and we had a feed of shark and tatties before heading home.

It’s deceptively tough little trip using muscle groups and balancing skills that we don’t often access, but I think every one agreed, well worth the effort.

Party: Judith M, Reiny & Yohanna S, Selina C, Susan L, Stephen B, Anne D, Sean C, Denise & Lindsay D, Glenda H, Peter B, Paula K, Christine L