January 5 th 2025.

This was a trip that changed many times due to the bad weather in the hills, after many discussions we came up with the Waipatiki Scenic Reserve. There was very little traffic on the Wairoa Road and we turned off at the Aropaoanui Road and travelled for about 30mins to the carpark at the top end of the reserve. Over the stile we descended through a forest of nikau palms in various stages of flowering – white flowers and bunches of red berries. We took the left track, walking through beech with magnificent towering kanuka trees and soon broke out of the bush onto a grassy terrace, before rock hopping across the stream.

We walked about a kilometre down the road before diving back into the bush passing some large kahikatea trees, observing what was inside the weta boxes and generally just appreciating the bush. We had our lunch stop on the beach, where a lonely surfer was surfing in trying conditions. The HB Lifeguards were on patrol which was good to see as this beach is notorious for ocean rips. The campground was chokka with tents and various camper vans.

We set off on return journey, back into the roadside reserve where to our dismay we noticed that several rata vines had been sawn through, just above ground level-a senseless act! We took the alternate track back to the van, through nikau groves, looking out to the Bay and surrounding countryside. Before long we were back at the van, lounging around in the sunshine and discussing possibilities of a short walk on the way home. An easy jaunt to start 2025 off.

Party: Glenda H, Anne D, Janice L, Lou C, Peter B, Judith M, Selina C and Susan L