Park Island and Ahuriri Estuary
Park Island and Ahuriri Estuary
8 April
A small group met up at the car park at Park Island and set off along the pathway towards the steps leading to the new Park Island cemetery and the limestone paths winding around this knoll. We had good views over the sports fields and the suburb of Tamatea. Across the grass, past the archery targets to the old Park Island and followed a path which led us through the old cemetery and my maternal grandparents graves.
We paused for a moment to look out over the Ahuriri Estuary and views out to Whirinaki Mill and the outline of Mahia Peninsula in the distance, before dropping down to join the circular track and stopping to see the group of 23 small eels which, feeling the vibrations from people walking, came to the surface to be fed- alas I had not brought the ground up cat biscuits for them. We then turned left, crossed the Expressway and onto the shared pathway alongside the Ahururi estuary.
Many birds were seen, namely black swans, mallard and paradise ducks, kingfishers, swallows, shags and as we came to the bird hide, there was a large group of spoonbills (I counted 30). We stopped for morning tea and photographs, then ambled along to the road, where a decision had to be made as to where we would go for lunch, Westshore cafe or Mitre 10 cafe. Mitre 10 cafe won and we walked on the green belt, crossed over Prebensen Drive, Expressway, along to Mitre 10.
It was a full cafe, but we managed to get a big table outside amongst the plants. After lunch we walked back via Prebensen Drive and then the pathway by Salt Water Creek before crossing the sports grounds to our vehicles, arriving just as a shower began. A good morning’s ramble in good company. Party: Glenda H, Peter Mc, Anne D, Christine L, Steve B, Selina C, Colin J, Susan L
Trelinnoe Park
6 May
It was almost a full van load that Steve drove up the Taupo Road to the Old Coach Road (just short of Te Pohue) and along this road for 5 km to Trelinnoe Park. We had last visited the park in October 2024 and were keen to see it in it’s Autumn glory. Michael, one of the owners, met us at the closed cafe and offered his services as a guide for an hour or so.
There was certainly a lot of Autumn colour to be seen. Michael took us past the tennis court and Copper Beech oval, along the East walk and the Long Vista. There he left us, viewing the dreaded pine trees that have been planted since he purchased the property and probably the reason that his property is up for sale again. After a morning tea break in one of the sunny clearings we checked out the eastern edge of the property. This took us along to the Labyrinth (the vegetation forming the maze was somewhat shorter than Selina was expecting) which some proceeded to navigate.
We then headed off in a wavy westward direction, finding the formal Boardwalk steps and its 4 stone companions (which are nearly as tall as Lou) and then had lunch in another sunny clearing. After lunch we made our way to the western side, past the “Moa” House and on to the Kauri grove and the Standing Stones. After a group photo it was back into the van and off to the Esk Hills.
This time at the Esk Hills tracks we walked the Kotare track which is the most northern of the tracks in these hills and gives views up SH5. The revegetation in this area is not as advanced as the tracks we had previously walked on there but it was still an interesting 1 hour walk and nicely filled up the rest of our afternoon’s excursion.
Party: Glenda H, Christine L, Stephen B, Susan L, Anne D, Peter Mc, Selina C, Christine B, Janice L, Judith R and Lou C.