Tramp Reflections 800 - Aotea Harbour, West Coast

23 November 2008

Adrienne, Val, Bev, Sue, Lynne, Nick, Brett and Gail set out from Pack n Sav in the van in convoy with Janey and Malcolm's car. We picked up Jutta and Darrel and Michiel and Anna on our way out of town and we met six people from the Te Awamutu Tramping club at Whatawhata and met Sharon and Trish the farmer out at Aotea - a total of 23.

We traveled beyond Te Mata following lots of red arrows at crucial points, compliments of Sharon, who had put these up the night before. At the end of the long, winding and dusty road we were relieved to see Sharon waiting for us at the entrance to the farm, Waiteika Station.

Through a little paddock, we entered the bush. It was dark and dense with the occasional viewpoint where we could see out into Aotea Harbour. We had a rest break with a great view looking over the Aotea Harbour and the surrounding hills. From there we went steeply down following little orange ribbons onto the shores of Aotea Harbour.

The tide was right for us (out) so we walked just around the corner to have lunch at a wee hut under construction. Some of us climbed a few rocks as we came across them.

Replenished, we set off through the mud flats to find a little cave just right for two people. More mud; and then back into the bush and straight up the hill to another rocky outcrop for another break and a nice view of the surrounding hills. Even some cute goats crossed our path which was especially exciting. Just when the goats disappeared, along came two very social pig hunting dogs, one with a radio receiver. After a little chat to them and a cuddle with them (we never did see the owners) we moved on to climb and bum slide steeply down the hill through some supple jack. We were then treated to a nice stream at the bottom. While walking along all of a sudden we heard a screech “Stop, help, my sunglasses! We all stopped and looked for Lynne's glasses and sent her into the stream where she found them. We followed the stream to a crossing where we ambled up to Sharon and terry's white baiting bach.

Terry was waiting for us with the billy on for a cup of tea and bikkies which we just had to eat because he had burnt the wrapper on the fire.

From there we moved on and this time into the stream. No one had a chance to stay dry. Sorry Jutta! This little river even brought a few nice surprises like nice waterfalls and a perfect pool. Some of us took the chance for a dip. The girls kept their clothes on while Michiel stripped. That didn't help him stay dry because he got out, dried himself, put his dry clothes on and while climbing across the waterfall he took an involuntary dip with all his dry clothes on. "I didn't fall in" he said. Yeah right! And Anna did the same! Fancy that, 23 crossings over the waterfall and only two wet ones! The whole way along this stream was interesting because we had to use ropes in a few places (thanks to Sharon installing these the day before) and had to climb up and slide down in a few steep places.

The last one being crossing over the top of the waterfall using a rope after a little rest at the lovely cascading waterfall. We climbed our last steep ascent out and up onto the road which we followed for ten minutes back to the station shearing shed where we had left the van. We just got home to Hamilton and then the forecasted rain started! What a great day, thanks to Sharon.

Jutta and Adrienne

Photographs by unknown (Canon PowerShot SX100 IS, FinePix F480).