Tramp Reflections 836 - Mayor Island (Tuhua)

29 - 30 January 2010

Janey started the organizing for this tramp as Val was otherwise engaged, knowing that she and Malcolm would be in Wellington and unable to go. She organized the permit through DOC Tauranga and there ran into the first of a few snags. We could only stay on the island for the Friday and Saturday nights as numbers landing are restricted and there was a school party going out on Sunday. We decided that was ok, at least we would have 2 days on the island.

However, when we made contact with the boat people, they were not going out on Friday night but would take us at 7am Saturday morning. We decided that was ok, we would have nearly 2 days on the island.

Then the boat company rang to say they had a fishing booking on Friday night and they would take us out at 6.30pm with arrival at 10pm and pick up 3pm on Sunday. We decided that was OK. Now we would have 1 and 2/3 days on the island.

The weather forecast turned bad and the skipper rang on Friday morning to say that he would be unable to pick us up on Sunday as arranged as it would be far to rough to land. We negotiated for a Saturday afternoon pick up and that was ok. At least we would be able to get to the island for 2/3rds of a day and walk around to see the main points.

Finally we were off on the next adventure tramp to Mayor Is. Dianne Lee met up at Val & John's. We picked up Anna & Michiel, then Don & Clare with their huge load of bags. Clare had managed to squeeze in some wine and cheese for a happy hour. Pat was the last to load aboard at Cambridge, sporting his new pack that was stuffed with his new sleeping bag - a dedicated tramper in the making! After the compulsory u-turns in Tauranga, we finally met up with Wendy & Mike on the wharf. John entertained the crowds eating their fish & chips by trying to drive the van under a low bar. He had warned all his passengers that they were as much responsible for the driving as he was and only Don voiced his concern that we may not fit - but this was not heard by the driver. However there was no harm done.

Once safely on board with our gear and the 7 fishermen, we ate our bread & sausies and settled back to enjoy the beautiful evening from the sea. By the time the sun was setting, the sea was no longer calm and the evening for some had lost its magic as well as their tea. It was a long 3 hours. The moonlight over the water was lovely and looking out towards the horizon, it did seem flat!

They were expecting us on the island at 10pm and the caretaker met our boat in his inflatable with a wee motor on the back. Gear and people were loaded on board and all were safely landed in 3 trips. George, the caretaker had kindly opened up 3 cabins for us as we were only there for such a short time. Only Wendy & Mike pitched their tent. The rest of us settled down with our doors wide open to the sounds of the sea. Mike heard a kiwi during the night.

We were up bright and early on off on our walk at 8am, leaving Wendy resting in her tent. Dianne & John soon dropped back and they slowly made their way to the Devil's staircase and back to camp. We walked through beautiful bush: Pohutukawa, mature Rewarewa, Kanuka. The birdlife was prolific with bellbirds, 8 kaka, robins, fantails wood pigeons and tui. We clambered down the ladder on the Devils Staircase taking lots of photos as we went. The views from the crater rim were amazing in the bright sunlight. After dropping down to the crater floor, we wandered back between the lakes ready to toil up Ruru Pass to the rim once more. We clambered around huge boulders and up another ladder. At the top we met Wendy and Mike went off with her. Val was gradually shedding off her tramping team!

The rest of us went on to the trig that was surrounded by flying wasps - both Pat and Don had been stung by this time - so we didn't stay around. We went over the next pass and then around the West Coast. We stopped above a tiny bay for lunch and the weather packed in. In the misty rain trickling through the canopy of Pohutukawa, we headed for home at Opo. Val decided to head back and check on the boat, while the others went down to West Bay and then up to the lookout. The intrepid leader arrived back without any of her followers, however Dianne and John arrived soon after and the others gradually followed. After a succession of boil ups for hot drinks and downing Wendy's seasick pills, we packed and waited for the boat to come in.

It was soon entering the bay, tossing around in the seas. George and some of the other happy campers appeared in their wetsuits and George rowed his tiny little rubber ducky out to the boat where they tied ropes to it so it could be pulled back and forth from boat to sea. Good in theory, but the first lot of bags and people got a bit swamped. We did improve with our technique. Once our stuff was on, we helped another family with their luggage and children. It was a real adventure to end their lovely week on the island paradise.

Finally everything and everyone was loaded on board and tied down and we were off - as were some of the excited grins in the constant pitches and rolls. Half of the HTC group sat along one side of the boat in very fixed positions with very fixed expressions until we got into the lea of the land - but nobody was sick. Only one small wet child succumbed to the motion. We were trailed most of the way by graceful seagulls and sooty shearwaters. Watching them made us feel very clumsy and just wished we could fly. The return journey seemed a bit easier than the outward one and we were soon unloading our gear from the boat and into the van. After a lovely feed of fish and chips we returned to Hamilton.

Thanks team for a brief enjoyable adventure. It sure was fun.

Written by Val Hollands

Photographs by Michiel van Dijk (Casio EX-V7).