Tramp Reflections 840 - Tiritiri Matangi Island

7 March 2010

We started the day a little earlier than usual meeting at 6.45 at Pak n Save because we had to meet the ferry at the Whangaparoa peninsula at 9.30. The morning was stunning and we had a great trip up thanks to our driver. There were nine of us; Peter, Sue, Elizabeth, Louise, Siew Ling, David, John, Caroline and Vince who travelled up in the van on Sunday and five; Anna, Michael, Don, Clare and Kathy who had stayed overnight on the island.

The group that had stayed on the island had had a great stay and even managed to spot a kiwi late into the night , they also had a bit of excitement when a yacht ran amuck amongst the rocks on the island and the rescue helicopter had to do a rescue.

We ended up in different groups on the Sunday wandering around the island taking in the bird life and the great views from the island. The day was perfectly warm and sunny, so at the end of the day we sat on the beach and some of us swam while some were paddling and others were just soaking up the sun. We wandered off to catch the ferry back. Vince requested a stop at Pokeno for the famous ice-creams.... a great end to great day.

Written by Sue Kempthorne.

Photographs by Sue Kempthorne (Panasonic DMC-TZ15) and Adrienne van Hellemond (Canon DIGITAL IXUS 400).