Sat 29th May
The bus party: Eileen, Karen, Yvonne, Anne and Katy walked along the coast from South Hokianga head.
We watched the sea breaking on the sand bar and swirling into the Hokianga harbour then followed the shoreline along cliff tops watching glassy rollers breaking onto the rocks below. We returned to Opononi for afternoon tea then on to see Tane Mahuta the giant Kauri which never fails to impress and back to Trounson Kauri Park. We saw and heard kiwi that night in forest – a pair calling to each other.
Sun 31st May
To Aranga beach to climb Manganui Bluff in the rain. There were extensive views up and down the coast of the seemingly endless beach. The bluff was sub-tropical coastal forest full of Nikau palms and ferns. We spotted a Kauri snail out for a stroll in the wet . Then on to Kai Iwi Lakes and our camp. We returned to the pub for dinner – hamburgers and steaks. There was a full moon at the campsite and Moreporks calling.
Mon 1st May
We walked up onto a ridge surrounding the lakes to get an overview and out to meet the party doing the full 3-day coastal walk from Hokianga to Kai Iwi Lakes. Rob, David and Ralph changed a flat tyre in the rain while Lynda directed traffic around the bus and the rest of us looked on encouragingly. Then we all piled in and headed to Dargaville for Chinese food and coffee before the drive home. Many thanks to Rob for masterminding the tyre change; to Karen for driving and to Helen for being the organising and leading Ninja! - Lastly to every one of the 16 people who helped to make the trip a success.