Fourteen of us started from the end of Anawhata Road and went a short way down the road towards Anawhata House before going up to the rocky lookout that gives great views of Anawhata Beach, Anawhata Stream, and Parera Bay beyond .Also of Anawhata House snuggled in the bush hillside.
After crossing Anawhata Stream where it flows to the sea we made our way up the sand dunes and along a 'not on the map' track that started out well maintained but was a bit grown over by the time we reached Cannibal Creek. From here on until we reached Kuataika Track later in the day it was a bit hit and miss and bordering on bush bashing in parts as there are no real defined tracks. A matter really of not straying too far from the creek and later from the stream, however, there were one or two small bits of backtracking as we determined the best way to go forward. The sort of tramp you take at slow speed so as to not get lost.
However, this is all part of the challenge and interest when you do a tramp like this.
We eventually made it to the Cannibal Waterfall where I promptly managed to fall off a slippery rock and give my right leg a bit of a battering. Some significant swelling that subsided later in the day but at least I gave a good demonstration on what not to do in these sort of areas. Thanks, Peter, for breaking my fall.
Backtracking then a short way before making our way up and around to a nice grassy area near the top of the falls for lunch on a gloriously sunny cloud free autumn day.
A great southerly view from here with the Kuataika Trig clearly visible on the skyline.
More backtracking after lunch and part way back down Cannibal Creek to where it splits to the left as Kuataika Stream. We slowly made our way south not straying too far from the stream and with minimal backtracking we eventually broke through to intersect with Kuataika Track. The intersection point left us with just over half of this quite lengthy track plus Anawhata Farm to tramp back to the bus.
We split into two groups here with Garry and Trish heading up a fast party of six and the remaining eight a medium party with me.
Kuataika Track has some quite steep sections and at the end of this track walking back across the relatively flat Anawhata Farm was a rather pleasant way to end what had largely been an off track experience to an area that was new to most.
Our thanks to Helen for her back to back driving two weeks in a row.