Party: Anna, Elizabeth, Lesley
Map:
Distance: 10.4 km
Elevation: 276m at Wainamu Junction
Time: 3 hours and 55 mins
Notes: Our initial plan was to walk through to Lake Wainamu and back, but the rain, conditions and need to be back by 4pm were against us and we only went to the Junction. Hopefully next week we can start at the other end and complete this section of the Hillary Trail. The track starts (unusually) with a paddock, and a brilliant view of the coast. It was pretty clear, though, from the valley in front of us, that there would be some peaks and troughs in this walk, and so there were (literally and metaphorically)! The track is wide, most probably a 4-wheel drive track, and it is rocky, muddy and slippery. This is not a track to do after heavy rain. We descended quickly to the valley floor, having to watch every step, crossed a small river or two, then ascended to the trig. This section was a bit of a slog through regenerating bush...there were lots of juvenile natives, but also lots of gorse, cutty grass, manuka and kanuka. The trig gives you a panoramic view of the coast and valley, and is a great place for morning tea. We were lucky enough to enjoy no wind and bright sunshine at the trig (must have been in Auckland) so we could mentally have some respite from all that slippery mud. Back down to the track and we continued our ascent to the Junction. Decision made to turn around at this point, we retraced our steps, with several bone-jarring falls that confirmed our position of glad-we've-done-it-but-never-again. All you can say about this trip is we are getting better at stream crossings. Boom. That's it. Back to Little Sister Cafe to celebrate.
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| Trig on the hill on the horizon |
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| Grevillea perhaps? |
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