It was third time lucky for this trip (twice cancelled last year) on a beautiful February day with a light southerly wind. We departed Leigh wharf at 9:30am on board Diver City - a purpose-built catamaran - hired from the Dive Centre in the North Shore. This boat was excellent and everyone thoroughly enjoyed the trip over to the island watching gannets and petrels skimming over the waves. The landing place was a boulder beach which is steeply shelved and it is difficult to get ashore. Everyone was wet to the waist but we were able to change into spare clothes at a nearby shed.

Our DOC permit stipulated that we had to have an approved guide - we had Mel Galbraith, who has been involved in conservation for many years, especially the Tiritiri Matangi island project. After meeting the DOC ranger Andrew Young we set off up the Waipawa Track through nikau groves and climbed gradually till we eventually met the summit track. At this point we had lunch and returned down the summit track passing through several groves of kauri. We were unable to go to the summit - this has been strictly out of bounds to virtually all parties for many many years. A flock of kaka could be heard near the junction, but we only caught a glimpse. However we did see saddlebacks, tuis, pigeons, stitchbirds, tomtits, fantails and bush robins. Mel was very informative about the flora and fauna as we made our way along the track back to the ranger’s house. The DOC ranger transported our gear on a tractor trailer to the far side. While waiting for the Diver City we had swims and took photos of this beautiful spot, and Philip with his cell phone kept us informed of the Americas Cup yacht racing. After another pleasant voyage  we arrived in Leigh Harbour about 4:45pm. All of us felt very privileged and enriched to have experienced the natural beauty of this island sanctuary.