Barbara, as a way of celebrating the fact that she was halfway between the stork and the telegram from the queen, decided to organise a visit to Motuora Island with the Motuora Restoration Society, who runs monthly tree-planting trips as part of their project to revert the farmed island to its original forest-covered state, similar to the successful reforestation of Tiritiri Matangi island. We had to leave Auckland about 6am to be up at Sandspit ready to board the Kawau Kat boat departing 8am. It was a glorious day and a very pleasant half hour journey to Motuora Island, passing Scandrett Regional Park and Mullet Point to our right and Moturekareka and Motutara Islands, home in years gone by to the hermit the late Snow Harrison, to our left. The DOC ranger met us as we put into Motuora Island’s home bay, ferrying us in from the Kawau Kat using two inflatable rubber outboard-motor dinghies. We all met by the Motuora Restoration Society hut for a briefing by the DOC ranger and a representative from the society, plus introductions. And because the trip was organised to mark Barbara’s 50th birthday, a group of us sang the Seekers/Springfields song Island of Dreams to her. We did a walk along the coast southwards to the end of the island to see the Keyhole, a spectacular cave piercing the headland. It was almost impossible to carry on further because the tide was on its way in, so we had to turn back. Most of the group then followed the rocky coast northwards all the way around to Still Bay on the eastern side of the island, a straightforward walk, although one or two walked overland through pasture regenerating to bush, then on to pasture overgrown with kikuyu grass. Still Bay is a nice little beach on the island’s rugged eastern shores. There were plenty of rock pools with crystal-clear water, allowing one to observe the seaweeds, crabs and spiny sea-eggs and wonder at the beauty of God’s creation underwater. A mown track led up through thick kikuyu and other vegetation to the pasture on the central part of the island. A similar track dropped down back to Home Bay; these coastal areas contain kiwis (we did not see any - the kiwi is a nocturnal bird) and we were asked to keep to the tracks. It was about midday when we returned to the large mown-grass area used as a picnic area and camping ground. Another group who had just arrived in private boats were pitching two large family-size tents. It was such a hot day, despite daylight saving having finished a week earlier, that quite a few of us enjoyed a swim in the lovely clear and calm water of the Home Bay beach. The Motuora Restoration Society put on a sausage sizzle, the bangers donated by the Mad Butcher, at 1pm. The boat was due to pick us up at 2pm, but the Kawau Kat company had rung through and advised that the boat would not arrive till 2:45pm, giving us more time on the island. One or two did extra walks, including the walk along the central part of the island towards its northern end. There were terrific views of the island, and the surrounding area - Kawau Island to the north, the Whangaparaoa Peninsula to the south, the faint outline of Moehau to the east, and the Mahurangi coastline of the mainland to the west.

The others were happy to read a book or catch up on lost shuteye, having been to the Kilimanjaro armchair journey the night before at Paul’s home and faced with a pre-6am departure from the pillow. The boat arrived about 3pm, and we were treated to a cruise past Motuketekete Island and on to Kawau Island as it had several pickups on the island to do before returning as the scheduled 4pm departure from Mansion House Bay. It was very pleasant as we went up the Bon Accord Harbour picking up at Schoolhouse and Hokimai Bays. We were allowed a few minutes ashore at Mansion House Bay, but scurried back to our boat when we heard a horn parp - we didn’t realise that the toot was from the Kawau Kat’s opposition boat, also scheduled to leave at 4pm. There was more of Kawau Island to see as we went around to Vivian Bay to pick up a sizeable load of passengers and luggage. Our boat pulled into Sandspit Wharf at 5pm, just as the slower opposition boat was unloading its passengers. It was straight back to Auckland - but when we reached Windy Ridge south of Warkworth the traffic began to build up and travel became slow. We thought is was the crowds returning home from the big annual fishing contest based at Pah Farm on Kawau Island, but the delay turned out to be caused by a serious car collision on the hill north of Waiwera. Past the accident, involving three cars and attended by police and the fire service, travel was back to normal and we were back in Auckland soon after 6:30pm, having enjoyed a lovely day out on an idyllic island - a great alternative to the normal Sunday church setting for the worship of God in enjoying His creation in excellent weather provided by Him, with the friendly Christian fellowship of fellow Club members (The Club normally runs afternoon trips on Sundays, allowing people to enjoy their normal Sunday morning church service as well as the tramp). COST: boat trip $15; travel (including $1-25 parking at Sandspit) $10