Auckland Baptist Tramping Club 2005

Despite the distance from Auckland and early sunset, a good group of nine people explored the expansive sand dune peninsula forming the south head of the Waikato River at Port Waikato. The journey from The Bracken took one-and-a-half hours, which meant we did not get on our feet till 3:15pm. As we travelled rain came on, and we had visions of having to battle the elements as we walked, but once at the start the rain held off and did not come back till we were back in Auckland. We set out from the beach carpark off Maunsell Rd and soon climbed up into the broad belt of bare sand forming the inland side of the peninsula. We could look across the river to the Waiuku Forest opposite. Soon we turned inland crossing a broad area of low dunes with patches of flat sand, vegetation and one or two ponds. We followed a vehicle track heading southwards; we could see the hills above Port Waikato in the distance ahead. White shells scattered on the iron sand gave the appearance of snow. A side track off the vehicle track brought us across hilly lupin-covered dunes to the Tasman Sea coastline. We walked down the beach for ten minutes to the Sunset Beach carpark near the surf club. A group of drinking youths asked us if we were doing the Duke of Edinburgh award! The grassy area beside the end of the Sunset Beach road made a good rest stop out of the wind, it was now 4:15pm.

A roadbash brought us back to the car park and tramp’s end about 4:45pm.

Everyone had a wonderful time, and on the way home we stopped in Tuakau for munchies. We were back at The Bracken about 6:30pm. Cost: $12.