Auckland Baptist Tramping Club 2005

The first Sunday afternoon trip for the year was a tramp with a difference. Instead of meeting at The Bracken, we all met at chez Paul in St Johns, with our picnic lunches. 31 people came along. About 1:30pm we set out for the Waiatarua Reserve and stopped for our picnic lunch near the southern side of the reserve. Afterwards we continued on through the vast reserve of pasture and wetland to come out on Grand Drive near the junction with Abbots Way. A short roadbash, and crossing the playing fields of Liston Park, brought us to Michaels Ave Reserve where we stopped to admire the lovely wetland ponds. We carried on, following a path around the reserve’s playing fields to the YMCA. Some children who were on the walk had to try out the various fitness trail equipment along the way. Beyond the YMCA we came to the other side of the wetland pond, and stopped to admire the prolific birdlife - heaps of ducks, a few swans, and a number of pukekos. We returned to Waiatarua Reserve, and stopped at a viewing platform built out into the main wetland pond. Our host Paul extended his hospitality with afternoon tea once we were back at his home just after 4pm, bringing to a close a lovely afternoon out in warm and calm weather.