Friday Our group of ten set off from Oban at 9.15am to make the 15 minute walk over the hill to Golden Bay, where we caught a water taxi to Freshwater Hut. The 45 minute ride took us along the Patterson Inlet which was as calm as a millpond. After a brief stop at North Arm to pick up passengers, we had an exciting ride up Freshwater River, twisting and turning as the water taxi negotiated tight bends in the river. Arriving at 10.45am we left our packs on the jetty as we crossed over Freshwater River by a swing bridge, one person at a time, to Freshwater Hut.  After lunch in the hut, we crossed back over the bridge and set off for Mason’s Bay. The pleasant, flat track took us about 4 hours, starting with a sandy track with a few boggy patches that were easy to walk around, and providing wide open views.  After crossing a bridge, with the old bridge lying alongside, there were poles with an orange line on them, with a sign saying not to go any further if there was water above the orange line. Thanks to the recent dry weather we were well in the clear. For some time the straight, grassy track ran by the side of the river with Manuka trees shading us.  About 50% of the track was under the cover of Manuka. A long boardwalk took us over the Chocolate Swamp. Before the boardwalk had been built trampers had to wade through the swamp up to their knees, leaving them with brown legs for up to two weeks! The track opened up as we crossed through sand dunes, and up to the Island Hill Homestead, which was a farm house until 1986 when the last farmers left the area. The historic building is now used as DOC accommodation. We met the DOC warden, Dale, who was staying at the Homestead with his wife and four children, as we walked down the 15 minute track to Mason’s Bay Hut. Dale reappeared at the Hut after dinner to tell us the three Must-Do things to do while at Mason’s Bay; Climb Big Sandhill for the views and sunset, Go Kiwi spotting after dark or early morning, and to land on Mason’s Bay beach in a plane. We completed two of these things! Straight away we all headed up Big Sandhill behind the hut, an amazing walk amongst granite rocks, quartz and sand. While we enjoyed wide 360degree views, it was too cloudy for a sunset. Making our way down again in the growing dark, we detoured up the path to the Homestead to spot kiwis. Red torchlight is recommended, however we were careful not to directly shine our white light on the kiwi we spotted foraging among leaves on the side of the track. At one stage he darted across the track to the other side and then back again, allowing us a good look at him. Meanwhile Warren was up at the Homestead watching a "resident" kiwi on the Homestead lawn for about an hour. Saturday Having two nights at Mason’s Bay allowed us a day to explore. We began the day with the 20 minute walk to the beach. We wandered down the south end of the beach, inspecting large chunks of driftwood and kelp that had been washed up. The sand was littered with bird footprints and we identified kiwi prints with holes all around where kiwis’ beaks had prodded the sand for sand hoppers. After lunch at the hut, we headed back up the path to the Homestead where the warden showed us inside the house and talked about the history of farming in the area. We continued on down the path to look inside the old woodshed and read the information boards there. Ian led devotions after dinner about Plan A and Plan B. Plan A is where your life turns out much as you had planned, whereas Plan B you face difficulties and disappointments but they can lead to a much deeper relationship with God. A few people went kiwi spotting again that night with no success. Sunday On our third day we departed at 7.45 arriving back at Freshwater Landing at 11.45. We ate lunch on the jetty while Christine gave a devotional on the koru, which represents new beginnings. God has broken time into seasons, months and years, which gives us opportunities for new starts and to begin new things, applicable as this was the last day of 2017. We arrived back in Oban about 2pm. Climbing Big Sandhill and seeing a kiwi in the wild were definite highlights!