Thursday
The above group travelled down to Tongaporutu Whitecliffs Station on Thursday evening
24 April, leaving Auckland 6.20pm and arriving 11pm. Twelve travelled in a Rent-a-dent mini-van and the
remainder in private vehicles. The weather was mainly fine and this continued for the next two days.
Accommodation was in the old Gibbs family homestead and bunkhouse10 minutes walk to the beach below,
on the quiet Clement Rd (130) which starts at South end of the Tongaporutu Bridge. This proved an ideal
location with beds for 22 and one sleeping on the floor. The Gibb family have owned the station since
the 1890s and before that began farming in Canterbury in 1841.
Friday
Breakfast was
at 7.15am and we departed south about 8.30am, turning inland on the Okau Rd, then following the narrow,
windy, clay Kiwi Rd to start the Rerekapa Track about 9.10am. Drivers from among the 10 day-walkers would
later return the vehicles and the 13 overnighters carried on to reach Moki Rd about 2pm and gained permission
from the farmer to make camp on a low promontory above the upper Waitara River at 3pm. The two groups
shared in an ANZAC day meditation and prayer at the Boys Brigade Hut lead by Paul about 10am and lunch
above the Rerekapa Falls at 12noon (the beginnings of the Waitara River), before the day-walkers turned
back. The major part of the day was in beautiful mature bush-land, with farming at each end. After some
of Ruth’s great concoctions and a beautiful pink sunset, the overnighters slept soundly for up to 12
hours.
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Saturday
In the morning we ascended to the track to walk westward, following the south
bank of the meandering Waitara River. Today’s track was originally a road built after WWI (by pick and
shovel – including a tunnel) when the area was settled by and cleared for farming by returning soldiers.
However, most farms were abandoned in the decades following as they proved uneconomic. The area now has
regenerating bush, with Punga ferns sometimes predominating. The track now has 4 or 5 swing bridges as
well as other bridges and a high-arched greyclay 20m tunnel toward the western end. The track had few
markers but because it often followed a level incline on the hillside, it was easy to rediscover whenever
we took a wrong direction. The walk lasted from approximately 9am to 3pm with stops along the way. A
lady who passed us on a mountain bike severely strained her ankle and was assisted out to be taken by
one of our vehicles. We were met once more by the day-walkers.
The two day walk was peaceful,
with a variety, character and charm of its own. Now once more together we enjoyed a hearty meal back
at the house and a reading by Alasdair Those who walked down to the beach could see a variety of beautiful
scenery including large rock formations (Two Sisters etc…), caves and distant views of Mt Taranaki. The
hill to the east was also climbed several times.
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Sunday
After a breakfast of bacon and eggs cooked on the BBQ by Heather, there was a devotion
by Phillip D. on how our lives can be guided through the Holy Spirit. It was decided to depart just over
an hour later about 10.30am. There was some rain in the middle part of our journey. Those travelling
in the van stopped briefly at Te Kuiti and Pirongia, arriving back in Auckland at exactly 5pm
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