Our weekend consisted of a 3 hour, 10.5km tramp along the eastern shores of Lake Okataina (Eastern Okataina Walkway), which joins up with the 3 hour, 6km Northern Tarawera Track alongside the shores of Lake Tarawera. We camped two nights at the Tarawera Outlet camping ground, with a day trip to the Tarawera Falls on Sunday. On Monday we retraced our steps back to the cars. Friday On Friday afternoon/evening two carloads containing 7 trampers drove to Rotorua, spending the night in 2 very clean, comfortable units at the All Seasons Holiday Park in Hannah’s Bay. Saturday We met for a 7am breakfast of porridge and scrambled eggs in one of the units. At 8am, all packed up, we drove to the end of Lake Okataina Rd, arriving at 8.30am to meet the 8th member of our team, who had driven that morning from Tauranga.  After introductions and a prayer we set off on the Eastern Okataina Walkway. We were blessed with a cold but beautifully calm and sunny day. The track was well formed and undulated up and down alongside the lake through beautiful native forest and offering views below of the calm Lake Okataina. From Otangimoana Bay, where we had morning tea on the shore, the track rose over a small saddle and down into Humphries Bay, which gave us our first sight of Lake Tarawera. Humphries Bay marks the end of the Eastern Okataina Walkway and the beginning of the Northern Tarawera Track and was a perfect spot to eat lunch, notwithstanding a strong southwesterly which blew in causing choppy waves on the shore and causing us to seek shelter. From Humphries Bay there was a brief sharp climb which led into very pleasant open forest before descending to the lake and a lovely mossy clearing, which would make a pleasant alternative lunch spot. The track then heads inland and gradually climbs about 140m before descending reasonably sharply down a ravine and through a gully back to the lake edge. From here the track winds along the shores of Lake Tarawera, passing a jetty, before crossing the bridge to the wide open campsite at the Tarawera Outlet.   Including stops it took us 7½ hours to reach the Outlet, and we questioned the Northern Tarawera Track sign stating 6km which actually took us 3½ hours to complete.  Arriving we all collapsed onto a sunny, grassy bank and rested awhile, before setting up the Double Fly on a flat grassy area opposite. Eight of us lay down groundsheets and our bedding, all fitting very snuggly into the tent. Water was fetched either from the lake or from one tap up a hill, also lake water, needing boiling for 3 minutes or use of a purifying tablet. Cooking was done at a shelter which consisted of a long stainless steel bench plus 2 wooden trestle tables where we ate meals. Dishes were taken up to the tap where they were washed under running water and finally rinsed with boiled water back at the shelter. We were in bed by 8pm. Wind gusts during the night blew the tent and sneaked in through gaps, however we were well-clothed and comfortable and the tent stayed put! Sunday Again a sunny calm day and we rose for a leisurely breakfast at 8am. With lunch in our daypacks we set off for a 2 hour walk to the Tarawera Falls. The track meanders through native bush largely following the river with picturesque clearings by the river with rata trees and pohutakawa clinging to rocky outcrops on the other side. We marvelled at the various sites where the river disappears underground. Along the way there are several waterfalls before arriving at the main one which was stunning. A large rocky escarpment with several openings from which the water poured out. We ate lunch here while enjoying the falls with several other visitors. On our return we stopped at one of the river clearings where Ian shared Devotions with us. He spoke of the writer of the old popular hymn, What a Friend we have in Jesus. This man had had 2 fiances who died before their weddings, followed by his mother becoming terminally ill. He wrote this song as a poem of comfort to his mother. The message for us is that no matter what we go through in life Jesus is there for us as a friend to carry our grief and pain. Arriving back at the Outlet, we had the remainder of the afternoon to relax, sit by Lake Tarawera, wander around to the jetty and prepare our evening meal. There was no wind that evening giving us a more peaceful night. Monday We rose at 6am, breakfasted, packed up the tent and left by 8.20am. Another beautiful day. With Carl leading, we returned along the side of Lake Tarawera, up through the gully, climbing up the ravine and through the open forest to Humphries Bay. We lunched here again which was much more pleasant with the wind gone.  We rejoined the Eastern Okataina Walkway and arrived back at the cars at 3pm. The return tramp took us 6½ hours. We had knocked an hour off our journey in! Were we fitter? Did we carry less now that most food was eaten? Were we keen to get to the café Steve had recommended?? Steve led us to Fat Cats, a Rotorua café where we all enjoyed a drink and reminiscing about our weekend. Although most of us found the length of our walk with heavy packs challenging we all agreed it was a beautiful track with beautiful scenery and that being blessed with good weather had made our camping experience more enjoyable. There was excellent teamwork amongst the 8 of us, everyone pitched in and did their bit and we all agreed the visit to Tarawera Falls on our middle day had been a highlight. After a stop in Matamata for dinner we arrived back at Bracken Ave at 8pm.