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Ten people trekked from the far end of Army Bay Carpark at the end of Whangaparaoa Peninsula through
the pocket of bush to a waterfall. Linda reminded us all to travel quietly and be on the lookout as there
are many native birds in this bush. We did hear tui singing and some saw kereru feeding on the new leaves
high up in the kowhai trees. A short devotions followed as we rested on the branches of a large tree in the bush glen. Eileen read Psalm 128 which tells about how God blesses those who fear Him and walk in His ways. We then walked over several paddocks, close to many pairs of new-born lambs that did not seem to be much bothered by our presence. And climbed the easy gradient up to the trig. The views from the trig were extensive – all the way from nearby Tiritiri Matangi Island to Auckland city and Mt Eden. We didn’t stay long there as it was rather windy. Linda explained the island we could see from the higher slopes of the Park was Tiritiri Matangi and that the success of some of the bird conservation and protection programmes on the island meant that birds were migrating from there to the Park. We returned via the same bush and boardwalk we had travelled at the start of the walk, pausing at a magnificent fallen puriri that had succumbed to a landslip yet was already putting out new leaves. And, while admiring the kereru perched above us, heard from a local resident more about the Park’s birdlife and that a predator-proof fence is planned to protect the Park. Many other walkers were enjoying the track and the sunny weather that afternoon. We finished up with a fine coffee and cake afternoon tea at Linda’s mother’s house which is perched on the cliff with glimpses of sea and far-off city through the surrounding trees. Linda’s mum assured us it is a ‘neat’ place to be in a storm with the waves booming against the bottom of the cliff below. |