Auckland Baptist Tramping Club

This easy non-pack-carry weekend focussed on the Tairua area on the eastern side of the Coromandel Peninsula. Ten people had a wonderful time that included tramping down Lynch Stream to Sailors Grave in the sunshine, a meal at a country club, and a walk around Pauanui. Friday We travelled down in cars from Auckland. Colin and May stayed the night with friends, John stayed at a backpacker hostel, and the rest stayed in cabins at the Tairua Holiday Park. Saturday Up with the rising sun - we wanted an 8am departure as our planned tramp had to fit in with the tide which would be in mid-afternoon.

We left one car at Te Karo Bay, tramp’s end, to ferry the drivers back to their cars afterwards, before going on to the start of our tramp about three km further on along SH25. We set out on the Lynch Stream Track just as the sunshine began - of the liquid type, requiring us to don our waist-length “sun hats”. The track began as a well-formed track, but as it appeared to be still in the process of being made, there were no signposts and we found ourselves heading back out towards the road. We turned back, and eventually found the proper track recognised by track markers with the first one indicating it was the Lynch Stream Track. This was now a tramping track rather than a well-formed path, and we were walking an undulating course through native bush. A little later the track followed a stream downwards, then crossed to follow another one upstream. In places we had to negotiate trees that had been blown down in storms. Eventually the track climbed to the summit ridge, just before which we had a short break. Once over the ridge the track became rough and steep in places, descending to follow Lynch Stream. There seemed to be an endless series of stream crossings as we headed down the valley to come out to the coast at Lynch Cove. As we were still enjoying the liquid sunshine, and we wanted to beat the tide, we continued around the rocky coastline to the next cove with its pebble beach, wading up to knee-deep in places in salt water, then around to Otara Bay with its long sandy stretch. Near the far end of Otara Beach we turned inland to climb up a well-formed bush track over the Sailors Grave headland to come out at the Te Kero Bay carpark about 1:30pm. The liquid sunshine had eased off a bit as the drivers were taken to collect their cars, and we returned to Tairua for welcome hot showers and dry clothes. About 6pm we went to the Tairua Country Club for dinner. The meals were ordered from, and collected from, the counter. Mains were in the range of $18-$25 cash only, and were good value for money, being a range of chicken, ham, and other dishes where we could help ourselves to a smorgasbord of salads. The desserts - pavlova, fruit salad and brandy snaps - were also good value for $6-50. Unlike most restaurants, we were to take our used dishes back to the counter, and our used glasses back to the bar. Afterwards we went to Glenda H's home in Tairua for supper.

Sunday Our original intention was to go to Broken Hills and walk through the 500m Collins Drive tunnel, but we decided that the tunnel could be flooded with the proceeds of yesterday’s liquid sunshine. Instead we settled for an easy walk at Pauanui. There was no sunshine - just a calm and overcast day, ideal for a nice, easy and level walk.

We caught the 9am ferry to Pauanui, then set out along the long ocean beach to the far end, walking along the grassed foreshore reserve. Near the beginning we paused at the remains of the engine block of the Wairua, a steam ship that foundered at Pauanui in 1919. As we walked alongside the beach we could look out to Shoe Island and the Aldermans. After a brief stop at the far end of the beach we carried on past lots of nice houses to come to the well-known marina of Pauanui with its canals, and private jetties serving some flash homes. We had a morning tea stop, and Peter shared some positive thoughts on death. For those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord, death is but a door into God’s presence. Peter quoted a story about two little boys playing a trick on a wise man called Oracle. They boys grabbed a bird and one of them held it behind its back, and told Oracle they could either kill it or let it go - its life was in their hands. Peter then said that death could have several meanings, such as the death of a habit - sow a thought, reap an action; sow an action, reap a habit; sow a habit, reap character; sow the character, reap destiny. We all lead stressful lives; God helps us deal with the stress, such as providing activities such as walking and tramping. Every day above the ground is a good one; nothing is to be feared, only to be understood; no-one has ever damaged their eyesight by looking on the brighter side. The Tangitarori Wetland Walkway was our next piece of walking. We followed a board walk over mangroves before carrying along a grass track following the coastline of Tairua Harbour. There were heaps of mushrooms waiting for harvest. A little further on Jocelyn had a go on a swing. A further boardwalk brought us to a picnic spot beside the Tairua river, where some people were fishing. A tiny tame 11yo poodle attracted much attention from us. It was time to turn back and head back along the coast to the Pauanui Wharf. One of our group was beginning to have sore feet and was finding the prospect of a long walk back to the wharf rather daunting. But there was no choice - she was, however, really grateful to have one of the other trampers keep her company with lively conversation to relieve the tedium. We reached the wharf just in time to catch the 1:15pm ferry back to Tairua - the boat was approaching the wharf just as we were.

To finish the weekend off we had a late lunch at a cafe in the main shopping area of Tairua, before heading off home to Auckland, capping off a weekend of fun, fellowship, and plenty of  “sunshine” on the Saturday!