Auckland Baptist Tramping Club

As we travelled the one hour journey from The Bracken to the Tapapakanga Regional Park beyond Orere Point on the Firth of Thames heavy rain began to fall, but that was no indication for the other type of sunshine we would all be enjoying for our walk. 9 people joined up with two more at the park’s main carpark, making a total of 11. We set out about 3pm along the coast for a few minutes to come to the mouth of the Tapapakanga Stream. It was our intention to cross this stream before turning inland, but we found it was too deep. We ended up scrambling up the bank and following a fenceline to come to a ford. Then came the long gradual grunt up to the trig through open farmland. There was a great view all around, but a cold howling wind forced us to drop down the other side quickly. We said hello to a herd of cows on the way down. We entered a belt of bush at the bottom and began to follow the Coastal Walk. This formed track meandered its way through the bush. At one stage we saw an impressive pair of puriri trees. The track continued following the fenceline of the farmland, with views of the coast in places. We came to the James Ashby Memorial Cemetery which was gifted to the park twenty years ago. From there we went inland and along the farm route to finish back at the carpark with only five minutes before we were liable to be locked in and have to unlock the gates with Our Money. As it was winter with its short days and the gates would be locked at 5pm, we had no time for an afternoon tea break during our walk.

To bring an enjoyable afternoon to a finish, we had icecreams at Kawakawa Bay on the way home. COST: $9