Tauranga Jun 2025

TAURANGA TERRIFIC

Matariki weekend 20-22 Jun

Friday

The two drivers picked up their passengers from their homes and met up for our morning tea stop at Paeroa. From there we went on to the Omokoroa Top 10 Holiday Park, arriving at 12:45pm.

This afternoon we set out at 2:30pm for a walk up and around the Omokoroa headland. We went through Cooney Reserve then followed the coastal walk to Omokoroa Beach. A fundraising tent stall for the Lions Club was handing out free BBQ sausages, they were about to close down and had too many sausages left over. We carried on up through the Gerald Crapp Historical Reserve to the point where we could look out across to Matakana Island.
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Leader John gave devotions on the power of prayer. I was disgusted that an anti-LGBTQ+ church group stormed a drag queen gathering at Te Atatu in Feb, they could have used a more powerful weapon - prayer with gentleness. Praying can be done anywhere, anytime, in any position, silent or any language, and God hears and knows them regardless of how it is done. Jesus and the Holy Spirit both pray for us constantly. Three keys to answered prayer (1) speak God's Word over the problem (2) expect the answer (3) have an attitude of forgiveness. God may not necessarily answer prayers as you want them, but he will do so according to His will. Making up and using a prayer list for daily personal devotions is a great idea, helps spiritual growth.

We carried on through a clifftop reserve on the west side of the peninsula, having to dodge a light passing shower. This came out to Bramley Drive. We carried on to go down an alleyway on to Omokoroa Rd. The walk finished with a path along the edge of a dried swamp, and we finished back at the holiday park at 4:40pm. Distance 5.6km.

Saturday

We drove to McLaren Falls info centre and cafe, where Alex Whimster joined us for the day. The first walk we did today was the Ruahihi Canal. This canal had been built to take water from Lake McLaren and Wairoa River for the Ruahihi power station. It was a straightforward level walk along a vehicle track following the western side of the canal to the underground penstock entry, returning along the eastern side.

John gave the devotions about worshipping God. This is not only going to church to sing, listen and pray, but also other everyday things. Our tramping along with other outdoor activities is an act of worship where we enjoy the beauty of God's creation in the countryside. Work is a form of worship, it is a biblical principle to earn our living. God works in all sorts of ways and we are created to do so. Taking a weekly break from work, known as the sabbath, allows us to use our God-given leisure interests, come together in fellowship, and also recharges us to do a better job. Eating is an act of worship, God has made all sorts of tastes for our food, plus unpleasant tastes for things we are not to eat. Our hobbies, sports, memories, and getting out and about trying new things are also gifts from God for us to use to His glory. Having a friendly and cheerful attitude of positivity at all times is a way of worship that can be contagious.

We returned along the eastern side of the canal, having to climb over a locked gate at the finish, and had our lunch at the McLaren Falls cafe. Distance 5.9km.

Our second walk at McLaren Falls today was within the McLaren Falls Park. Christina chose to remain at her car. We went along a bush track to the waterfall, then went along the lakeside walkway as far as Hamilton Point. From there the track was blacked due to washouts caused by storms, so we went up a side track and returned along a road from the camping area to rejoin the walkway back to our start point. Distance 3.7km.

Sunday

This morning we visited the Te Puna Quarry Park on a cloudless sunny day. We walked the Main Circular Track viewing a huge collection of sculptures, climbing up to pass many viewpoints, and enjoying God's work in retaining the colours of autumn leaves for the start of winter. Distance 2.5km.
John gave devotions about the old Wink Martindale song Deck of Cards, about a soldier in WW2 who brought out a deck of cards instead of a Bible or prayer book at a church service. He was brought before the court martial and asked to explain why - he said these - Ace, there is only one God; 2 the Bible has the Old and New Testaments, before and after the coming of Jesus; 3 the Trinity - Father, Son and Holy Spirit; 4 the four Gospels Matthew Mark Luke and John explaining salvation; 5 the five unwise virgins who were never saved; 6 God made the world in six days, 7 He rested on the seventh day; 8 the number of people who got in to Noah's Ark; 9 the nine unthankful lepers out of ten who were healed; 10 the Ten Commandments our guidelines to living well; Jack, the devil; Queen the virgin Mary conceived Jesus through God and not Joseph; King Jesus Christ is King of Kings. The song says 365 spots on a deck of cards, there are actually about 250. These represent the proportion of our waking hours each day, the remaining 115 being our sleep time - God cares for us all the time awake and asleep. And we need to pray 4 others.

Afterwards we had lunch at Robert Harris Cafe in Katikati, and a comfort stop at Ngatea, and we were all home by the time the sun went to bed at 5:12pm.